The SAAC Student-Athlete Spotlight is a weekly series that will highlight and promote senior Zag student-athletes on and off the playing field. This week's student athlete is Domonique Garley from Women's Tennis.
 
Domonique is a Kinesiology major and was named to the Fall 2017 Dean's List. Domonique is currently the captain of the team and ranked No. 79 in singles nationally.
 
We caught up with the senior from Fort Worth, Texas, to gain some insight on her experience as a student-athlete at Gonzaga.
 
What is your favorite memory as a Zag?
Traveling with my team to new places and getting to experience college tennis.
 
What does it mean to be a Zag?
Being a Zag mean that you are the best you can possibly be, not just for yourself but for those around you.
 
What are you hoping to do with your degree post-graduation?
I am hoping to go to graduate school for athletic training.
 
Favorite Sports Team?
Juventus.
 
Favorite musical artist?
Dan & Shay.
 
Favorite food?
Pizza.
 
Favorite sports-related movie?
Remember the Titans.
 
If you could go on a vacation, where would you go and why?
I would love to travel to Barcelona because I have heard it is beautiful.
 
What attracted you to Gonzaga?
The community and the tennis program.
 
Favorite community service event at Gonzaga?
Trunk or treat because it allows families to interact with the student-athletes and get to know us while having a good time out in the community.
 
What do you like most about being a student-athlete at Gonzaga?
The family aspect. All sports teams are really close, and we all support one another, which I think is an important part.
 
What do you enjoy most about playing this sport?
Having seven new sisters and getting to play the sport that I love at a high level.
 
Do you have any pre-game/match rituals?
Before every match warm up, I tend to do 30 minutes of hitting one-on-one with the coaches to get the nerves out.
 
What are some of the nicknames your teammates call you by?
Domo.
 
Who is your role model and why?
My mom. She is just a strong person and always has led by example. Her children are the most important things in her life, and I admire that a lot.
 
A weird fact about you that people may not know:
Giraffes are my favorite animals.
 
A favorite quote you live by:
We focus on what we can control. And what we can't control, we don't think about. That's wasted energy.
 
What were your first thoughts/feelings/emotions when competing as a Division I athlete for your first time?
Nerves were a huge part of that first day. It's a lot different than juniors due to the team aspect, you never want to let your team or coaches down.
 
What team do you look most forward to when playing them and why?
Pepperdine. They are the best in our conference which means it will always be a tough match, but a great learning experience.
 
What are some of your team or personal goals?
We want to win the conference this year and to make it to the NCAAs. A personal goal of mine was to be ranked this year.
 
How has being an athlete helped you in the classroom?
As a student-athlete, you learn a really valuable skill: time management. We are always 15 minutes early to anything tennis related so you kind of adopt that mentality and use it for school, whether that is showing up early or turning assignments in early.
 
What would you say is the hardest part of your sport?
Waking up early for training can sometimes be a challenge. We work so hard that sometimes getting up is the hardest part of the day.
 
What is the biggest challenge as a student-athlete?
Missing classes is definitely the biggest challenge. Due to matches and having to travel for them on weekdays, we tend to miss a lot of class, which is hard because then you don't get the lecture from your professor.
 
Why is community service important to your role as a student-athlete at Gonzaga?
As Zags, we are always encouraged to give back to the community. Our community is very supportive of Gonzaga and very involved, so it is only right and fair that we return the favor and help out in any way possible.
 
What advice do you have for prospective Gonzaga student-athletes?
Enjoy your time while you can. College goes by so fast, but you make so many lifelong friends that it's important to enjoy every aspect of it.