Brady Straus '13: Team First, Always
Tennis, some might say, is an individual sport.
At Collegiate, though, nothing could be further from the truth.
Ask Brady Straus, whose achievements, quiet leadership, and competitive spirit spearheaded the Cougars to their fourth consecutive Prep League championship this past spring and earned him Richmond Times-Dispatch player of the year honors.
"Tennis is an extremely individualistic sport,” Straus acknowledged, “but at Collegiate, there’s always the team. That’s why I love it so much.
“It’s 12 guys cheering for each other. Everyone has each other’s back. We all mesh together.”
At Collegiate, though, nothing could be further from the truth.
Ask Brady Straus, whose achievements, quiet leadership, and competitive spirit spearheaded the Cougars to their fourth consecutive Prep League championship this past spring and earned him Richmond Times-Dispatch player of the year honors.
"Tennis is an extremely individualistic sport,” Straus acknowledged, “but at Collegiate, there’s always the team. That’s why I love it so much.
“It’s 12 guys cheering for each other. Everyone has each other’s back. We all mesh together.”
Straus, a rising senior, isn’t just talking the talk.
Indeed, he walks the walk with the best of them.
“Brady’s a player you want everyone to emulate,” said Wes Atiyeh, Collegiate class of 1984, a real estate broker with Long and Foster, and the Cougars’ assistant coach. “He always gives 100 percent. He brings the team atmosphere we’ve always tried to instill.
“We don’t worry about Brady competing every day and making the team better. He embraces that role.
“It’s never about him. It’s all about the team.”
Straus first picked up a racquet when he was three and developed an affinity for the game while banging balls off the wall at Westwood.
Before long, he was taking lessons and attending clinics. He entered his first competition at nine, and, by virtue of his performances in summer tournaments, has been ranked as high as third in the state in his age group by the United States Tennis Association.
He joined Collegiate’s varsity as an eighth grader and played No. 3 singles and No. 3 doubles (with Tyler Agee).
The next two years, he held forth at No. 2 singles and teamed with Max Schnur in the top doubles spot.
Despite dealing with the residual effects of injuries and illness, he played No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles (with Turner Willett) this past spring.
He’s earned All-Prep and All-State citations each of the past three years and All-Metro recognition the past two.
He’s lost only one singles match – in the 2008 VISAA semifinals – during his four-year career.
“Brady always has a positive outlook and never makes excuses,” said Chris Conquest, Collegiate’s head tennis coach. “He has patience and maturity beyond his years.
“To me, he’s the epitome of character.”
Straus has earned his success the old fashioned way – through dedication, hard work, and mental toughness – but there’s one aspect of the game that fits his personality seamlessly.
“It’s definitely my mentality,” he said. “To be the best, you want to keep an even keel and never get frustrated.
“That’s pretty easy for me, because I’m pretty down to earth.”
That said, the journey has not been without its challenges.
“I’m not the biggest,” said Straus, who’s 5-8, 140. “The constant grind on my body during three-hour matches and two-and-a-half-hour practices is pretty tough.”
If his quest for competitive excellence were not motivation enough for Straus, there’s the memory of his father and guardian angel Raymond, who died just as tennis season began in 2010.
“He keeps me going,” Straus said. “He’d want me to work my hardest.
“With him watching over me every second, I know I have to do the right thing and be that person he’d want me to be.”
Straus is the third Collegiate athlete whom the Times-Dispatch has honored as the top tennis player in Central Virginia.
Ryan Mostrom was recognized in 2003 and 2005 and Schnur, an All-Ivy League selection at Columbia as a freshman, in 2011.
“It’s such an honor knowing the people who’ve gotten the award in the past,” Straus said. “Max definitely had an influence on me. He was the top guy. I looked up to him. He had a lot of pressure because he was No. 1.
“I learned from him how to deal with it and be a leader.”
-- Weldon Bradshaw
Back
Indeed, he walks the walk with the best of them.
“Brady’s a player you want everyone to emulate,” said Wes Atiyeh, Collegiate class of 1984, a real estate broker with Long and Foster, and the Cougars’ assistant coach. “He always gives 100 percent. He brings the team atmosphere we’ve always tried to instill.
“We don’t worry about Brady competing every day and making the team better. He embraces that role.
“It’s never about him. It’s all about the team.”
Straus first picked up a racquet when he was three and developed an affinity for the game while banging balls off the wall at Westwood.
Before long, he was taking lessons and attending clinics. He entered his first competition at nine, and, by virtue of his performances in summer tournaments, has been ranked as high as third in the state in his age group by the United States Tennis Association.
He joined Collegiate’s varsity as an eighth grader and played No. 3 singles and No. 3 doubles (with Tyler Agee).
The next two years, he held forth at No. 2 singles and teamed with Max Schnur in the top doubles spot.
Despite dealing with the residual effects of injuries and illness, he played No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles (with Turner Willett) this past spring.
He’s earned All-Prep and All-State citations each of the past three years and All-Metro recognition the past two.
He’s lost only one singles match – in the 2008 VISAA semifinals – during his four-year career.
“Brady always has a positive outlook and never makes excuses,” said Chris Conquest, Collegiate’s head tennis coach. “He has patience and maturity beyond his years.
“To me, he’s the epitome of character.”
Straus has earned his success the old fashioned way – through dedication, hard work, and mental toughness – but there’s one aspect of the game that fits his personality seamlessly.
“It’s definitely my mentality,” he said. “To be the best, you want to keep an even keel and never get frustrated.
“That’s pretty easy for me, because I’m pretty down to earth.”
That said, the journey has not been without its challenges.
“I’m not the biggest,” said Straus, who’s 5-8, 140. “The constant grind on my body during three-hour matches and two-and-a-half-hour practices is pretty tough.”
If his quest for competitive excellence were not motivation enough for Straus, there’s the memory of his father and guardian angel Raymond, who died just as tennis season began in 2010.
“He keeps me going,” Straus said. “He’d want me to work my hardest.
“With him watching over me every second, I know I have to do the right thing and be that person he’d want me to be.”
Straus is the third Collegiate athlete whom the Times-Dispatch has honored as the top tennis player in Central Virginia.
Ryan Mostrom was recognized in 2003 and 2005 and Schnur, an All-Ivy League selection at Columbia as a freshman, in 2011.
“It’s such an honor knowing the people who’ve gotten the award in the past,” Straus said. “Max definitely had an influence on me. He was the top guy. I looked up to him. He had a lot of pressure because he was No. 1.
“I learned from him how to deal with it and be a leader.”
-- Weldon Bradshaw
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