Edison’s Mercedes Barraza
Tulsa Edison senior Mercedes Barraza has spent years sharpening one of the most individual sports in high school athletics, but she says tennis has also taught her how to grow alongside a team.
Barraza, a varsity player for the Edison High School Lady Eagles, said she has played tennis since sixth grade and has developed a style rooted in one clear strength.
“I’ve played tennis since the sixth grade,” Barraza said. “The biggest part of my game has always been my serve.”
That serve has helped define her on the court, but Barraza said her senior season also has pushed her to focus on the mental side of competition.
“One part of my game I’m working on is my mentality,” Barraza said. “It’s been really easy to let go of the match early because it’s my senior year instead of fighting a bit more.”
Her perspective reflects the challenge of a sport that can test both physical skill and emotional balance. Barraza said one of the hardest parts of being a tennis player is finding separation between competition and the rest of life.
“I find that the toughest part of being a tennis player is separating my tennis life from my personal life,” Barraza said. “I find it easy to get caught up in tournaments and practice, which leads to me not having time for my personal social circle.”
Even with those demands, Barraza said the team environment at Edison has remained a source of joy.
“The dynamic of the Edison tennis team is one that baffles me daily,” Barraza said. “There’s a mix of so many different personalities and yet everyone has such a great time together.”
She also sees her role at Edison as bigger than wearing school colors. Barraza said representing the Lady Eagles means honoring coach Keith Hinds, who has shaped her on and off the court.
“Representing Edison is more than just representing the school but representing our coach,” Barraza said. “Coach Keith Hinds has been a huge part of my life the past seven years and has left an impact on how I see life in and outside the court.”
After graduation, Barraza plans to attend Oklahoma State and study exercise science before pursuing a master’s degree in occupational therapy. For now, though, she is finishing her high school tennis career with gratitude for the people and lessons that helped define it.
