Some athletes just love the game.

And Javier Garrapiz is one of them.

For one, he’s good at what he does: he reached as high as No. 13 in singles and No. 5 in doubles with Hernus Pieters — a pairing that earned the doubles title at last year’s Southern Intercollegiate Championship and Southeastern Conference Indoors tournaments — and was voted to the all-SEC first team.

Javier Garrapiz did big things for Georgia when he played tennis, now he is back giving support to the women's tennis team. FILE/The Red & Black

Second, he is passionate about what he does: “But I wouldn’t change this life for anything. I am glad about what I choose … This team is so important for me,” Garrapiz told The Red & Black in a Feb. 4, 2010 article.

Garrapiz made a more-than-solid contribution to the men’s tennis team.

Now he’s making an equally large contribution to the women’s team.

Garrapiz is now serving as a student coach, passing along to the players of today what he learned during his time on the court.

This brings teammate interaction to another level — one that spans eligibility.

For some athletes, their time spent at Georgia is just a stepping stone to the next big thing in their lives.

But for others, it’s a stepping stone on the path of life.

And those are the athletes who truly leave a legacy in Athens — one that is less about records and more about student-athlete enrichment.

No matter which team he helps out, the important part is that he’s giving back to the institution that gave to him.

Because at the end of the day, we’re all on the same team — the Georgia Bulldogs.