In a universe of American collegiate athletics in which many athletes are U.S.-born, tennis is one of the more diverse sports. At Marist, the women’s program comprises nine players, five of whom are from international locations. The men’s program is even more diverse, with six of the nine athletes from different countries.
One of those six is senior Tomas Gomez of Colombia. Gomez, who is in his third year at Marist after transferring to Poughkeepsie as a sophomore, has played tennis for almost his entire life and navigated a winding road through a successful, yet turbulent, collegiate career.
Gomez’s tennis journey began 2,562 miles south of Poughkeepsie in Bogotá, Colombia’s bustling capital which is home to more than eight million people. Tennis is popular among children there, which makes sense given that Bogotá is also home to two of the most notable Colombian tennis players of all time: Alejandro Falla and Jairo Velasco Sr. Falla achieved a singles ranking of World No. 50 in 2012 while Velasco peaked at World No. 46 in 1982, according to the ATP tennis rankings.
Tennis has been central to Gomez’s life for as long as he can remember. His mother introduced him to the sport at their country club when he was just three years old. For nearly the next decade, he received high-level training that saw him progress from a fluffy red ball for kids to a standard tennis ball.
“I just really liked that environment of tennis,” Gomez said of playing at the country club. “All the pros were very nice, very welcoming… we had a lot of fun on [the] court.”
Around age 12, Gomez’s instructors at the country club determined his talent warranted a step up. Unlike in the United States, Colombian high schools do not play tennis against each other. Instead, the top players join academies separate from their schools, allowing them to work solely on athletic development.
It took a few tries for Gomez to find the right academy, cycling through various coaches and locations. But once he found coach Edison Rincon at a local academy, he was right where he wanted to be.
“We just had this very strong connection on the court,” Gomez said. “I was feeling very supported on court, very confident, and I feel that’s really important to feel for a tennis player because it’s an individual sport at the end.”
Every day after school, Gomez made his way to the academy to train with Rincon from mid-afternoon until evening, usually from 3:30 or 4 p.m. to 6 or 7 p.m. He got to the academy by way of his father, who picked him up from school and drove him to the academy along with his sister; Manuela Gomez is also Division I tennis player for Marist’s MAAC Conference rival, Siena.
Gomez’s career really began to take off in 2019, and it became apparent to him, his family and his coaches that he could play at the next level. Initially, he considered going pro rather than attending college in the U.S., but the COVID-19 pandemic changed those plans. With many tournaments getting canceled and a rise of uncertainty thanks to the pandemic, it became evident that his best bet was to go to college in the U.S.
When initially looking for schools, Gomez focused largely on location. He had interest in attending a school in a warm climate and near a major city, which drew him to Division II Biola University, about 30 minutes southeast of Los Angeles.
A key change that many international players must adjust to when coming to the U.S., including those from Colombia, is the material of the playing surface. In Colombia, Gomez played mostly on outdoor clay courts, while courts in America are often hardcourts. Hardcourts play much faster than clay courts, requiring an adjustment – one that Gomez made quickly in his freshman season at Biola.
Gomez played consistently from the jump, going 10-7 overall in singles play his freshman year. One of his most memorable and impactful matches that season was his first.
“[It was] against some German guy from Point Loma University,” Gomez said. “He was good actually, like a 12 UTR.”
In tennis, UTR ratings are a number given to each player to assess their skill level. Players are given a number on a scale of one to 16.50, and the scale encompasses players of nearly every level including the best in the world and collegiate players. For example, the current ATP World No. 1, Jannik Sinner, also has the best UTR in the world at 16.42. The highest rated collegiate player, Colton Smith, has a 14.50.
“I had like 20 people screaming against me, and I didn’t know what was going on. But I still won,” Gomez said of his first match.
The victory was a big confidence boost for Gomez. Winning his first collegiate match in an adverse environment and against a quality opponent helped him prove to his coaches that he was worthy of consistent playing time, something he has had to do throughout his collegiate career.
