Andrew Allen '22 Recruiting Profile

I'm not trying to be cliched, but tennis is not only a sport but an integral piece of my life and identity. I started playing tennis seriously around the age of twelve in a local community park. Over the years of playing, tennis really became a main priority to me and especially my family. During the middle of my junior career, I even decided to be cyber schooled to prioritize my tennis. Even with such dedication and commitment, ups and downs in motivation and performance are inevitable, especially for a tennis player. For many years, I have struggled with the mental side of my tennis. Because of this, I tend to put pressure and expectations on myself which ultimately inhibits my performance, specifically in competitive matches. Not to say that I am using this as an excuse, but rather an error in my mental training and lack thereof. Currently, I am working with a sports psychologist to better improve the emotional and mental aspect of my game. My peers and coaches, along with me most importantly, believe that the numbers and statistics do not do my tennis ability justice. Playing to the fulfillment of my potential has always been a driving factor of mine, and a reason to persevere even when lacking motivation and energy. To put it bluntly, I am a tennis player, not a person who plays tennis. I want to see the results of what I have invested by bringing my tennis to the collegiate level.