Silver City, N.M. – To kick off "Meet the Mustang Staff Monday," Western New Mexico University's Men's and Women's Tennis Teams are not letting Covid-19 affect their fall season.
The Mustangs are led by first year Head Coach Alex Hunt and Graduate Assistant Annely Heinze. Hunt is a native of Odessa, Texas, and is one of the youngest head coaches in the nation, at the age of 23. Heinze was a former standout for WNMU (2015-2017), where she was a part of the 2016 RMAC Women's Team Championship.
"While Covid-19 has made things interesting this fall, we are really excited to have our full teams back and competing in the spring," Hunt said.
Director of Athletics, Scott Noble hired Hunt in March of 2020 after a year of being a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Hardin-Simmons University. As a player at HSU, Hunt was full accolades (See bottom article for list of accolades).
"We are going to play with passion. In doing so, it starts with me leading and developing my players as athletes, students, and people. The development will help individuals come together to accomplish team goals, and within those team goals they will see their personal goals being achieved."
Hunt explains this cannot happen without Coach Heinze. Heinze enters her second year as a graduate assistant for the Mustangs and looks to reignite the expectation of greatness to the programs.
"Annely is the backbone for us this season," Hunt explains. "She has built a relationship with each player, keeping them motivated and focused on our team goals."
Originally from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, Heinze made the decision to come to the US after graduating from Tecnologico de Monterrey Campus San Luis in 2012. Thus far, her decision has been unimaginable by being able to play tennis, earn a degree, and now, furthering her education while coaching.
"I am very excited to coach besides Coach Hunt. The little time I have been working with him, I can tell he has a great work ethic and I can't wait to see what we can accomplish together" said Heinze.
When asked about what she is looking forward to this season, Heinze said "With Covid-19 cutting our season short in the spring, I am looking forward to the growth of our players seeing their hard work pay off despite the circumstances."
The Western New Mexico University Men's and Women's Teams will make the journey to Odessa, Texas, September 25-26, as they are set to play in the Permian Basin Mash Up.
Coach Hunt's Accolades:
- 2016 American Southwest Conference (ASC) Freshman of the Year
- 2X ASC Most Valuable Player (2016, 2019)
- 3X First Team All ASC at number one singles (2016, 2017, 2019)
- 3X First Team All ASC at number one doubles (2016, 2018, 2019)
- 3X ASC Doubles Champion (2015, 2016, 2017)
- 2X ASC Singles Champion and ITA Singles Semifinalist (2017, 2018)
- Highest national ranking of #48 in the country (2017-2018)
- ASC Scholar-Athlete Medal of Honor Recipient (2019)
Coach Heinze's Accolades:
- 2016 Women's Tennis Team Championship RMAC
- 2016 Second Team-Singles All-RMAC
- 2016 ITA Scholar-Athlete