Though Gomez enjoyed his Biola teammates, coach and the tennis program as a whole, he knew by around February of his freshman year that he wanted to transfer. He desired to play Division I tennis, but perhaps more importantly, Gomez was not thrilled with his Biola experience outside the tennis team. Biola is a Christian-affiliated school; its website describes the education they offer as “biblically centered.”
“I didn’t want that [religion] to be my whole college experience, so it wasn’t for me,” Gomez said.
Informing a coach of transfer plans during the early part of the season can sometimes be risky, as it can create tension that limits playing time. However, Gomez’s Biola coach was very understanding and supportive of his decision and did not let it interfere with his time on the court throughout the spring season; something that was vital to his Marist recruitment.
Gomez spoke to a few different schools throughout the transfer process including various Division I and II schools, but was made aware of Marist when Gary Sussman, who was the director of tennis at the time, spoke to him. Gomez had never heard of Marist previously but quickly grew to like its team, academics and facilities.
“The only downside is the weather,” Gomez said.
Sussman only worked with Gomez for his first season at Marist before Marist Athletics announced he would no longer serve as the director of tennis in April 2023. During that time, Sussman was pleased with Gomez’s contributions.
“I was very much in favor of international players as they understand the game and bring a certain mindset to the court,” Sussman said. “Tomas fit those expectations.”
A theme throughout Gomez’s career has been the consistent need to prove himself. Despite playing three seasons at Marist, he has played for a new coach each season. Sussman was in charge during his sophomore season at Marist before being replaced by Deepak Sharma before his junior season and later by current Marist Director of Tennis, Nate Horner.
“A new coach is gonna come and it’s gonna be like ‘now we’re gonna do things my way and what happened last year happened last year,’ so it’s that process of adapting to that new coaching style and also to prove yourself to this new coach to earn the opportunity to play under him,” Gomez said.
Gomez struggled during his first season at Marist, going just 5-15 in singles play. Making the jump from Division II to Division I is a challenge for any athlete, and Gomez required an adjustment period before making a strong leap the following season. He went 9-7 in singles play and earned All-MAAC first team honors despite facing difficult circumstances under Sharma’s leadership.
“He was very, very demanding and he put a lot of pressure on us to perform,” Gomez said of Sharma. “[I thought] I gotta prove him wrong because when coaches put a lot of pressure on you it’s tough to perform sometimes.”
As Gomez’s tennis career winds down, much of his focus is on helping improve a program that has faced inconsistent success and turbulent leadership in recent seasons. He believes the team’s culture has been a key area for improvement and that Horner has emphasized enhancing it early in his tenure, including looking to Gomez to serve as a leader on the team.
“This is the first year he’s really had to take on that role, which is obviously not something that you can just figure out overnight,” Horner said.
The leadership role is not something that comes naturally to Gomez. He has had to learn, and is continuing to learn, how to be a more vocal presence and influence on the younger players.
“He’s had some good moments, [he’s] had some bad moments just as we all have, but I think he’s grown a lot and he’s definitely figuring it out day-by-day,” Horner said.
“He’s always pushing people around him, and I see him doing that now as a senior,” said Gomez’s teammate, junior Nick Suhanitski. “Freshmen aren’t always listening to what we say, but I see him trying to set a good example.”
As Gomez aims to have a successful season both personally and in guiding younger players for future success, he expects this season to mark the end of his competitive tennis career. He studies business at Marist and desires to enter the corporate world after college, with tennis becoming more of a hobby.
“I love tennis… but I think that’s [business work] also important for me and I really like that part,” he said. “Right now, I want to enjoy as much as possible with the team, enjoy everything like the losses, the wins, the weather, bad weather; I don’t mind. I’m just trying to take everything in [and] enjoy everything.”
Marist’s men’s tennis is off to a 3-3 start this spring, while Gomez is 1-1 himself. Despite struggling last season, the team fought hard against eventual MAAC champion Quinnipiac in the conference tournament. In his final act, Gomez hopes this year they can go all the way.
Edited by Ben Leeds and Mike Burns
Graphic by Quinn DiFiore
Photo from Marist Athletics
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