The future of Southern University Athletics is looking bright! In this episode, Jill Stokeld of The Advocate visits the beautiful Leon R. Tarver II Cultural and Heritage Center to discuss the upcoming tennis season, brand-new facilities, and the importance of supporting student-athletes on a…
As the Southern University Jaguars begin a new tennis season, senior women’s player Kai Wince is also preparing for life beyond the court. Wince is a member of the inaugural cohort of Uncaged: Building Beyond The Bluff, a leadership initiative designed to help student-athletes develop skills that extend past athletic competition.
“That was the biggest reason for me – to be able to learn how to sell myself as a person past just being a tennis player,” Wince said.
Through Uncaged, participants take part in workshops and sessions focused on communication, branding, networking and career readiness. Wince said she’s already taken away lessons about how to leverage her existing social media presence, perhaps by monetizing content or using her platforms to have a positive impact on others.
“Last night, we had an event where we learned how to create a social media brand and stay true to our brand,” Wince said. “We all have TikTok and Instagram and post videos and photos of ourselves playing sports. I’ve never thought before about how I can brand myself or use my social media in other ways.”
Head Coach Jeff Conyers, who oversees Southern’s men’s and women’s tennis teams, said helping his players’ holistic development is a crucial part of his philosophy. In fact, Coach Conyers intentionally schedules fewer than the maximum allowed number of matches to ensure players have plenty of time to focus on academics, self-development and other extracurricular activities.
On the court, the Southern Jaguars men’s tennis team begins home play on Feb. 6 against Lamar, while the women are slated to first take the home court on Feb. 20 against the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Coach Conyers said he has high hopes for both squads.
“The women’s team has a mixture of past players and newcomers. On the men’s side, we’re very excited. This is the third year the men’s team has been back, and we finally have a full squad. We’re going to look for some big things out of them,” he said.
The teams have been able to take advantage of a new home, with six on-campus courts designed specifically for their use.
“All six are together. It’s a very good facility,” Coach Conyers said. “The current players now have to produce and make their own history.”
New athletic facilities and funding for initiatives like Uncaged would not be possible for Southern University without the continued support from alumni, stakeholders and community members. The Southern Jaguar Athletic program will host its largest fundraising day of the year on Friday, March 27, during the annual Jag-A-Thon.
This year’s Jag-A-Thon will be a combined in-person and virtual event encompassing phone banking, live streaming and socializing. A live stream will be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on JaguarsSportsNetwork.com, Facebook and YouTube. It will also be broadcast live on Cumulus Radio: Max 94.1, Q106.5, Heaven 95.7 and Classic Hits 103.3.
Jag-A-Thon donations may be made in the following ways:
Phone: Call 225-771-2436Online: https://foundation.sus.edu/jag-a-thon/In person: Leon R. Tarver II Cultural and Heritage Center (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 27)Mail: Southern University Athletics, P.O. Box 9942, Baton Rouge, LA, 70813
Visit http://www.gojagsports.com to learn more about Southern University Athletics.
