University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Gophers Name Captains for 2020-21 Season
9/15/2020 12:09:00 PM | Tennis
Hear from Juliet Zhang and River Hart on the being named co-captains.
MINNEAPOLIS- There will be two new captains donning the Maroon & Gold this season.Â
Head Coach Catrina Thompson has named seniors Juliet Zhang and River Hart co-captains for the 2020-21 season. Thompson cited their strong bond and communication skills as some of the reasons why.
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"First and foremost they have the respect and trust of their teammates, team staff and coach. They are able to communicate well and take accountability of both their own and the teams actions. I have complete faith in both of them to be successful leaders and communicate the messages that need to be given to the team from our coaching staff, so we are always on the same page."
Zhang, a native of Vancouver, B.C., has been a key piece for the Gophers since transferring from UNLV two seasons ago. She showcased her skills in both singles and doubles. Zhang leads the Big Ten in overall singles record over the past two seasons with a 28-7 record. She also holds a 27-3 doubles record with the Gophers.Â
"Being named captain means taking responsibility and leading my team towards our goals," Zhang said. "Being the captain also means leading by example for the rest of my teammates."Â
Zhang also wants to create a strong network of communication within the team, "My goal is to create an open environment oriented with trust and open communication within my team. My teammates should feel free to come to me with any concerns or questions."
Zhang shares a special bond with her co-captain and roommate, River Hart.Â
"Me and Juliet were friends before college. We already had a strong connection throughout juniors and it only continued to grow over the past two years together," said Hart. "We really understand one another and have each other's backs no matter the situation. We think communication will be key for us this year as well as setting a good example. I'm excited to be co-captains with her and I believe we will make a great team."Â
Hart, a native of Nassau, Bahamas, has been a consistent contributor in her three year career with the Gophers. In 2018-2019, Hart was named most-improved player. She has a career record of 30-14 in singles and 42-20 in doubles. As a doubles pairing, Zhang and Hart compiled a 9-1 record last season.Â
In her senior season, Hart isn't taking being named captain lightly, "Being named captain along with Juliet is a really big honor for me. I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to step up and bring our team together to be the strongest we can be."
Along with Zhang, Hart wants emphasis team communication and relationships, "I will use this role to help guide our team in the right direction and bring lots of positive energy to everything we do. I also want to be someone that my teammates can easily come talk to and confide in. Communication is really important, so having that relationship with Coach Thompson and the team is vital to me."
While both of the co-captains display good leadership abilities, their styles of leadership differ.Â
"They know each other's strengths and how to balance and help each other out when problem solving situations. They both bring different personality styles and strengths to the table and together do a good job of feeding off each other's energy," says Thompson. "I am looking forward to watching them continue to grow and lead our program."