University of Georgia Athletics
A Quick Chat With ... Mariana Gould
September 21, 2016 | Women's Tennis
By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
When you think of Boise, Idaho, which for folks in Georgia may not happen too often, you probably think of the very successful Boise State football program, and its very, very blue field. Or maybe you think of something potato-related, which makes sense.
It's safe to say you probably don't think tennis. But Boise is where Georgia women's tennis junior Mariana Gould calls home. Gould got her tennis start in frequently-frigid Boise, but it was her high school years training at the prestigious Smith Stearns Tennis Academy in Hilton Head, S.C., that helped produce a stellar junior career and a very strong start to her time at Georgia.
A doubles All-American last season with partner Ellen Perez, Gould also had the best singles dual-match run on the team, finishing the season with a 14-2 record at No. 5 singles. Gould and the Lady Bulldogs open their fall season this weekend with the Georgia Bulldog Classic at the Athens Country Club.
On Tuesday, Gould paused for a few moments before practice to talk about tennis in Boise, how she spends her free time and much, much more. Here's some of what she had to say:
Frierson: Is tennis a big sport in Boise? Is there a lot of high-level tennis being played there?
Gould: You know, there really isn't — that's the problem. I ended up moving to Hilton Head and I went to Smith Stearns starting in my freshman year of high school, so I was there a long time, but Boise is my home.
Frierson: What was the biggest adjustment when you moved to Hilton Head and started playing a lot more tournaments in the South?
Gould: The weather, really, it's a big adjustment. My whole life, I haven't really handled the humidity and the heat well, so that was a big adjustment — being there in the summers, especially. The tennis, obviously, the level was raised and everyone was a lot better. Overall, for my development, it really helped me and (attending Smith Stearns) was obviously for the better.
Frierson: Who is somebody on the the team, or any other Georgia athlete that you know, that you've come to really admire?
Gould: I'm not very close with her, but (track and field heptathlete) Kendell Williams is awesome, just as a person. Like I said, I don't know her well but she seems like such a good person and she is in SAC (Student Advisory Council) with me, so that would be one person. And athletics-wise, I can't even imagine ... she's amazing.
Frierson: What do you do during the quiet times, away from school and tennis?
Gould: There's not much of that, but I really enjoy reading. I don't really read that much during the school year, but usually in the summer I'll go to the pool and just read a book. I just like to relax and lay low when I have the time because we're so busy, especially during the school year.
Frierson: What's the most creative thing you do? Or what's something creative you wish you could do?
Gould: I took piano lessons forever and I hated it. My mom made me and I hated it, but now, looking back, I really wish I could play the piano.
Obviously Hilton Head is a very beachy place and, while it's not very creative, but I wish I had taken advantage more of that kind of scene and maybe get into the water sports and everything.
Frierson: Well, when you're an athlete you also have to think about safety and avoiding injuries.
Gould: Exactly. In Boise, where there's snow skiing and snowboarding, I don't do any of that. I kind of wish I did, but I don't.
Frierson: Who on the team makes you laugh the hardest?
Gould: She's going to get a big head, but probably Ellen (Perez). She says it how it is and she's great and has a great sense of humor.
Frierson: What's the best thing that's entered your life in 2016? It can be a movie, an album, food, music, a person — whatever.
Gould: My parents are still together but we've been separated a little bit because my dad was working and was back in Boise, and this March my parents had their 30th anniversary. This summer the whole family went to Hawaii and it was one of the first times we've ever done a trip like that.
Hawaii is beautiful, but being with my family where we haven't done something like that, that showed me how important that is. To really take advantage of the time when you are together, that meant a lot to me.
Frierson: If you could have played with or against anyone in history, who would it be?
Gould: I think for doubles I would want to play with Martina Hingis; she's obviously a really good doubles player. To play against, I don't think I'd want to play against anybody (laughs). I guess Serena (Williams), but just because of the impact she's had on the sport, and just to really see the difference between what she does and the other players do, to make her so good. I think that would be interesting.
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
Players Mentioned
