Photo by: Kari Hodges/UGAAA
Coast to Coast and Court to Court
December 05, 2023 | Men's Tennis
ATHENS, Ga. - Born and raised on the east coast, Ryan Colby spent the first 18 years of his life in Alexandria, Va. After graduating high school in 2021, when faced with his recruitment options, Colby's love for the game of tennis exceeded his fear of the unknown, drawing him to the University of Southern California for his freshman year of college.
More than 2,000 miles from home and tackling higher education for the first time in his life, Colby admits that this was a difficult transition. "Going from Virginia to USC, I didn't really know anyone there. I was the youngest guy by two years. That was a little difficult," Colby reflects.
Struggling to develop strong connections on and off the court, Colby and his parents began discussing yet another dramatic move — one that would bring him back across the country to start over at a new school.
Wrestling with the decision to pick up the roots he had begun to plant in California and explore what Athens had to offer, Colby considers his commitment to Georgia in June a true leap of faith.
Despite the uncertainty that stemmed from this drastic change, Colby was able to draw on one constant through this tumultuous time — his love for the game.
Preparing for his first day on the courts of the Dan Magill Tennis Complex, Colby had resolved to focus his time and energy into making the most of this fresh start. This mentality revolved around challenging himself in every aspect of the game, homing in on his self-described "all-court" and "aggressive baseline" style of play.
Taking accountability for his own play and progression, what Colby could have never anticipated when arriving in Athens was the role that his new teammates would have on his growth and development both on and off the court.
Accustomed to a team dynamic that emphasized individualism, Colby felt that only one word describes his first day as a Georgia Bulldog — 'surprising'.
Wiping away the sweat of his first preseason workout, Colby recalls packing up to head home after Head Coach Manny Diaz and Associate Head Coach Jamie Hunt had dismissed the team for the night. Halfway to the exit, a throng of voices called him back.
"It was really surprising how close the team was. On our first day back in Athens we all went out to dinner together," said Colby. Even after such a long day "they still wanted to hang out and that was completely new to me," Colby reflects.
Eagerly accepting the transition from acquaintances to the brotherhood he found in his teammates, Colby has not looked back since that day.
"I've just been focusing on the present," Colby explains. "Doing what I can for the team and getting better as an individual every day."
A high-performer on USC's roster, Colby was no stranger to the high-intensity and competitive expectations placed on him as a member of Georgia's team, hitting the ground running in his first tournaments as a Bulldog.
Since arriving in Athens, Colby can boast the title at the Longhorn Invitational Championship, beating out three ranked players to do so. He further capitalized on this success bringing home a red draw doubles title at the 55th annual Southern Intercollegiate Championships with Niels Ratiu, going 3-0.
In addition to attributing the support of his teammates to his accolades, Colby is adamant that the coaching staff that surrounds his program are the backbone to its success.
"There are a lot of big names for coaches at the college level, but these guys are just unreal," Colby explains. "They do everything you can ask for and more. Off the court too, they really care about who you are."
It's this level of buy-in from players, coaches, and fans alike that fuel the legacy of the Georgia men's tennis team. Struggling to articulate just what it is that makes this group so special, Colby re-emphasized the value of the team culture he's found in Athens.
"Not many teams have what we have," Colby asserts. "A lot of places will say that they're truly special, but it's just different here. This place — it doesn't get any better."
Looking forward to the season ahead, Colby is determined to take advantage of every opportunity the city of Athens has to offer. From the downtown restaurant scene, to aspirations for postseason play, Colby has nothing but love for the Classic City and the success that gleams on the horizon for himself and his teammates.
Two schools and 2,000 miles later, Colby is confident that he's found his forever home in Athens. Regardless of the journey — once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog.
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Bulldogs by following UGA Men's Tennis on social media on Instagram and X @UGATennis, on Facebook @UGAMensTennis, and online at GeorgiaDogs.com.
More than 2,000 miles from home and tackling higher education for the first time in his life, Colby admits that this was a difficult transition. "Going from Virginia to USC, I didn't really know anyone there. I was the youngest guy by two years. That was a little difficult," Colby reflects.
Struggling to develop strong connections on and off the court, Colby and his parents began discussing yet another dramatic move — one that would bring him back across the country to start over at a new school.
Wrestling with the decision to pick up the roots he had begun to plant in California and explore what Athens had to offer, Colby considers his commitment to Georgia in June a true leap of faith.
Despite the uncertainty that stemmed from this drastic change, Colby was able to draw on one constant through this tumultuous time — his love for the game.
Preparing for his first day on the courts of the Dan Magill Tennis Complex, Colby had resolved to focus his time and energy into making the most of this fresh start. This mentality revolved around challenging himself in every aspect of the game, homing in on his self-described "all-court" and "aggressive baseline" style of play.
Taking accountability for his own play and progression, what Colby could have never anticipated when arriving in Athens was the role that his new teammates would have on his growth and development both on and off the court.
Accustomed to a team dynamic that emphasized individualism, Colby felt that only one word describes his first day as a Georgia Bulldog — 'surprising'.
Wiping away the sweat of his first preseason workout, Colby recalls packing up to head home after Head Coach Manny Diaz and Associate Head Coach Jamie Hunt had dismissed the team for the night. Halfway to the exit, a throng of voices called him back.
"It was really surprising how close the team was. On our first day back in Athens we all went out to dinner together," said Colby. Even after such a long day "they still wanted to hang out and that was completely new to me," Colby reflects.
Eagerly accepting the transition from acquaintances to the brotherhood he found in his teammates, Colby has not looked back since that day.
"I've just been focusing on the present," Colby explains. "Doing what I can for the team and getting better as an individual every day."
A high-performer on USC's roster, Colby was no stranger to the high-intensity and competitive expectations placed on him as a member of Georgia's team, hitting the ground running in his first tournaments as a Bulldog.
Since arriving in Athens, Colby can boast the title at the Longhorn Invitational Championship, beating out three ranked players to do so. He further capitalized on this success bringing home a red draw doubles title at the 55th annual Southern Intercollegiate Championships with Niels Ratiu, going 3-0.
In addition to attributing the support of his teammates to his accolades, Colby is adamant that the coaching staff that surrounds his program are the backbone to its success.
"There are a lot of big names for coaches at the college level, but these guys are just unreal," Colby explains. "They do everything you can ask for and more. Off the court too, they really care about who you are."
It's this level of buy-in from players, coaches, and fans alike that fuel the legacy of the Georgia men's tennis team. Struggling to articulate just what it is that makes this group so special, Colby re-emphasized the value of the team culture he's found in Athens.
"Not many teams have what we have," Colby asserts. "A lot of places will say that they're truly special, but it's just different here. This place — it doesn't get any better."
Looking forward to the season ahead, Colby is determined to take advantage of every opportunity the city of Athens has to offer. From the downtown restaurant scene, to aspirations for postseason play, Colby has nothing but love for the Classic City and the success that gleams on the horizon for himself and his teammates.
Two schools and 2,000 miles later, Colby is confident that he's found his forever home in Athens. Regardless of the journey — once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog.
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Bulldogs by following UGA Men's Tennis on social media on Instagram and X @UGATennis, on Facebook @UGAMensTennis, and online at GeorgiaDogs.com.
Players Mentioned
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