Sunday’s women’s tennis match against Georgia Tech marks the last home match of the season and Senior Day in honor of North Carolinian Neils Barringer. Barringer leaves the team a leader and an inspiration, according to junior teammate Berkeley Brock.
“Neils is a big fighter, that’s something that she has taught me,” Brock said. “She will never go out there and tank a match or come off the court with a bad attitude and I think everyone on the team has learned a lot from her.”
Barringer is currently tied for 11th in school history for most singles wins per season with 37 wins, entering this weekend’s matches against Clemson and Georgia Tech. This season Barringer has played No. 4 and 5 singles and has a winning record for doubles.
“This season has gone by really fast,” Barringer said. “It feels like we just had our first tournament in Wilmington yesterday. I remember when [former tennis player] Julia Roach told me last year that it I wouldn’t believe how fast it goes and its gone by even faster that I thought.”
As co-captain on the team with Brock and Daria Petrovic, Barringer said she has learned what it means to be a leader.
“I think it’s good to be co-captain because it works well with my personality,” Barringer said. “I’m kind of shy and we work together to lead the girls and it has been a great experience for me to help the freshman adjust to college and tennis.”
Being the only senior on the team is strange for Barringer, whose modesty is hard to deny, according to Brock.
“Being the only senior is kind of weird in some respect,” Barringer said. “I get to be on the side of the Wolfline for everyone to see.”
According to coach Hans Olsen, character is Barringer’s number one strength.
“Character is truly what Neils brings to the team,” Olsen said. “She’s a great person, really competitive and just super nice and that combination is rare with high level athletes.”
Barringer’s highlights include, an NCAA win in singles as N.C. State dropped its match against Auburn in her sophomore year. Last year, in the ACC tournament Barringer won six games in a row in the Pack’s deciding match over Wake Forest in the opening round.
“Although I’ll never forget my first college match, my favorite was last year at the ACC tournament against Wake,” Barringer said. “The team score was tied 3-3 and I was down 3-0 in my third set. I brought it back to 3-3 and ended up winning the match 6-3. I was just so excited that we won an ACC tournament match.”
Barringer is undefeated in NCAA play and with that brings lots of experience to the team, according to Olsen.
“Experience is what she really brings to the team,” Olsen said “She’s done a good job this year with sharing that experience with her teammates and really talking to them and opening up more. I just wish she had one more year.”
As a major in math education, Barringer will be student teaching in the fall and graduating in December.
“I will be a high school math teacher next year,” Barringer said. “Yet, I can’t imagine my life without tennis so I’m really hoping to teach tennis this summer and hoping I will always be able to teach tennis.”
