Sophomore Daniel Moreiras has made an immediate impact on the UTSA men's tennis team in his first two seasons as a Roadrunner. The 2007 San Antonio Express-News Player of the Year has picked up where he left off from last season. Moreiras is off to a combined 7-4 record early in the 2009 season. He has teamed up with junior Rodrigo Morgado to post a 4-2 doubles mark this season and is 3-2 in singles play. Moreiras sat down with goUTSA.com this week to share his thoughts on this year's team, his future and his game.
Before we get to the tennis, what is something that most people don't know about you?
"Now that I have kind of lost my accent, people don't know until I tell them that I am from South America. I was born in Argentina and grew up in Venezuela. I've been in San Antonio for about eight years. I moved here when I was 12."
Tell us a little about the transition from South America to the United States.
"It was pretty hard in the beginning because I didn't know any English. I knew a little because I had come a couple summers before for tennis camps and stuff, but that was all. Coming here and going straight to school where nobody spoke Spanish was kind of hard. Once you're thrown into something like that, though, it's kind of easy to pick it up at least the basics."
What brought your family to San Antonio?
"My dad is a tennis coach here. We just came because he found a job here. He coaches at the Jewish Community Center. It's nice in the United States. Everything is much easier. In Venezuela, it was difficult and dangerous."
Why did you choose UTSA?
"Coach Trittenwein is obviously here in San Antonio and he knows my dad since they are both tennis coaches. Coach "T" actually came out once to watch a player from Canada play in a tournament here. I was that guy's opponent and I ended up winning the match. I think that was one of the first times he ever saw me play and he became interested. Also, I wanted to stay close to home. I definitely didn't want to leave Texas. My family is here, so I would much rather just stay here in San Antonio."
You had a big impact in your freshman year on this team. What kind of role do you feel you have on the team in only your second season?
"I am very verbal when I play. I work hard on the courts and in the gym. I try and bring up the teammate's intensity during matches by getting them fired up and helping them playing better. I just try to do what I can for the team by going out there and playing hard. My goal is to try and win my point for the team every match."
What about off the courts?
"I think I have the respect of all the guys. They see how hard I work. I think they respect me in general, academically and on and off the court. They know that I'll be there for them if they ever need anything."
Being that you have a lot of foreign players on this team, could you talk a little about the team dynamic and the team communication?
"Three of the guys are Brazilian, so they don't have any trouble communicating with each other. There's a guy from Mexico, and then myself, and we both speak Spanish. We can all pretty much understand each other. Even in English, even though some of the guys have a thick accent, we can still pretty much understand each other."
What's your most memorable moment on the court so far as a Roadrunner?
"I would say it was last year at the conference tournament. We played UTA in the semis. I lost to the guy I played earlier in the year. The score was tied at three and I lost my match, the point and it cost us the win. It was a really tough three-setter. When I played him in the conference tournament, I beat him to take the fourth point and it gave us the win and moved us into the finals. I played really well and it felt really good having the chance to beat him."
Do you have a pre and post-match ritual that you follow?
"It just depends on my mood. Sometimes I like to listen to something hard or some techno to get me pumped up. Sometimes I'll listen to classical to mellow me out. I don't have anything particular that I listen to. I always wear wristbands and my hat though. I don't think I've ever played a match without my hat. Post match is pretty much just about icing my whole body down and stretching, so I don't get hurt."
What is your major?
"I am a mechanical engineering major. I'm sure what I want to do with that yet, so I am going through the program and figuring it out. I've still have plenty of time to figure things out."
