Emma Kaden '23 Recruiting Profile

     “You won't make the varsity team this year”. Those were the shattering words voiced by the JV coach on my first day of tryouts in my freshman year. She approached to introduce herself and soon thereafter she began to belittle my game, telling me I would not be a varsity player. Challenge accepted! My drive and determination to prove that coach wrong and prove to myself that I was more than those judgmental words pushed me into a new mindset for tryouts. When the coaches revealed the lineup at the end of that week I was the only freshman who made the Varsity team. This was a great achievement but for me this was only the beginning. I did not start my freshman year, and I know that none of the girls saw me as a threat to their spot in the lineup. I was determined to change this too. While I loved cheering on all of my teammates and high- fiving them as they walked off the court after their matches ended, deep down I wanted to be the one competing on that court more than anything. The season came to an end and it was time to put in the hard work during the off season to build my confidence and my level of play for the next year. 

     Before I knew it my sophomore season was upon me and I felt ready. I played 9 challenge matches during my first week of the season, winning 7 of them. These victories earned me the 3rd singles position. Fast forward to my junior year tryouts. We lost one of our strongest seniors at first doubles and my coach needed to do what was best for our team and replace her with one of his strongest girls, me. Not having doubles experience, I practiced everyday with my partner working on my game. My enthusiasm, determination and leadership resulted in a unanimous decision from my teammates to nominate me as a Captain my junior year. Over the course of our season I motivated my team with positive energy and fun practices and drills, ultimately leading us to a  1st conference place title, sectional 2nd place, individual 2nd team all region and the most exciting for me personally was to advance to the state championship doubles tournament. 

     The growth in my game and my early leadership on the team showed not only me, but everyone around me that I have what it takes to succeed. My greatest satisfaction did not come from proving those who doubted me wrong, it was my self development and the belief in myself that is my greatest takeaway. I now know that when I am faced with a challenge, when I push beyond my limits, I am capable of anything. I am now faced with the challenge of trying to play for a college team. I look forward to accepting the many challenges to come in the future and am looking forward to training and competing as a college tennis player.