Bhavya Chalasani- Bryant-Jordan Award Winner- No. 1 Player For James Clemens Tennis Team
MADISON- To be considered for the Bryant-Jordan Student-Athlete Program one must be at the top of their game as an athlete and be among the elite academically, as well as, possess a giving attitude in their efforts away from their athletic endeavors.
With those facts as requirements, it was only natural James Clemens senior tennis player Bhavya Chalasani would be chosen to represent the school in the Bryant-Jordan Award. Her extraordinary multi-layered talents helped bring her to become being chosen the Class 7A, Region 4 winner of the prestigious 37th annual award that was created in 1986 by the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in conjunction with the Alabama High School Athletic Association.
The 5-foot-9 senior is currently on her sixth varsity team at James Clemens making her way to the squad beginning as a seventh grader. She plays No. 1 for the Jets after losing in the quarterfinals in both singles and doubles at the 2023 AHSAA State Tournament.
“When I began in the seventh grade, I was the only middle school player on the team and I got used to becoming friends with the older girls on the team,” said Chalasani. “I learned how to play tennis by watching my older brother, Yasanka, who played on the James Clemens team and graduated in 2016. He was team captain and Sectional champion. I picked up the sport quickly. I felt like I was a natural fit with the sport.”
“Bhavya is a great player, amazing leader and overall great kid,” said Javier Lopez, head coach of the Jets’ tennis team. “She has led the girls team to an undefeated season so far.”
Once a player for the school volleyball team as a freshman, Chalasani decided to stick with tennis and is ranked among the top 20 in Alabama according to her USTA Jr. ranking. Last summer she played on the AHSAA North-South All-Star Week and won her division as No. 3 singles.
She spends many hours on the courts, but the steps taken to partake in numerous other aspects of her life could make any other dizzy. Somehow this highly intellect teen fits her life together like a puzzle. The many pieces of her life puzzle are what helped her receive the celebrated state award which began with the school nomination for her ability to achieve a level of excellence in the areas of academics and athletics.
“Bhavya is the girl’s team captain leading conditioning and skill practices during times when coaches could not be present. I have truly enjoyed coaching her and I know she will do great things in her future endeavors,” added Lopez of his star player.
“My life in many ways centers around health and that that’s why I’m headed to pre-med and want to become a physician,” said Chalasani. “I’m thinking of becoming an OGBYN or dermatologist.”
With her intelligence level, Chalasani carries a 5.1 weighted grade point average, which ranks her No. 10 among 565 in her class. She’s a member of the Bio-Medical Academy at James Clemens and has conducted an array of research at the University of Pittsburgh and locally with both Hudson Alpha and Alabama A&M. “I also volunteer at the Lincoln Village Ministry in Huntsville. We re-model old homes,” added Chalasani.
The super talented student-athlete was twice faced with adversity with ankle injuries causing her to sit on the sidelines two months at each injury incident. Her positive attitude helped her to connect with a mindset which led her on comebacks.
Chalasani is Vice President of the Student Government Association, a National Merit finalist, member of the National Honor Society, a Student Ambassador for James Clemens, Vice President of HOSA and captain of the tennis team.
The daughter to Sireesha Myneni said her style on the tennis court is one of aggressiveness. She added, “I take a lot of risks. I’m smart and know how to be consistent. I stay on the baseline a lot, but I always go to a winning shot.”
“My interest in the medial field lies in the areas of my leadership, service and love of medicine,” said Chalasani. “Those are the reasons why I chose that career path.”
A total of 102 high school senior student-athletes, 52 in the Bryant-Jordan Scholar-Athlete Program and 52 in the Bryant-Jordan Student Achievement Program, have advanced from area nominations and each will be recognized at the annual banquet to be held April 15 at the Birmingham-Sheraton Hotel.
