Yannick Wassmer Navarro Named CCS Man of the Year

Yannick has been a leader for us since he arrived on campus. He embodies what Piedmont Tennis is all about - sacrificing the self for the betterment of others. I do not think the conference could have chosen a better representative.

Yannick is a great example of our coaches and student-athletes being committed to the pursuit of excellence and being students first and athletes second. He also represents the diversity in our student-athlete population and the impact that has for our student-athletes to learn and appreciate people from a global community.  I think it is important to point out how Yannick gave back to all the students on campus serving as a peer tutor in math and physics in our campus learning center for three years. He is a great example for all our student-athletes in all the different ways he contributed to our campus outside of being a tremendous tennis player. 

It is a great distinction that Yannick is now the third consecutive winner of this award in our conference. Our coaches work so hard in the recruiting process to bring exceptional student-athletes to our campus. It says a lot about the tremendous relationship and support we have with our faculty and the quality of our academic programs. The commitment that faculty, staff and coaches make to support student-athletes to pursue excellence in every part of their college experience. It is a privilege for all of us to serve such tremendous young people who make up our campus and Yannick is one of the best examples of that commitment.

Yannick's dedication to excellence in the classroom, on the court and in the community is the perfect example for any current or future student athlete. He will be missed by the Piedmont and Northeast Georgia community, but we cannot wait to see what he will accomplish in the future.

I first heard about the idea of studying abroad in the United States when I was around 15. At first, I didn't think much of it, as I felt that moment was far away, but then time quickly passed, and I had to make a choice. I then decided what I thought was best for my future, even though it felt scary. What I didn't know was that it would turn out to be one of the greatest choices of my life. When I first got to the US, I was lucky enough to have the help of one of my teammates and friends Alberto Nunez, who welcomed me and introduced me to people who would later be my friends. This moment made me realize how important it is to be inclusive and how much it means to help people in need. Alberto's selfless act, which probably didn't even cost him anything, meant everything to me, and from that moment, I decided I would try to help other people, even if it is with a small gesture. Alberto was not the only person to help me, in fact, everyone from my team was extremely welcoming and hospitable, which made the radical change from living at home in Spain to going to the US to study so much easier. Since then, my coach has recruited a lot of foreigners, and I have tried my best to make them feel welcome because I know how hard it is to be far away from home.

One particular experience that has had a big impact on me is when our coach, Matt Williams decided to sign us up as volunteers to help set up the 46th edition of the Hogpen Hill Climb, a race that helps support Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit organization that helps build homes for people who cannot afford them. It was a cold day, and it had just snowed in the region, but the experience was great. Seeing all of the runners pass with a smile by the camp I was settled in with some of my teammates made me happy, and it made me realize how easy it is to make someone's day.

Going to college in the United States has taught me many things. It has taught me how to be strong and resilient because being far away from home is not easy, but nothing worth it in life is, the most important thing is to remind ourselves of our goals and remember to push through so we can achieve them. Finally, thanks to the help that my friends and family have given me, I have realized how important it is to help others, because I know what it feels like to need it, and I want other people to feel the same way I did when I received help, because no matter how small it is, if everyone tried to help each other a little bit more, the world would be a much better place.