Top left, Christopher Braaten is surrounded by family members and tennis coaches as he signed his national letter-of-intent to play tennis for the national champion, Dallas Baptist University Patriots. At top right, Braaten serves up one of untested serves in district play this past season. Braaten won his third consecutive singles title, and finished up the season at the state tournament with younger sister, Cassaundra Braaten.

BULLARD – Little did Bullard really realize what a career newly signed Dallas Baptist University tennis player, Christopher Braaten was having as a Panther during the past four years.

Not only in tennis, but Braaten until his senior year played several sports and played them all well.

However, this year cross country got him into shape, and after a winning fall and spring tennis year, Braaten has had time to look back and reflect on his Bullard days, after a trip to state a few months ago.

Make no mistake, however……Braaten is stroking this summer, too.

When asked about trying to pinpoint a highlight over- all while at BHS, there was no one-set event, according to the district singles champion for three years.

“I think each year, the highlight was that I kept getting better and pushing myself farther,” Braaten said. “My freshman year, I got third in a district, where the other two people in front of me both went to state that year, so getting third was an accomplishment.

“The next year, winning third place at regionals as a sophomore in a close tie-breaker and becoming a state alternate, was a huge deal for me, too,” Braaten added. “And then, my junior year was fun at districts when I didn’t lose a game.

Braaten then added in kudos for a change in the BHS program his senior year.

“And, I think this final year as a senior at Bullard, having a coach that really helped me survive the district and regional rounds and then place at state, was really awesome,” Christopher continued, “and to go to state with my little sister and have us support each other was great.

When asked to look back and recall his toughest opposition, Braaten had a few scenarios, but one really stood out.

“I think my toughest match was the regional finals as a senior,” Braaten said. “The guy I played wasn’t very good at all, but I was really nervous and going into the third set was nerve-wracking, but fortunately, coach Bryant knew what she was doing and I made it through it”

No rest for the best either, as Braaten has a few new trophies on the shelf, and hopefully more to come at Nationals.

“This summer I have played in a few tournaments, and the biggest was probably ‘The Highway 80’ Championship tournament in Lubbock.

In the quarterfinals, Braaten had the closest match he had been in for a while, but still prevailed, 7-5 4-6 7-6. After that, Braaten moved on to the title 6-4 6-2. Winning that event qualified Braaten for tournament played in San Antonio this past weekend, the Super Championships.

Going in to the tourney, Braaten knew his competition was going to be among the best.

All this for a great reason. Headed to the national championship team of 2010, Dallas Baptist, Braaten is looking forward to the challenge ahead. He has already become friends with several of the Patriot team members, so the adjustment to the move away from home may not be so difficult.

“I already know most of the patriots who are going to be there next year on the DBU tennis team,” said Braaten. “One other freshman who took second in state in 4A is going to be my roommate, so I’m really pretty excited about college life.”

When asked about kudos to those who got him to this point, it did not take long. “People I want to thank include obviously, my parents,” Christopher began. “They have put up with me and taken me to tennis tournaments for a long time, and they have always been a huge support to me.

“The others are my coaches who have helped teach me the game outside of school,” Braaten then quickly added, “and of course, my high school coaches have been great. “Coach Bryant was a really good coach this last year because she really knows her tennis, and Coach Woodall has been there for me and everyone else on the tennis team, since I was a freshman.”

Wondering what table conversation was like at the Braaten household, Christopher smiled and said, “Growing up in a tennis family is pretty cool.

“We are all usually pretty competitive over just about anything possible,” the new BHS grad said. “When I was a freshman, Amber and I would always get into these arguments, because someone would ask us which one of us was better,” the only brother said, “and as we both got older, we don’t quit arguing over it.

“Now, Amber, Cassaundra, and I are still very competitive off the court, but on it we don’t play too seriously against each other all the time on a tennis court.”

But having the family inspiration has made a huge difference for Christopher.

“The reason that I started tennis in sixth grade is because my older sister was playing it, and I wanted to beat her,” Braaten explained, “and after Cassaundra saw how competitive me and Amber were, she really started to get serious about the sport.”

Big sis also spurred on another goal for the three-time district champ.

“After Amber signed with a college and really got her dream of playing tennis past the high school level, I decided that I was going to do the same thing, and I think Cassaundra has plans for doing the same thing when she gets the chance.”

One bragging right Christopher can hold over his older sister, Amber, before he even plays his first collegiate match, is that DBU beat Amber’s school (Palm Pacific University) in the NCCAA championships this season.