Senior doubles specialist Hope Bullard sees tennis as more than a sport at Christian Heritage Academy — it is a platform to love others well and live out her faith on and off the court.
Bullard, a varsity player for the Crusaders, says the best part of the game is the people beside her. “The thing I love most about my teammates is how well they love other people,” Bullard said. “Even after losing a match, they still respect their opponent.”
That perspective, she said, comes from watching her biggest role model at home. “The person who inspires me the most is my dad,” Bullard said. “He’s always the first person to volunteer when someone needs help.”
On the court, Bullard has carved out her place in doubles, embracing the unique expectations that come with sharing the baseline. “The hardest part about playing doubles is the pressure to perform for your partner,” she said. “My strength is my forehand and I’m working on elevating my serve.”
Competing in a Christian Heritage uniform adds another layer of meaning to every match. “Representing Christian Heritage is special for me because I get to share with lost people the love of Christ,” Bullard said.
She points to former doubles partner Sienna Brewer as someone who set the standard for effort and attitude. “Sienna Brewer, former doubles partner, left the biggest impression on me,” Bullard said. “She never shied away from hard work.”
Bullard’s goals reach well beyond the high school courts. “After I graduate, I want to be an engineer and fly fighter jets for the US Navy,” she said.
Whether she is chasing a crosscourt winner or a future in the sky, Bullard said athletics has already shaped how she approaches challenges. “Athletics has taught me that hard work always beats talent, and it’s never too late to comeback,” she said.
