Individual success leading to the success of the team.   A simple concept most all athletic teams strive to achieve.

For former Eastern Illinois tennis player Terra Erickson, that is a philosophy she learned as a Panther student-athlete and continues to employ to this day in her current professional career.

Covering the courts at EIU for the women's tennis team between 1992-96, Erickson was part of a successful era that finished with 57 team wins over a four-year span.  As she notes, tennis is an individual sport that each person's success results in the success of the team.

"One might say tennis is an individual sport, however, all of the individuals come together to create a team," said Erickson.  "Fortunately, I was on a team where the individuals took pride in their game, had school spirit and a positive attitude.  When an entire team is filled with positive individuals, has excellent support and guidance, it creates a remarkable experience that will bring memories and lessons to last a lifetime.  That is something I can personally attest to."

That sense of coming together as a team despite working as an individual has carried over to Erickson's current career.  She has worked for more than 13 years with Sportsfield Specialties, Inc., a company that manufactures and sells athletic construction equipment for all levels.  Items from the company can be seen from world class stadiums ranging from Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver and PNC Park in Pittsburgh to high school fields throughout North America.

Erickson currently lives in Naperville, Ill., just under two hours from Roscoe, Ill., where she played at Rockford Harlem High School.  Her current role is the regional manager for the Great Lakes Region and Eastern Canada as the company has recently expanded into the Canadian market.

"It's extremely rewarding to see our products used at high schools, colleges and professional stadiums throughout North America.  I still crack a smile when I get to see our products on the fields as I'm driving by, flying over or catching an event on television.  It's almost the same to me as winning a tennis match!"

Winning tennis matches as an individual is something Erickson should know a little something about.  As her team was collecting wins during her four-year career, Erickson was an important part of those victories.  She finished her career with 51 career singles wins and 49 doubles victories.  Both of those totals rank in the EIU career top ten with her 51 singles wins tied for third.  During a majority of that time, she played at No. 3 singles moving into the No. 2 singles spot during her senior season.  That success did not come without hard work and sacrifice.

"Our conference season was in the spring, but we played in matches during the fall and practiced during the winter in the fieldhouse.  Our conditioning took place in McAfee Gym which does not have air conditioning.   Needless to say it was quite a workout.  The regimen helped keep us disciplined.  Of course there were days we were tired, missed social events and made up class work along the way.  It was during those times that we sharpened our proficiency on staying focused, time management and goal setting; all skills that help us today.  I can now appreciate that discipline, something I doubt I did back then."

Time management, goal setting and team work are all areas that have helped Erickson rise in her professional career.  She has seen the company blossom from its roots in 1998 to become the industry leader in innovative equipment.  As part of her professional and sometimes personal journey she been able to travel to unique places not only in the United States but also around the world.  All of those adventures being things she can relate back to her days at Eastern Illinois.

"When I look back at my experiences as an EIU student-athlete, I often realize the similarities those have to my current career.  I am grateful for the team of co-workers and clients throughout North America that I get to interact with daily.  I can see the pride on the factory floor and carrying that over to our end users who display their brand new facilities to the public.  I have incorporate lessons learned at EIU over the years but realize that without great team members and team work, Sportsfield Specialties Inc., would not be as successful as we are today."

Support of a team is something that drives every successful team and individual.  Erickson earned her degree in marketing from EIU in 1996 but realizes that it was something she did not accomplish without a little encouragement from both her actual family and the EIU athletic family she joined.

"I really appreciate the support of my parents and my brother as I think back to my days on and off the court at EIU.  Not only did they field my phone calls day after day, but they attended my tournaments and matches week after week.  Fortunately all of our players' parents, siblings and friends (our adopted family) cheered us on every moment they could.  On a daily basis it was the coaches that kept us on track and looking at the big picture throughout the year."

The big picture for any team is set in team goals for the year – a winning season, a conference championship, an NCAA appearance, etc.  During Erickson's career the winning season goal was checked off on all four years.  The conference championship column was just missed all four seasons as EIU placed third twice and during her sophomore and junior years the Panthers were runners-up in the Mid-Continent Conference (now the Summit League).  While the success on the court is what goes down in the archives of the program, the bonds formed, memories made and friendships developed, are what players like Erickson reflect on to this day.

"Not only did we win awards for our conference achievements throughout the year, we were successful in the classroom.  During the season we tried our best to enjoy the road trips in the tennis van with mixed tapes and candy snacks.  At home matches we always looked forward to our dinners at Jerry's afterwards.  During our off-time we could be found on the dance floor at Mom's, watching the Trio at Marty's or just plain hanging out.  We always felt inclined to make up for the time we missed while we were away on trips.  While we worked hard on the court and in the classroom, we shared plenty of laughs."

Sport: Women's Tennis
Year: Class of 1996
Major: Marketing