In Belarus, where every sport is overshadowed by a winter sport, Anton Stryhas has put the spotlight on tennis and used his athletic ability to continue his career while receiving a college education.

While at Sacramento State, Stryhas has been named the first team all-Big Sky Conference in three seasons and is on pace to make it a fourth.

In 2009, Stryhas and teammate Kiryl Harbatsiuk became the first Hornet doubles team to advance to the NCAA tournament, where they reached the second round.

Stryhas, a senior, grew up in the country’s capital of Minsk, where he initially played ice hockey before getting his hands on a tennis racket.

“My dad was a hockey player, so he wanted me to play ice hockey,” Stryhas said. “I couldn’t really skate, so he told me to pick whatever sport I wanted to play and tennis looked interesting to me.”

Stryhas has earned the Big Sky Conference’s Player of the Week six times in his career.He began in tennis not knowing it would be his true calling.

“I would say a year after I started, I was the best player in my section,” Stryhas said. “I beat every kid I played.”

The problem Stryhas faced was that Belarus was not athlete-friendly.

“If you’re an athlete, you’re not represented in school,” he said. “So if you are in school you’re studying academics only. There are no leagues or divisions in high school or college.”

In Belarus, club sports are the only way athletes can play organized competitive sports. Athletes participate in the leagues until they are 18. After that, the athletes can decide whether or not they want to try to turn professional.

Stryhas said the only people who attempt to go professional are the people have money.

Even the great players in Belarus have a difficult time becoming a professional.

“To try and go professional costs a lot of money, Stryhas said. “If you do not become sponsored you will need to pay your own way to tournaments and traveling costs.”

However, if someone wanted to go to college instead of attempting to play professional tennis, the options are limited.

Colleges allow students to study only one particular subject in Belarus. The opportunity to choose is restricted.

“Universities back home are really concentrated on a particular subject,” Stryhas said. “You are very limited on your choices of what you want to study.”

The information handed out by the colleges in Belarus is taught in a different manner than in the United States.

“Back home, the academics are so outdated.” Stryhas said. “The material is based on theoretical ideas. Here, the material is hands-on, which makes it more useful.”

Stryhas sought to come to the U.S. for a specific reason.

“I wanted more of an opportunity to choose my career while receiving a higher education,” Stryhas said. “The main reason I chose to come to the United States and play tennis was to extend my tennis career.”

Even with the extreme lifestyle changes Stryhas faced, his game did not falter.

Stryhas is the team’s captain for a second consecutive year.

“I have improved greatly in all aspects since coming to Sacramento,” Stryhas said. “We practice a lot and work on our swings all the time.”

Marko Starcevic, junior tennis player, said Stryhas’ attitude and character toward the game sets a strong example for the team.

“He is a good leader. He speaks well (and) he can motivate us,” Starcevic said. “In general, he is a really good player with lots of experience.”

Junior tennis player Joe DeGuzman said Stryhas’ ability is unmatched.

“He is the best,” DeGuzman said. “There is nothing he can do better on the court.”

DeGuzman also said Stryhas helps to keep the team focused.

Stryhas’ academic goals are to continue school, receive a degree in business and pursue other avenues in the tennis field.

“I’m thinking of going for my master’s after I graduate,” Stryhas said. “I want to stick around and maybe become an assistant to the tennis team while I am getting my master’s.”

Sergio Saldana can be reached at [email protected]