A BAYLOR BEAR FOR LIFE

By: Tadeas Paroulek

Champions' TriBUne is a special feature through Baylor Athletics that gives you the student-athlete's perspective and the chance for them to share their own story. Nicknamed "Teddy," Tadeas Paroulek is a fifth-year senior from Prague, Czech Republic, who plays No. 1 doubles with sophomore Zsombor Velcz and alternates at Nos. 1 and 2 singles for the Bears (18-11). Paroulek earned his undergrad degree in economics and political science and is currently working on his MBA. At 40^th in the latest ITA team rankings, Baylor is expected to make its 26^th-consecutive NCAA tournament appearance when selections are announced on Monday:

Five years of lifetime experience. First time ever leaving home for more than a couple weeks. Learning many valuable lessons. But most importantly, meeting great people and creating relationships for the rest of my life ... That was my college experience, but let's start from the beginning.

I was born into a family of five in Prague, Czech Republic. My dad was a tennis coach, so we always have been super close to tennis. I started to play when I was 4 and quickly fell in love. I loved competing in the tournaments, as well as getting better in practice. Thanks to my dad, I always had the best conditions and environment to play tennis. But while playing tennis, my parents made sure that I studied. They knew that tennis would end one day, and I have to be ready for life afterwards. That was also one of the biggest reasons why I went to college.

My last year of high school, I had to decide what the next step would be, whether to turn professional and fully focus on my career or do something else. College was a great option to play tennis on the highest level and get a degree at the same time. Actually, my coach at the time selflessly recommended that I should go to college to get time to further develop my game and become more mature.

Therefore, I decided to enter college in fall 2019. Firstly, it was a huge culture shock. I was not used to that kind of life, with attending classes four hours a day simultaneously with intense practices. I was struggling to stay on top of everything. At the same time, I had to learn to prioritize the team over myself. That was a big adjustment. Before college, I was practicing in the national tennis center in Prague, where I had my full-time tennis coach and strength-conditioning coach, and I was the center of attention. In college, that's not the case.

Transferring to Baylor was the best decision of my life!

I can certainly say that transferring to Baylor was a great restart for my tennis career. To this day, I am grateful to the coaches for giving me this chance to play for the Bears. I needed this kind of restart. It provided me with motivation again to become a better tennis player. Along my path at Baylor, I created a lifetime friendship and experiences. Thanks to a wider view of development here at Baylor, my best memories will not always be just from the tennis court but also from the time spent with the team.

I joined the Baylor team in fall 2021, NCAA finalists from the year before. I viewed this as a great opportunity to be around the best players from college and learn from them. It was fun and challenging at the same time to push and be pushed by my teammates. I am very grateful for how well I was accepted and welcomed into the group (knowing that I came from Baylor's bitter rival, TCU). I remember how those first couple weeks of the semester were brutal, but I had no choice but to always put my maximum effort to show that I really belong to this program.

Thanks to the coach's wider view of player development, I could achieve my academic dreams to the full extent. I wanted to pursue my academic career in an area I was interested in, therefore economics and political science were the natural choices. The support system for student-athletes seriously facilitated my academic development. Thanks to the tutors, academic coaches and other important people that have poured into me, I have always felt a general confidence in my academic progress. Moreover, the COVID pandemic allowed all student-athletes the opportunity to receive an extra year of eligibility, which enabled me to compete one extra year for the Bears while getting my master's degree. So, in the end, I have to say that COVID had at least some positive effects on my life.

Besides all the knowledge I have learned in the classroom, college taught me many valuable skills I will use the rest of my life. I have learned to work in a team, communicate with people and lead. As part of a team, I had an opportunity to be in multiple different roles, from a rookie my first year to being a team captain my last year. Each role required a different skillset, and I am very glad I could experience it, because one day those social skills will be essential in the real world.

There were definitely some highs and lows during my time at Baylor, but one beautiful thing about college sports is that you are always sharing these moments with your teammates. They are always there for you, to support you. That's what makes the competition and the whole college experience way more fun.

I will never forget the experience of winning the Big 12 tournament in 2022, my first year at Baylor. It was truly my best college tennis memory. In the semifinals, we beat our rival, Texas, and then in the final we played No. 1 TCU on its home courts. As I mentioned, the fun and enjoyment we shared as a team was something special and something uncommon in tennis.

Not even the treatment players get at the Grand Slam tournaments compares to the Baylor student-athletes receive on a daily basis.

When my parents visited me on Senior Day, they were truly astounded by the environment we live in. Dad said that the hospitality we as student-athletes get here is better even than the professional players receive. Some days, I feel like we don't fully appreciate how we are taken care of. When we leave college and go into the "real world," we will have to become totally self-reliant. Therefore, I am super grateful that I could extend my college experience for five years. And now, I am ready for the next chapter in my life.

As this chapter of my life will soon be over – while I might not be competing for Baylor on the courts anymore – I am staying a Baylor Bear for the rest of my life. I am excited to support our athletic program from a different role and will always follow and root for our Bears.

However, this journey is not over yet. I am excited to enjoy the last ride alongside my teammates. We still have a lot to prove, and we feel more motivated than ever.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been a part of my college journey and who made this stage of my life such an incredible experience. Namely, I want to thank all my coaches, Michael Woodson, Izak van der Merwe, Grey Hamilton, Nick Ochran, George Goldhoff and Cole Durham, for their unending support and mentorship in the best and worst of times. I want to thank all my teammates who made this experience one great ride. And lastly, I want to thank my family, who were always there to help me accomplish my dreams.

A BAYLOR BEAR FOR LIFE

Players Mentioned

Tadeas Paroulek

Zsombor Velcz

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A BAYLOR BEAR FOR LIFE

Players Mentioned

Tadeas Paroulek

Zsombor Velcz

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