Game, Set, and Team for Johnston

From the minute I got my acceptance letter from Wash U, I thought about the possibility of playing on the team. For years, playing college tennis was a huge goal of mine, but injuries during peak recruitment time and other factors led me away from the recruitment process. Thus, I went into my senior year thinking college tennis wasn’t a possibility anymore. I still trained hard because I love the sport and my SJS team, but I didn’t have a “next level” to strive for anymore. When I decided to attend Wash U, that chance to reach the next level, to play college tennis came soaring back into perspective.  Immediately, I amped up my training and got in contact with the tennis coach. I met with her in the spring of my senior year, and we talked about the team, the walk-on process, and the level of competition to be on the team. Specifically, she told me “As long as your competitive with everyone on the team, you have a spot here.” From then on, I had a target. While I trained hard during the second semester senior years, it didn’t even compare to this past summer. I was spending up to 8 hours a day on the court or working out. I joined a group of homeschool kids to really ramp up my tennis when first got out of school and then maintained that level at my club by arranging practice matches and extra drills outside of our traditional four-hour practice. I’ve never worked harder for anything. 

 

The tryout process was a series of challenge matches, and my first match out of the gate I played a recruit. Realizing who my opponent was, I felt an increased pressure. The coaches words about “being competitive with everyone” were ringing in my head. Not only did I have that pressure of needing to prove myself to the coach, but I also felt that because I was a walk-on, I just wouldn’t be as good as the recruits.  Two games in I realized, “ I can beat this girl.” I went on to win the match 8-2, and that dominant score against a recruit really put me in a position for success. I went on to do well in my remaining matches against other recruits and other walk-ons, but to me, that first match was a huge moment. Finally, I felt my hard work paid off, and the coach had to give me credit for talents. 3. What do you like about tennis? I love the game.  Whether it’s hitting a really solid groundstroke, getting to a ball that seems out of reach, acing my opponent, or taking a ball out of the air to put it away; the feeling of playing tennis well brings me so much joy. I like competing and training to get better, and I love how tennis can bring a group of people together. Some of my best memories in high school are playing on the SJS team and winning SPC my junior and senior year. Similarly, some of my favorite memories with my family include playing in the National Father-Daughter Grass Court and going to tournaments with my family members. 

 

Around age 12, I singled tennis out as “my sport.” I still played other sports like basketball and later on cross country, but I always knew that tennis was the priority. 

 

 

One huge motivator for playing college tennis was to have that community of people that being on a team can provide. Tennis is largely an individual sport, so the only way that I knew what it was like to be on a tennis team was St. John’s. Having that camaraderie with like-minded people at St. John’s was part of the reason I felt so motivated to train and try out for the Wash U team. 

 

Know what you’re getting into. Playing a collegiate sport requires an insane amount of discipline, hard work, and passion for the sport you are playing. If you don’t know why you’re doing it or aren’t sure if you even want to play at the next level, collegiate sports may not be for you. On the flipside, if you have those reasons (for me, it was the community, love for the sport, and benefits I get from playing a sport consistently) then nothing could be easier than putting in the work. It’s something you want to do, something you need to do, and nothing is more rewarding than finally being told you made it and having your new teammates smile and hug you. That feeling of support, love, and acceptance after months and even years of work is unbeatable. 

 

“Even though she is a fearsome competitor, she is incredibly graceful on and off the court. It’s a coach’s dream to work with players like Hannah.”—Zezé de Moura, Head Coach St. John’s Girls’ Varsity Tennis

“Hannah has always been wonderfully supportive of her teammates, and a vital contributor to the will of the team.  Few players are able to balance their strong competitive spirit with their grace on the tennis court better than Hannah.  (Her middle name is Grace!)”—Sandy McLanahan, Former Head Coach St. John’s Girls’ Varsity Tennis

Sam Chambers- Athletic News