STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton has added six standouts to its inaugural Division I women’s tennis recruiting class under head coach Elianne Miron.
“This is an exciting moment for our program,” said Miron. “Having played Division I tennis [at the University of Washington], it’s special to me to see Tarleton State University make the jump. This university is ready and I can’t wait to compete in the spring against some of the best schools in the country.
“This group of incoming student-athletes are the foundation of our transition to Division I,” she continued. “Throughout the recruiting process, I could feel each girl’s excitement. I know they will embrace the challenge and buy into the culture we are creating here.”
Mihaela Codreanu • Norristown, Penn. • University of Rhode Island
Mihaela Codreanu brings Division I experience to Tarleton Tennis as a graduate transfer from the University of Rhode Island.
“Mihaela is going to bring a lot of depth to our team,” said Miron. “Having played college tennis for four years, she knows what it takes to be successful at the DI level. She gets another chance to end her career on her own terms and I’m very excited to see her leadership skills on display.”
Codreanu comes to Tarleton to pursue a master’s degree in applied psychology and close out her collegiate tennis career that has spent the last three seasons in Rhode Island.
After starring on the court for Methacton High School in Pennsylvania with a career record of 103-9, Codreanu signed on to play for URI and made an immediate impact by playing 25 matches in the No. 1 flight as a true freshman. She won 12 matches in the No. 1 position in the spring of 2017 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 Championships. She was also named to the league’s all-conference second team.
In her Rhode Island career, she won 23 singles matches including 14 in the team’s top position and 19 doubles matches.
“I chose Tarleton State University because it has a strong academic program,” said Codreanu. “I am also looking forward to living in a part of the country that I’ve never lived in before. In addition to that, Coach Miron’s philosophy and mindset resonates with me as a player. I’m excited about this year, especially being a part of the school’s debut in Division I.”
Elsa Boisson • Fontenay-le-Comte, France • Lycée François Rabelais
Elsa Boisson comes to Tarleton after a stellar prep career in France.
“I am thrilled Elsa committed to becoming a Tarleton Texan,” said Miron. “Her wide range of tools on the court will make her very difficult to compete against. I know she will make an immediate impact on our team and will be extremely successful on the court and in the classroom.”
Boisson is a three-time regional champion in France. She has found great success in doubles as the champion of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior J5 in Sousse and the doubles finalist of the J5 in Les-Point-de-Cé. She is the singles champion of the senior tournament in Fontenay-le-Comte. At Tarleton, she intends to major in mathematics.
“I chose Tarleton because of the exciting new Division I challenge ahead,” said Boisson. “I have a really good feeling about my future teammates, the coaching staff and the math department. I am excited to become a Tarleton Texan and can’t wait to create new memories with my team.”
Hadley Jones • Tyler, TX • Homeschool/Grace Community School
Hadley Jones joins the Texan roster after splitting her high school career between Grace Community School and homeschool.
“Hadley is a hard-working, talented young lady,” said Miron. “Her dedication on the tennis court and in the classroom is undeniable. She’s been working hard in the last few years to build her game up and will continue to develop in our competitive environment. I’m excited to see her compete.”
Jones lettered as a freshman and sophomore in tennis at Grace Community, as well one season each of soccer and cross country. She was the 2017 TAPPS District Tennis Champion and qualified for the TAPPS state quarterfinals in back-to-back seasons, including a semifinal berth in 2017. She was named the GCS MVP Scholar in 2016 and plans to major in biomedical science at Tarleton.
“I knew Tarleton was the place for me when I walked onto campus,” said Jones. “I really liked the size of the school and all the traditions. I am most excited about being part of the tennis team and playing at the next level.”
Martha Makantasi • Metamorfisi, Greece • 1st Lyceum Metamorfisis
Martha Makantasi becomes the first student-athlete in Tarleton’s NCAA era from hail from the country of Greece.
“Martha is going to be a firecracker on the court,” said Miron. “Her game is exciting, energetic and fast paced. She is going to make an immediate impact in our lineup, especially in doubles. With her sights set on obtaining an engineering degree, there is no doubt she will be a hard-worker.”
Makantasi played six years for the Kalovelonis Tennis Academy near her hometown of Metamorfosi, Greece. In 2019, she won three different ITF Junior J5 doubles championships and reached a global rank on No. 842 by the ITF. She was also a doubles finalist at the Greece National Tournament.
“My goal is to keep working really hard, have great results as a Texan and give the best I can to help the team,” said Makantasi.
Rose Watanabe • Duvall, Washington • Internet Academy
Rose Watanabe heads south from the pacific northwest to join Tarleton State University as one of the top prep stars in the state of Washington.
“I’m very excited to have Rose join our team,” said Miron. “Her three older siblings played college tennis, so she’s been around that environment for years. She is going to bring so much energy to our team and I’m excited to see her tennis improve to new heights.”
Watanabe is among the top-five 2020 recruits in the state of Washington and is the No. 1-ranked Women’s Open Doubles player in the pacific northwest. She was the Oregon State Open 2019 doubles champion and is a two-time spirit and sportsmanship award winner at the Zone Team Championships. She plans to major in communications.
“I chose Tarleton because of the school’s culture,” said Watanabe. “I think people can make anywhere feel like home, and so far, everyone I’ve met at Tarleton has welcomed me, especially my team. I’m most excited to be out training and competing with my team, as well as immersing myself in the Texan culture.”
Kristina McDermott • Red Oak, TX • Collin College
A junior college transfer from Collin College, Kristina McDermott comes to Tarleton as a junior after competing one year for the Cougars.
“Having played college tennis for a year, she will be bringing some experience to our team which will be valuable,” said Miron. “Not only will Kristina help us on the tennis court, but having been in the honors program at Collin, I know she will be successful in the classroom. Her work ethic is very strong and I know she will be a passionate Texan on and off the court.”
McDermott battled in the middle of the lineup for Collin College last year after graduating from Red Oak High School. She spent one season at Navarro Junior College as a freshman before returning to tennis at Collin. In high school, she finished third in the region in doubles and was a 16U Superchamp.
“I chose Tarleton because I’ve always been a true Texan, who wanted to play sports,” said McDermott. “I am always trying to push myself to the best of my abilities and Tarleton will give me the opportunity to grow in the classroom and on the tennis court. I’m mostly excited to see old friends in the fall who already attend Tarleton and I am also excited to meet all the new friends in going to in fall.”
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