Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 9, 1995 TAG: 9504100018
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Long
During even the closest, most dogged of tennis matches, it never occurs to Marilyn Baker that she may lose.
Not until the last point is lost. Not until she congratulates her opponent with a handshake across the net.
Of course, it's not a feeling Baker has dealt with often at Washington and Lee, where she is in her fourth season playing No.1 singles.
Baker is ranked sixth in the nation - fourth in doubles with freshman partner Natalia Garcia - and holds virtually every W&L women's tennis record, including victories. Her career record is 83-13.
``The worst feelings I've had when playing tennis is on those occasions where I've come off the court and could say, `Somewhere, I let down and didn't give it 100 percent.' That's when I'm not happy,'' said Baker, who at 5-foot-2 hardly is an intimidating presence.
In fact, she's bouncy and bright-eyed. Baker's warm laugh and broad smile advertise her cheery personality, and it appears there would be very few situations in which she would not be comfortable.
But that hasn't always been the case.
Baker was nearly 13 when she took up tennis, a late start by today's standards. Opportunities in the sport haven't been very abundant for minorities like Baker, who is African-American.
But just before Baker's 13th birthday, her father switched jobs and moved the family to Long Island, where his new boss got them all involved in tennis.
Baker and her brother, Julian - who played for four years at Georgetown - were able to attend the Port Washington Tennis Academy, one of the largest facilities in the United States dedicated to youth tennis, on scholarship.
Baker didn't win a match the first three months she played the game. Then, when she was on the verge of giving up, Baker got her first taste of victory - and she was hooked.
``I was totally sold on tennis,'' said Baker, who decided she wouldn't let a late start quell her ambition. ``It was like, `I'm going to do this. I'm going to slowly start catching up to these people.'''
A perfect match?
It was at the Port Washington academy that Cinda Rankin, the W&L women's tennis coach, got her first glimpse of Baker. Rankin knew instantly she had the ability to be an impact player for the Generals, but because Baker had never heard of W&L, she paid little attention to the persistent coach.
The biggest breakthrough came when Baker, who was considering offers from NCAA Division I schools, visited Lexington after a recruiting trip to James Madison.
``She had a great campus visit and her family seemed very supportive of her going to a small school,'' Rankin said.
Baker fell in love with W&L, felt comfortable there, but noticed that most of the students were white. The makeup of the student body was an issue that concerned Baker, who'd already had one bad experience during a recruiting visit.
Baker said she had been in contact with the coach at a Division I program who had never seen her play, but had talked about a scholarship and encouraged her to make a recruiting visit.
``I walked in the door and the person literally turned red because they did not expect me to be a black person,'' Baker said.
`` ... I was supposed to spend the night. I was supposed to meet all the girls on the tennis team. Well, after the person turned red, they kind of said, `Umm, my girls couldn't take you tonight. Uh, uh, they have big tests. I'm sorry. Enjoy the campus and I'll be in touch with you.' That was the extent of what was supposed to be a recruiting trip.''
Rankin said she also was hesitant about bringing Baker to W&L.
``I really did some soul-searching,'' Rankin said. `` ... But I was just up front with her and told her this is how it is and that, socially, it would be a struggle.''
Baker said she appreciated Rankin's honesty and that it made her transition easier.
``There's a lot of things I've learned over the years from being here,'' Baker said. ``There are some problems on campus; I'm not going to say there's not. But I was aware of them before I came, so it wasn't a shock when I got here.''
Of the approximately 350 student-athletes at W&L, 10 - or about 3 percent - are minorities, which reflects the makeup of the overall student body. Baker is the only minority student in any of her classes this semester.
Baker said she has had very few problems on campus, but the shear numbers have compelled her to try to raise awareness of minority issues.
A theater management major, Baker co-directed W&L's first minority production last year. The play, ``Come Down Burning'' by Kia Corthron, centers around the themes of living in poverty and abortion.
``This campus is very different than any other I've been to. ... The student body comes from very wealthy families. It amazes me how intelligent they are, but how they ignore most of society,'' Baker said.
``Many don't realize that there are people out there who are poor. And that if they're poor and they have kids that are sent to inferior school systems, then they're not getting the same opportunities as you are. And the more you can make them see that, the more you can at least learn about racism and where it comes from and, hopefully, repair some of those damages.''
Net results
Baker, who in 1993 became W&L's first All-American in women's tennis, is undefeated in singles matches this season and is preparing for her fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament. She is hoping to improve on last year's performance, when she lost in the second round of the individual competition.
``What I'm trying to do this year is look into the things I want to change in my game. OK, I want to improve my serve. I want to improve my stamina on the court,'' she said.
``So, my goal at nationals is to play the best I can. And if the best I can do is winning it, that's fine. But if I go there and give it my best shot and my best shot is top eight, then I'm happy with that, also.''
Rankin said she would be thrilled to see Baker become W&L's first Division III champion in women's tennis and that she has the skills to do it.
``Marilyn's biggest strength is she's extremely smart on the tennis court,'' Rankin said. ``She's very adaptable and has the ability to quickly figure out and break down her opponents. And she has a very well-rounded game. There is lots of stuff Marilyn can do.''
After graduation, Baker plans to train during the summer at a camp, teach tennis and work toward playing on an amateur satellite circuit. She hopes to earn enough points to play in a professional tournament by next year and turn pro by 1997.
``It's very hard getting to the pros, which I don't think people realize,'' she said. ``All the professional events have wild cards, and to get one you have to know someone. And there's luck involved.
``You just have to get your name out, let people know you're persistent and working very hard, and that's what I plan to do.''
by CNB