by Paige Shacklett, Sun Devil Communications Student Intern
TJ Bellama PT, DPT, OCS graduated from Arizona State University in 2009, a Sun Devil to the core whose student-athlete career faced adversity.
In his junior year, the men's tennis program, which had once actively recruited him, was cut due to changes in the athletic department budget. In hindsight, Bellama is proud of his experiences at ASU, including the highs and lows and where they pushed him to be today.
Bellama's history with tennis begins on an avocado farm in Zimbabwe. He learned to play on grass tennis courts in between rows of avocado trees with the owner of the farm, Don Black, a former professional tennis player and coach of his own three children who became tennis pros.
The Bellama family returned stateside and settled in northern Virginia. With such an uncommon tennis background, one might think that pursuing the dream of playing tennis in college would be out of reach. But Bellama impressed several big name colleges and attended five different official visits. After a visit to ASU, Bellama knew his college career would take place in the desert.
"The Kinesiology Department and the Barrett Honors College offered academics that match anywhere in the country. Second, the team's personality fit me…I left my recruiting trip at ASU feeling different than at the other schools. It just fit," Bellama said.
A combination of excitement and love for the university fueled Bellama's student-athlete career. Bellama recalled one of his proudest moments included making program history by beating Stanford for the first time in ASU men's tennis history. Bellama's first three years was made of student-athlete dreams until May 2008 when adversity struck again. Lack of funds halted the future of the program at a peak in its history.
"I was hurt, I was mad, I was trying not to be mad because I understood the finances and why the decisions were made," Bellama said of his initial reaction to ASU dropping the tennis program. "I remember, very clearly, sitting in Coach Belken's office with the whole team, hearing the news… We just didn't know what to do right away."
Bellama didn't let the adversity he faced in his athletic career affect his academic or long-term careers. After graduation from ASU, Bellama earned a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Northern Arizona University. He practiced at Johns Hopkins Hospital for three years while starting a consultant company that focuses on injury prevention and movement analysis in tennis players.
"I feel a tremendous amount of pride looking back and knowing that I didn't hold back in any aspect of being a student athlete. I'm proud of the relationships that have endured, I'm proud of how I represented the university and myself, and I'm proud that I came out of ASU with all the opportunities I could have wanted and a swell of support to help me get there," Bellama said.
Today, he continues his PT work at Endurance Rehab while getting involved with the re-ignition of the program alongside his former teammates and the new men's tennis coach, Matt Hill. After eight years, a donation of $1M gifted by Buffie and Ray Anderson, Vice President for University Athletics, officially reinstated men's tennis as ASU's 26th NCAA varsity sport.
"I'm invested (in the tennis program) and can't wait," Bellama said.
FOUR QUESTIONS WITH T J
What is one piece of advice you would offer to upcoming ASU tennis players?
"You will be close with your teammates but don't overlook the university and overall athletic experience. Get to know the athletes and go watch as many other sports as possible. Get to know people in your classes and don't be afraid to join clubs and be a part of the university beyond the athletic department."
What is your proudest moment as a Sun Devil?
"Very hard to narrow. We beat Stanford for the first time in program history while I was there, that was pretty good. I met my wife while we were both there and I'm pretty proud of how that turned out. I don't know if there is one moment but I feel a tremendous amount of pride looking back and knowing that I didn't hold back in any aspect of being a student athlete. I'm proud of the relationships that have endured, I'm proud of how I represented the university and myself, and I'm proud that I came out of ASU with all the opportunities I could have wanted and a swell of support to help me get there I remember reading a letter of recommendation by my coach and feeling good about my time as part of that team."
How do you feel about men's tennis coming back to Sun Devil Athletics?
Ecstatic. Even happier that it is being done the right way. Coach Hill has reached out to the alumni and the tennis community in the Valley. He is building and strengthening a community that is going to pay dividends on match day."
What was your initial reaction to ASU dropping the tennis program in 2008?
I'm not quite sure how to describe it.Quite a few emotions. I was hurt, I was mad, I was trying not to be mad because I understood the finances and why the decisions were made, frustrated that action was not taken earlier to allow us a shot at fundraising, and many other emotions. I remember, very clearly, sitting in Coach Belken's office with the whole team, hearing the news. I remember standing in the hallway outside of his office and hugging Wes Miller for a good 5 minutes. We just didn't know what to do right away."
TJ Bellama PT, DPT, OCS graduated from Arizona State University in 2009, a Sun Devil to the core whose student-athlete career faced adversity.
