Emma Buchanan ’26 signed with Fresno Pacific University after years of dedication on the court. She will compete at the NCAA Division II level for girls’ tennis.
By: Sophia Rodriguez
On Thursday, December 11th, 2025, Emma Buchanan ’26 officially committed to Fresno Pacific University at the Division 2 level with a major focusing on nursing, following in her mom’s footsteps.
Signing Day, December 11, 2025
Photo M.LoBue/Gigantea
Buchanan says she started her tennis journey at around five years old. The reason she stuck with it is attending camps for tennis.
The biggest influence in Buchanan’s development is “my parents and my grandma. [My grandma] was the one putting me in all these camps and stuff. And definitely all my teammates.”
Buchanan’s coach’s daughter, Emma Jenan ’25, previously committed to Fresno Pacific. Buchanan says she went through the same process with tons of help from them.
There were never really any other schools, Buchanan says, that she was looking at.
After attending one of Fresno Pacific’s tennis camps, she felt like it was right. Though it is a small campus, she says, the coach is very nice.
Outside of school and tennis, Buchanan says she hangs out with friends and likes to go golfing at the range.
“Stick with the sport, you will get better over time,” says Buchanan about what advice she would give her younger self and athletes hoping to play in college.
vs Monache 10.15.2025
Photo Nick Miller/Visalia Stage & Field
Buchanan says this commitment to herself and her family “makes me very proud of myself, and they’re also very proud of me too for committing and seeing how far I’ve come with it.”
“We’re really excited,” says Sean Buchanan, Emma Buchanan’s dad. “She’s gonna be close to home. We’ll get to watch her play tennis throughout her whole career.”
Mr. Buchanan says tennis has played a huge part in the Buchanan family since Emma has been playing since she was little, and she continued her journey into high school and now college.
“I’m super proud. I think it’s a lot of hard work that goes into it. And, you know, once you get to that level, there’s a lot of competition, so we’re really proud of her,” says Mr. Buchanan.
Sophia Rodriguez
Sophia Rodriguez, is a third-year journalism student and co-sports editor. She writes stories across a variety of topics. She enjoys sharing meaningful stories and working with others to bring fresh perspectives.
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