This season, BAND went on the look for exceptional young athletes who empower and inspire everyone around them. We asked coaches to tell us about an athlete that has inspired them and the rest of their teams to work harder and push forward in the face of challenges.
We were amazed by the incredible stories that coaches from all over the country sent in about their athletes. The amount of love and passion felt by the coaches who submitted was clear in every entry, and it has been very difficult to narrow down the list of deserving and qualified athletes.
BAND is very pleased to present our Recommended Athlete Scholarship to Isadora Matos.
Congratulations, Isadora!
Based on her skill, sportsmanship, and perseverance, Athena has been awarded the ‘Recommended Athlete’ Scholarship by everyone here at BAND. We hope she continues to uplift her teammates and help them band together!
Isadora Matos is a talented 19-year-old tennis player, playing #2 singles and #1 doubles for Fairmont State University. Isadora left Brazil to study business, and despite not speaking very good English, she was able to achieve a 4.0-grade average in her first year.
When she first started playing tennis at Fairmont, she would get angry and frustrated easily. When she was in Brazil, Isadora wasn’t always the best player on the team, and having trouble understanding the language made it hard for Isadora here in the States.
After she joined the team, it soon became apparent that Isadora was struggling, and would just nod when her coach said something to her. But because she kept trying, her team continued encouraging her, both on and off the court.
As her comfort level and bond with her teammates grew, her attitude and playing began to improve, and she became one of the strongest players on the team.
Last season, before the final match, Isadora took her coach aside and offered to forfeit her position, to give her other teammates a chance to play.
“I think it is so important to give the same importance to all positions of the team. I’ll never leave anyone behind. I also know that I have some strong characteristics and that I am not the easiest person in the world to deal with. But be sure that everything I do is to be the best, with the best intentions!” — Isadora
Far from the same player that started the year, Isadora has grown into a leader that other players look up to, all because Fairmont gave her the chance to shine.
This season, her coach decided to make her a team captain and is looking forward to another strong year with Isadora representing the team.
At BAND, we are inspired by Isadora’s perseverance and personal growth. We hope that this scholarship will inspire Isadora and everyone on her team to continue pursuing their dreams and band together!
A great coach inspires their athletes, but great athletes inspire their coaches.
Thank you to everyone who submitted their athletes for our competition. Our submissions may be closed, but we have two more winners still to be announced!
Stay tuned to our blog and social media for more contest updates.
