The Maize South boys tennis team has a rising star in its ranks: Carlos Bautista-Canon. As a determined player, Bautista is not only known for his natural talent, but for his drive for success. His journey is one that begins with a remarkable story about his home country and love for tennis.
Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, Bautista and his family moved to Kansas when he was 12 because of his dad’s career.
“We planned on only staying in the United States for a year, but my dad chose a different career path which allowed us to stay much longer than we originally had planned,” Bautista said.
Colombia is known for being a very biodiverse country with 60 million hectares of its land covered by woods. When asked about Bogotá, Bautista explains how growing up, he and his family lived on a farm.
“It had lots of hills with chickens, pigs, and cows. My mom was a vet and she had a boarding service, oftentimes with up to 20 dogs living with us,” Bautista said. Bautista’s living situation wasn’t the only remarkable comparison between the two countries: the food Colombia provided is something that Bautista misses most, and he labels it as the biggest difference.
“Colombian food is not Mexican food, regardless of what you might hear,” Bautista said. “While most people consider Colombian food to be spicy, it hardly ever is.”
Overall, his travels from his home country to Emporia, and later Maize, have been one filled with adventure. His natural talent for tennis has proved him to be a rising player in the singular year he’s represented Maize South. His passion shows as he spends his week vigorously training at Genesis Health Club and constantly seeking improvement.
Bautista, who primarily competes in singles, play
s with a unique style. Whether it’s a challenging opponent or a pressure-filled match, Bautista has tried his best in keeping a calm exposure during competition.
“Emotions play a big part in tennis whenever you’re playing an important tournament,” Bautista said. “However, I’m still learning how to control these emotions while on the court so I don’t get caught up in them.”
When asked about his main source of motivation, Bautista answers that his father has encouraged him in his tennis journey.
“I try to imitate his hard working, optimistic and determined mindset,” Bautista said. “He always achieves anything he sets his mind to, which I therefore would like to do as well. “He was the one who mentioned that the college he played at [Emporia State] was giving tennis lessons, so I decided to give it a go.”
Cyrielle Peyroche, Bautista’s previous coach at Emporia High, describes him as a standout player for their team.
“He was a very coachable player from the start, which allowed him to progress quickly,” Peyroche said. “He always tried to apply the instructions and advice as best he could. [Bautista] is a player with lots of potential and a great IQ both on and off the court.” She looks forward to continuing her support for his career.
As Bautista continues to develop his game for his upcoming junior and senior seasons, there is no doubt he has a bright future ahead in the world of tennis. Students are encouraged to come out and support Bautista and the rest of Maize South’s boys tennis team as they start their much-awaited season in early March.
