ROCKINGHAM — Mason Bailey, a senior on the Richmond Senior High School tennis team, has been named the Official Richmond County Male Athlete of the Week.
One of a handful of seniors on this year’s Raider tennis squad, Bailey proved to be the most successful player on the court in the team’s two matches last week. Finding success competing in his first season in singles action, this is Bailey’s first career Athlete of the Week recognition.
Athletic Profile
Age: 18
Birthday: Nov. 7, 2000
Year: Senior
Spring Sport: Tennis
Seed: No. 4 Player
Years on Varsity: 4 Years
Height & Weight: 5-9, 155 pounds
Experience: 4 Years
SERVING UP THE FACTS WITH MASON BAILEY
RSHS Academics: Bailey is in his final semester of his high school career, and is set to graduate from Richmond in June. But he doesn’t have the classic case of senioritis, as he’s taking a heavy course load to cap off his final year.
Enrolled in the Advanced Placement cluster, Bailey is taking six classes this spring. Two of them, Macroeconomics and History 132, he takes at Richmond Community College, while the other four he takes at Richmond. Rounding out his schedule are AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Earth and Environmental Science and AP English Literature.
“I really like my online computer science class because it’s not something we usually do,” Bailey explained. “We learn about basic coding and it’s pretty interesting to enter something in a computer and get an answer. For our final exam project, we have to create a game using codes.”
Bailey is ranked in the top five of his class, and is an A Honor Roll student. His current weighted grade point average is a 4.7321. Around campus, he’s also involved in the National Beta Club and National Honor Society.
Future Plans: Working diligently in the classroom as a senior, Bailey hopes to see his hard work pay off for college. While he’s “still waiting” to hear back from several universities, he’s already been accepted to the University of Virginia and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
He’s waiting to hear back from an impressive list of schools, including Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, Duke University and Wake Forest University.
“When I was applying for schools, I realized there was a chance I could get into these schools,” Bailey said. “They would all be a great opportunities, and I think Yale would be really cool. I’ll hear back from all of them by April 1.”
In terms of what he’d like to major in, Bailey is considering economics. He’s not set on what area of the field he’s going to pursue, but explained that working as a Chief Financial Officer for a company is something he’s considering.
Athlete of the Week Stats: Competing in his fourth season with the program, and his first in singles competition, Bailey has become one of Richmond’s most consistent players on the court. After last week’s two matches, he’s riding a three-match winning streak.
Against Purnell Swett High School, a 5-4 Richmond win on March 5, Bailey defeated Josiah Brooks 7-5, 6-2 for his first career singles win. In its next match, Richmond fell to Jack Britt 8-1, but Bailey’s 7-5, 1-0 victory over Dylan Freeman was the team’s lone win of the afternoon.
In last Thursday’s 7-2 win over Hoke County High School, Bailey breezed past his opponent 6-1, 6-0. He also paired up with teammate Adam Morrison in the No. 2 doubles match, holding off the Bucks 8-6.
Bailey returns a ball during Richmond’s win over Hoke County last week.
RAPID FIRE – FAST RESPONSES
1) How is your senior season going so far? How are you acclimating to singles play?
“I’ve been ready to play singles for a while and was on the No. 3 doubles team last year,” he said. “I’m excited to be on the court and prove myself, and I’ve seen some growth. I’m getting more comfortable playing, and the No. 4 seed is a good spot for me because I have challenging matches but also an opportunity to win.”
2) As one of the team’s seniors, what are you trying to do to help the team be successful?
“I try to recruit people to come out for the team, and this year I got Adam (Morrison) to join,” Bailey said. “I see myself as a leader and I try to always lead by example. I teach some of the new guys the proper etiquette on the court.”
3) Who is a role model you look up to and why?
“My mom, Paige Bailey,” he said. “She’s a single parent and has had to put up with me and raise me. She’s always kind to people, she’s selfless and she’s had to persevere through hardships.”
4) Name an interesting fact about yourself that many people may not know.
“I’m an Eagle Scout with Troop 64 in Rockingham,” Bailey noted. “I got it just before my birthday last year. I renovated the playground at First United Presbyterian Church, which was mostly laying down mulch. I also built a bench and did some cleaning of the playground.”
Coach’s Corner: Head coach Patrick Hope explained that Bailey has emerged as one of the team’s most consistent players, while also adapting well to his new role in singles play.
“For as long as I’ve known him, Mason has been a very consistent player,” Hope said. “He’s a kid who will do what’s asked of him and do more when he can. He’s a high academic kid and he understands how to balance being a student-athlete.
“He got three big wins for us in our last couple of matches,” he concluded. “He’s a player who has always been able to adjust, especially with a new doubles partner. That’s one of his best traits.”
