By Raniya Halich
CAGIS Youth Member
CAGIS member Raniya Halich served up a big win at Canada’s largest-ever one-day “Girls. Set. Match.” tournament! Alongside her team, the “Strong Ace Sisters,” she competed on February 8 at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto against 20 teams and 80 players, taking home first place.
“It truly felt like a major tournament,” says her mom, Marianna. “Players from different academies came together to compete, connect, and support one another. It was high-energy, inspiring, and built confidence, friendships, and a real sense of belonging, much like CAGIS.”
For Raniya, the highlight was the teamwork. “My favorite part was playing with my partner and encouraging each other. Meeting so many girls who love tennis reminded me that when we support each other, we can do amazing things.” Her team name will even be engraved on the trophy, making the win even more memorable.
Read on to hear more about Raniya’s experience and why she believes that tennis, CAGIS, and STEM are all connected.
How did you first discover CAGIS?
My mom actually discovered CAGIS through an Instagram post. She showed it to me and said, “Look, a club for girls who love science!” I got so excited right away because I’ve always liked doing experiments and learning how things work. I became a member soon after, and ever since, CAGIS has been something I look forward to all the time. It’s not like school science, it’s way more fun, you get to meet lots of new friends, and hands-on.
What has stood out most in your CAGIS experience so far?
What I’ve enjoyed most about every event is meeting the girls and the mentors. One event that really stuck with me was the Zebra Technologies event. The staff was very enthusiastic and encouraged us to try out everything. They gamified the activities! We got to see real technology used in warehouses and tracking systems. It made me feel like I was inside a futuristic movie! The employees there were super smart and patient, and they treated us like real scientists. That event made me realize that technology isn’t just about phones or video games; it’s everywhere, even in places you’d never expect.
Why is tennis important to you?
Playing tennis is meaningful and important to me because it’s where I feel my strength and builds my confidence. The Girls Set Match tournament was extra special because it was focused on empowering girls in tennis. We see a lot of sports highlighted, but never tennis, as in Canada, it’s not played as much. During the tournament, we also participated in an empowering workshop, met professional tennis players, and met other girls who love tennis as much as I do. It’s meaningful because it shows me that girls can make such an impact when we work together. In sport, we don’t have to be perfect; we just have to try our best, support one another, and, as my coaches say, have fun.
What was the most challenging moment for you during the tournament?
The most challenging moment was during my second match. I was losing 4–1 in the first set, and I felt so frustrated. I could feel my eyes getting watery and getting very discouraged. But then I took a deep breath and reminded myself of what my coach and parents always say: “You can’t control the score, only the next point.” So I started my little routine: bouncing the ball three times, exhaling slowly, and focusing on hitting deep cross-court shots. I stopped worrying about winning and just tried to make every ball come back. I ended up losing that match, but I won the next game 6–2 because I stayed calmer. Handling that moment taught me that losing your cool loses more points than losing a game.
Have you found any connections between your experience in tennis and your interest in STEM?
Yes, totally! Tennis and STEM connect in so many ways. For example, I learned in CAGIS about angles and physics, and the way the ball bounces depends on the court surface, the spin you put on it, and the angle of your racket. That’s basically applied math and physics! Also, both tennis and science require problem-solving. In a match, you have to figure out your opponent’s weakness (like they can’t return low slices) and adjust your strategy, just like when an experiment doesn’t work, and you have to change one variable at a time. And both take patience and practice … you don’t become a great scientist or a great tennis player overnight. You just keep showing up, staying consistent, learning from mistakes, and getting a little better each time. I truly love that CAGIS hosts an event every month. That keeps us motivated, curious, and able to learn new ways of doing things.
About the Author
Raniya Halich is 12 years old and is an active participant in CAGIS Virtual.
