Freshman Blaise Bicknell announced his presence at UF with a comeback win at No. 6 singles in last week's home match against Texas. (Photo: Courtney Culbreath/UAA Communications)
An Island Attitude Has Helped Gators Freshman Bicknell Adjust
Wednesday, January 22, 2020 | Men's Tennis
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By: Zach Seifter, FloridaGators.com correspondent
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – As he wiped the sweat off his forehead and looked up at the scoreboard, he realized his chances of victory were slim. The scoreboard flashed 5-0 in favor of Cleeve Harper.
Florida Gators freshman Blaise Bicknell had to find a way to get on the board against his University of Texas opponent. One more game lost would mean landing in a one-set hole, forcing him to win the next two to pull out a victory.
It was time to put on the rally cap.
Bicknell reached back to his roots, and in his head heard the words of one of his favorite artists, reggae legend Bob Marley, whose home country, Jamaica, is where Bicknell hails from.
"Every little thing gonna be alright."
All of a sudden, he was back. Bicknell could smell the fresh Caribbean air, hear the crash of the waves along the warm sand on the Jamaican shore, feel the light smack of the ball as it connects with his racket during practice with his grandfather Mark McConnell, a former tennis player himself. He was home.
It allowed him to calm down, focus and lock in.
And from there, it was go-time.
Florida freshman Blaise Bicknell reacts during his comeback win over Cleeve Harper of Texas last week at Linder Stadium. (Photo: Anissa Dimilta/ UAA Communications)
Bicknell rallied to win seven straight games, storming back to take the first set over Harper. In the second set, he won six of eight games, taking the set and securing a victory in the match. It truly was something to see.
"I've worked hard for this and just needed to get locked in and take some deep breaths." - Freshman Blaise Bicknell 💬#TBT to Blaise's first-set comeback, down 5-0, en route to a 7-5, 6-2 win over Texas' Cleeve Harper
"It's pretty neat," said Gators head coach Bryan Shelton following the match against the Longhorns. "You know, he's a young buck, but you know, he's a gamer. And [I'm] just really proud that he didn't back off, you know, going down 5-0 and, even when he won that first game, he gives the fist pump and finally got on the board.
"Who would've thought he was going to reel off seven in a row, to win that first set? So, I think that was a confidence-booster for him for sure. He's got a lot of game and he does so many explosive things out there on the court that a lot of people can't do. So, I think the future's very bright for him."
That explosiveness on the court is something that he developed over a long time. It all started at the age of 2 in Kingston, Jamaica. Bicknell was young and athletic, like his father and grandfather. His grandfather saw the potential he had on the tennis court and began teaching him the game.
Bicknell began competing in many different tournaments, continually improving. He went on to win the Jamaica Cup in 2017. He knew his potential and upside was huge, but he wouldn't get where he wanted to go in Jamaica.
So, at 16 he packed his bags and left for Miami. His family stayed behind, forcing Bicknell to follow his dreams in the United States without his biggest supporters. The transition was a challenge.
"It was different for sure because life is a lot slower in Jamaica," Bicknell said. "Especially in Kingston and coming to Miami, I just had to adapt really."
It didn't take him long to adapt on the court. Bicknell enrolled at Laurel Springs High School in Miami and began making a name for himself. He would become a 5-star blue chip recruit, the 13th-ranked high school player in the country and third-ranked player in Florida. He became the 2019 Grade 2 Panaceo ITF Junior Cup Doubles Champion and the 2019 Delray Beach Singles Champion.
That was good enough to get him offers from different schools. The final choice came down to Wake Forest and Florida.
"But when I came on my visit, I found that the coaches here were much more focused and the guys seemed more serious,'' Bicknell said. "So, I knew I wanted to come here."
That decision has paid dividends thus far. Bicknell has won all four of his singles matches in his debut season with the Gators and is becoming a key contributor for a team that was ranked No. 1 in the country prior to last week's loss to second-ranked Texas.
Bicknell's comeback win over Harper is one of the Gators' highlights of the early season.
If all goes to plan, he will contribute to a national championship team and make his way to the pro circuit.
But, as things go in Jamaica, Bicknell wants to take things slowly. And if he faces adversity along the way, like 5-0 deficits, he won't flinch.
