On Sept. 22, senior captain Natalie Debowski announced her commitment to play tennis at the University of Rochester via Instagram.
Debowski is primarily a doubles player. Outside of being on the Westfield team, she plays for Strand Tennis Center in Chatham NJ. This is where Debowski’s tennis skills have blossomed as she has spent several years learning and developing her skills with those coaches.
Debowski has had a successful Westfield career while being on the varsity team for three years. During the 2022 season her sophomore year, Debowski and her doubles partner were ranked top 16 in the state and were named to the Group 4 third team on nj.com. The duo also won the North 2, Group 4 sectional tournament that same year. The following year in 2023, the team also made it to the North 2, Group 4 sectional tournament finals, and placed third overall in the Union County Tournament.
Coming off of that successful sophomore season, Debowski knew playing tennis at a collegiate level was the path she wanted to take. Debowski said, “I felt that the University of Rochester was the best fit for me. After seeing the school and learning about the curriculum, I knew it was where I wanted to play.”
The University of Rochester is a private university located in Monroe County, New York. The school has a 36 percent acceptance rate and was recently named a 2024 New Ivy by Forbes Magazine. Being ranked 47 in National Universities, Debowski wishes to carry her smarts and academic drive over to the Rochester community. Debowski said, “The academics were an important part of my commitment process. I feel that the programs at Rochester will fit whatever I decide to do in the future.”
Her Westfield teammates are excited to see her continue her tennis career. Co-cpatin, Bianca Vesuna said, “[Debowski] brings a lot of energy onto the team and I have seen her grow so much as an individual and an athlete.”
The University of Rochester women’s tennis team competes in the NCAA as a Division III program in the Liberty League. Debowski will join the team in the fall of 2025 and hopes to add her positive energy and strong doubles skills to this community.
