YCHS girls’ tennis team embraces player from Serbia

Andjela Todorovic, a foreign exchange student from Serbia, has joined the York Comprehensive High School girls’ tennis team this season.

“Andjela has done really well since becoming part of our team,” said head coach Rusty Graham. “Everybody has accepted her. They know she’s the best player. There’s no drama. Everybody is pulling together.”

Todorovic said she’s been moved by how she’s been accepted by the other players.

“I know I am new here,” she said. “People have been very nice. When I first came here and met the players, they made me feel welcome.”

Todorovic said tennis is a bigger attraction in Serbia than in the United States.

“Most of the players have taken private lessons,” said Todorovic, who has been playing tennis since age 7. “I’ve played a lot of tennis to have fun, but this is the first time I’ve played real matches.”

Todorovic said playing the team has helped her improve.

“I have more confidence in my forehand than I do using my backhand,” she said. “I think my serve is getting better. If I fail to get my first serve in, I try to keep it in play on my second serve. I don’t like to go to the net. I prefer to stay back and hit ground strokes.”

Senior Heather Bomar, whose forehand stroke is among the best in the region, speaks in glowing terms of her new teammate.

“Andjela is fantastic,” said Bomar. “She’s a great asset to our team. Her serves are amazing, forehands, backhands.”

Added Bomar: “She’s really helped our team a lot. We couldn’t ask for anything better.”

Since joining the team, Todorovic has replaced Bomar in the No. 1 singles spot. The two have also been successeful when paired for doubles matches, such as during the tie-breaker against Gaffney.

“It was kind of funny,” said Bomar. “She told the coach she had homework and was ready to go home. We played, we had fun and we won.”

Bomar is proud of the YCHS tennis program.

“This year’s team is competitive,” she said. “Over the years, we’ve just been getting better and better. This year, we don’t have as many as we thought we would, but it’s a good team.”

Added Bomar: “We have good girls who are working their hardest. “I am very proud of each and every one of them We all support each other. It’s like one big family.”

Bomar said her senior year is special.

“I started off playing high school tennis for coach Clark (Ben),” she said. “Next it was coach Suggs (Phil) and now we have coach Graham.”

She feels good about finishing her career with the current coach.

“I enjoy playing for coach Graham,” she said. “He helps all of us.”

Todorovic echoes Bomar’s sentiments. “I think we have a great coach,” she said. “He keeps me relaxed and has much energy.”

Though she is enjoying the student exchange program, Todorovic admits she misses her country.

“Everything is different here,” she said. “We don’t have as many fast food chains as you do here. We prefer cooked meals.

She said she has at McDonald’s, but it didn’t satisfy her taste buds.

“I do like Zaxby’s chicken,” she said.

However, Todorovic has found home football games to her liking.

“It’s a neat atmosphere, the football team, band and cheerleaders,” she said. Playing tennis at YCHS, Todorovic has gotten caught up in the local rivalry.

Asked about a minor foot injury that slowed her a tad last week, she replied, “We’re playing Clover next week. I will be ready for that.”

This story was originally published September 22, 2015 at 11:04 AM with the headline "YCHS girls’ tennis team embraces player from Serbia."