In his junior year, the men's tennis program, which had once actively recruited him, was cut due to changes in the athletic department budget. In hindsight, Bellama is proud of his experiences at ASU, including the highs and lows and where they pushed him to be today.
Bellama's history with tennis begins on an avocado farm in Zimbabwe. He learned to play on grass tennis courts in between rows of avocado trees with the owner of the farm, Don Black, a former professional tennis player and coach of his own three children who became tennis pros.
The Bellama family returned stateside and settled in northern Virginia. With such an uncommon tennis background, one might think that pursuing the dream of playing tennis in college would be out of reach. But Bellama impressed several big name colleges and attended five different official visits. After a visit to ASU, Bellama knew his college career would take place in the desert.
"The Kinesiology Department and the Barrett Honors College offered academics that match anywhere in the country. Second, the team's personality fit me…I left my recruiting trip at ASU feeling different than at the other schools. It just fit," Bellama said.
ICYMI: My sit down with three of the @sundeviltennis men's team alumni. @statepresssport @DougTammaro https://t.co/4D0DUEJve8
— Joe Jacquez (@joejacquezaz) October 5, 2016
A combination of excitement and love for the university fueled Bellama's student-athlete career. Bellama recalled one of his proudest moments included making program history by beating Stanford for the first time in ASU men's tennis history. Bellama's first three years was made of student-athlete dreams until May 2008 when adversity struck again. Lack of funds halted the future of the program at a peak in its history.
"I was hurt, I was mad, I was trying not to be mad because I understood the finances and why the decisions were made," Bellama said of his initial reaction to ASU dropping the tennis program. "I remember, very clearly, sitting in Coach Belken's office with the whole team, hearing the news… We just didn't know what to do right away."
Bellama didn't let the adversity he faced in his athletic career affect his academic or long-term careers. After graduation from ASU, Bellama earned a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Northern Arizona University. He practiced at Johns Hopkins Hospital for three years while starting a consultant company that focuses on injury prevention and movement analysis in tennis players.
"I feel a tremendous amount of pride looking back and knowing that I didn't hold back in any aspect of being a student athlete. I'm proud of the relationships that have endured, I'm proud of how I represented the university and myself, and I'm proud that I came out of ASU with all the opportunities I could have wanted and a swell of support to help me get there," Bellama said.
Today, he continues his PT work at Endurance Rehab while getting involved with the re-ignition of the program alongside his former teammates and the new men's tennis coach, Matt Hill. After eight years, a donation of $1M gifted by Buffie and Ray Anderson, Vice President for University Athletics, officially reinstated men's tennis as ASU's 26th NCAA varsity sport.
"I'm invested (in the tennis program) and can't wait," Bellama said.
FOUR QUESTIONS WITH T J
What is one piece of advice you would offer to upcoming ASU tennis players?
"You will be close with your teammates but don't overlook the university and overall athletic experience. Get to know the athletes and go watch as many other sports as possible. Get to know people in your classes and don't be afraid to join clubs and be a part of the university beyond the athletic department."
What is your proudest moment as a Sun Devil?
"Very hard to narrow. We beat Stanford for the first time in program history while I was there, that was pretty good. I met my wife while we were both there and I'm pretty proud of how that turned out. I don't know if there is one moment but I feel a tremendous amount of pride looking back and knowing that I didn't hold back in any aspect of being a student athlete. I'm proud of the relationships that have endured, I'm proud of how I represented the university and myself, and I'm proud that I came out of ASU with all the opportunities I could have wanted and a swell of support to help me get there I remember reading a letter of recommendation by my coach and feeling good about my time as part of that team."
How do you feel about men's tennis coming back to Sun Devil Athletics?
Ecstatic. Even happier that it is being done the right way. Coach Hill has reached out to the alumni and the tennis community in the Valley. He is building and strengthening a community that is going to pay dividends on match day."
What was your initial reaction to ASU dropping the tennis program in 2008?
I'm not quite sure how to describe it.Quite a few emotions. I was hurt, I was mad, I was trying not to be mad because I understood the finances and why the decisions were made, frustrated that action was not taken earlier to allow us a shot at fundraising, and many other emotions. I remember, very clearly, sitting in Coach Belken's office with the whole team, hearing the news. I remember standing in the hallway outside of his office and hugging Wes Miller for a good 5 minutes. We just didn't know what to do right away."