Tomas Blanco

Tomas Blanco is a talented left-handed tennis player from Argentina who dreamed of continuing his tennis career and education in the United States.

However, like many international student-athletes, Tomas knew very little about the American college tennis recruiting process. He did not know which athletic division suited his playing level, which universities offered the right academics, what locations he should consider, or how much different colleges would ultimately cost.

Choosing a university would be one of the biggest decisions of his life—and Tomas and his family needed experienced guidance throughout the entire process.

That is when they turned to Recruited.

Navigating a Completely New College Tennis System

The American college system can feel overwhelming for an international tennis player.

Tomas had questions about everything. Should he pursue NCAA or NAIA tennis? Which programs would help him develop the most as a player? Which schools offered the academic opportunities he wanted? Where would he feel comfortable living? Most importantly, which universities could provide enough scholarship funding to fit his family’s budget?

Finding a college tennis program was only one part of the challenge. Tomas needed to find a university that worked athletically, academically, personally, and financially.

Recruited helped Tomas and his family understand every part of the process. We evaluated potential programs, explained the differences between schools, prepared Tomas for conversations with coaches, and helped his family compare each opportunity carefully.

More Than Eight Calls With College Coaches

Our search produced significant interest from college tennis programs across the United States.

Tomas participated in more than eight calls with college coaches, giving him the opportunity to learn about different teams, universities, training environments, and scholarship packages.

After each conversation, our team helped Tomas and his parents break down the opportunity. We discussed the coach, roster, academics, location, cost, playing opportunities, and Tomas’s potential development within the program.

There were also numerous conversations between Recruited, Tomas’s family, and the interested coaches. The goal was never to send Tomas to the first school that offered him a roster spot. We wanted to find the university where every important piece came together.

Finding an Affordable College Tennis Opportunity

Affordability was a major factor in Tomas’s college decision.

Although several programs were interested, some universities remained too expensive even after their initial scholarship offers. Recruited worked directly with coaches to negotiate stronger financial packages and reduce the total cost for Tomas and his family.

Scholarship negotiation can make the difference between receiving an offer and being able to accept it. By maintaining communication with coaches and clearly presenting Tomas’s value as a student-athlete, we helped turn interest into a realistic and affordable college opportunity.

Eventually, one school separated itself from the rest: the University of Pikeville in Kentucky.

The Complete Fit at the University of Pikeville

The University of Pikeville offered everything Tomas and his family had been searching for.

The cost fit their budget. The academic options aligned with Tomas’s goals. He connected with the coach and felt comfortable with his future teammates. The location also offered him the opportunity to experience life in the United States while focusing on his education and tennis development.

UPIKE competes in NAIA tennis, giving Tomas the chance to represent a competitive college program while continuing to improve his game.

After more than eight coach calls, numerous family discussions, detailed school comparisons, and extensive scholarship negotiations, Tomas had found the right home.

A New Beginning in the United States

Tomas is now preparing to leave Argentina and begin an exciting new chapter as a student-athlete at the University of Pikeville.

We believe he will improve tremendously within the program—not only as a tennis player, but also as a student and a person. He will have the opportunity to compete, earn his degree, build lifelong friendships, and experience life in the United States.

His journey demonstrates what successful international college tennis recruiting should look like. It is not simply about finding a team. It is about finding the right combination of tennis, academics, coaching, teammates, location, and affordability.

For Tomas, the University of Pikeville provided that complete fit.

Looking for an Affordable College Tennis Scholarship?

International players often assume that studying and playing college tennis in the United States will be too expensive. However, the right recruiting strategy—and effective scholarship negotiation—can create opportunities that families may not realize are available.

Recruited helps international tennis players identify suitable universities, communicate with college coaches, compare scholarship offers, and find programs that match their athletic, academic, and financial goals.

Tomas found his opportunity at the University of Pikeville. Your college tennis journey could be next.

Start your college tennis recruiting process with Recruited today.