New Kids on the Block: Isabelle Bahr
 
New Kids on the Block is a recurring series featuring student-athletes that are new to UTRGV this year to allow everyone to get to know the next generation of Vaqueros.
 
Name: Isabelle Bahr
Sport: Women's Tennis
 
1. Where are you from?
Redding, California 
 
2. What was it like growing up there?
I have really enjoyed growing up in Redding. There's beautiful nature all around and I have appreciated the small-town feeling it brings.
 
3. What is your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory was when we went up to Cave Junction, Oregon, and stayed in treehouses for a week. I was able to ride a horse, do a fun mosaic craft, and go to The Great Cats World Park Zoo. Then we traveled down the Pacific Coast and concluded with a San Francisco Giants game.
 
4. What's was your go-to food as a kid? Is it the same now?
My go to food as a kid was PB & J sandwich on a hot dog bun. It is different now; I still go for a sandwich, but now it more "grown-up," with veggies, cheese and meat!
 
5. What's your favorite color?
My favorite color is blue.
 
6. What's your favorite book?
I read a lot, so I am going to cheat and do two favorites of two categories. My favorite self-help book is The Alchemist. My favorite historical fiction is All the Light We Cannot See.
 
7. What was your favorite TV show as a kid? What about now?
My favorite TV show as a kid was Phineas and Ferb. Now it is probably The Office or Psych, but I don't watch a lot of TV.
 
8. What's your favorite movie?
My favorite movie is Knives Out or any of the recent Mission Impossible movies. 
 
9. What's your favorite song?
My favorite song is an old jazz standard I love, "All the Things You Are."
 
10. Who is your favorite musical artist/group?
My favorite artist is Jack Johnson. 
 
11. Who is your favorite celebrity (non-sports)?
I enjoy Marvel movies, so I would say Tom Holland (who plays Spider-Man).
 
12. If you could have dinner with three people from history, living or dead, who would you choose and why?
I would want to have dinner with Maya Angelou, Steph Curry, and Nelson Mandala. With all of these people I would love to learn about their thought process and the journey of their lives.
 
13. Other than the sport in which you compete, what is your favorite sport?
I really enjoy watching all sports, but I think basketball is my favorite.
 
14. What are your favorite professional sports teams?
Golden State Warriors – Basketball
San Francisco 49ers – Football
San Francisco Giants - Baseball 
 
15. How did you become a fan of those teams?
Sports are on in our house all the time because my dad is a huge fan of the teams I mentioned above. I naturally cheer for all the teams my dad loves and now I love.
 
16. Who are your favorite professional athletes and why?
My favorite athletes include Rafael Nadal, Steph Curry and Nick Bosa. I love watching Rafael because he always puts forth 100% effort. Steph Curry because he has changed up the game with all his 3's and the joy he brings to the game. I love Nick Bosa because he is an overall great athlete, and it is fun to watch him tackle guys on the football field.
 
17. If you weren't competing in your sport, what would you be doing?
If I wasn't competing in my sport, I would probably want to be a teacher, physical therapist or some kind of therapist. I would want to be helping people, but I could also see myself playing a different sport because I love competition.  
 
18. Why did you choose your sport?
When I was six, my parents wanted me to find a sport for the summer, thankfully Sun Oaks (my local gym) was right around the corner. I played tennis that summer and fell in love with it right then and there.
 
19. What is the biggest challenge of being a student-athlete?
Time management. It is hard to balance all the time on court with all the time in the classroom. I am thankful for this, because it is a great life lesson to learn how to manage your time. 
 
20. When you have free time, what do you like to do?
I enjoy taking a step back by hanging out with my family and friends, reading, journaling, and playing piano. 
 
21. What brought you to UTRGV?
The women's tennis team but I am also so excited about the science department and the community. 
 
22. What are your major/minor/planned areas of study?
Kinesiology 
 
23. What do you want to do after you graduate?
I would like to become a professional tennis player after I graduate. 
 
24. What's your dream job?
Professional tennis player. After my body has had enough, I would love to be a physical therapist or teacher. 
 
25. Who is the biggest inspiration in your life and why?
My biggest inspiration in my life is my parents. They have always stayed true to themselves in the tough situations and still manage to put others first even when they are not at their best. They provide not only to the people they love, but to the people they may never meet again. They show kindness when no one is looking and are great role models for me to look up to.
 
26. What is something most people don't know about you?
I played classical piano for two years, trombone for two years, and viola for one. 
 
27. Which New Kids on the Block song best describes you?
A. Games
B. Hangin' Tough
C. Step by Step
D. You Got It
E. Other __________________
 
28. Now be honest, had you ever previously heard of any of those songs or the band New Kids on the Block before?
I have heard of these songs!

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