Rachel Heinke '21 Recruiting Profile

Rachel Heinke
Squalicum High School
Class of 2021

Background:

 My name is Rachel Heinke and I live in Bellingham, Washington. I am 17 years old, going into my senior year, and currently a full-time Running Start student taking three classes at Whatcom Community College and one at Squalicum High School. I am enjoying the independence, challenging schedule and classes.

I play sports year-round, usually two sports at a time.

I also have a part-time job at a super-food cafe and work anywhere from 10-12 hours a week during the school year and more during the summer. 

Goals:

I plan to graduate with my general AA and high school diploma in 2021, then transfer to another school to study engineering. I have always loved math and challenging myself so I will be a good fit into this career path. I am a strong and focused student athlete and know my hard work always pays off.

My goals for my future in tennis is to play for a school that values a well-rounded student athlete with a growth mindset. I want to continue to grow in the sport and elevate with every experience. The best victory is evidence of improvement. I enjoy being a part of a team and look forward to the hard work and fierce competition collegiate tennis will bring.

Sports:

I currently play on three varsity teams for my high school: volleyball, basketball and tennis. I also play tennis year-round on JETT, (Junior Elite Tennis Team) for Bellingham Tennis Club. I will be letting volleyball go for my senior year to focus more on tennis.

I have been involved in sports my entire life. My family is active, and they’ve instilled an active lifestyle in me. I have tried everything from skiing to sailing, softball to figure skating. I found my passion in tennis at age four when I attended a summer camp. Although I took a couple of years off during middle school so I could play their school team sports, I have played tennis year-round since. I have the same coaches that I started with 13 years ago!

I made the varsity tennis team freshman year and fit in well playing the #3 singles, sometimes #2. I went to subdistricts that year as #2 doubles. I played #2 singles last year and #1 doubles for subdistricts and made the All-Conference Northwest 2nd Team. This season, I earned the position of being #1 singles for my team, but unfortunately due to COVID-19 my season was cancelled. This fuels me for next season and playing in that spot!

Last summer I was awarded a tennis scholarship from the Bellingham Tennis Club. Four players (two girls and two boys) in Northwestern WA are awarded this each year. With it I have been given private lessons with the head pro and trainers with specific technical training. We are also given opportunities to play several tournaments and I am playing in the ones I can. I am fully utilizing my scholarship and look forward to comparing my growth from last season when spring season arrives.  

I have volunteered in tennis summer camps for youth through my high school and the Bellingham Tennis Club. My favorite full-circle moment was teaching my coach’s daughter who was 4-years old, the same age I was when her dad first taught me how to play.

Hobbies:

Outside of sports, I love being outside. In the summer you can often find me paddle boarding or swimming in Bellingham Bay. I like to hike and enjoy finding new trails and viewpoints. On my creative side, I like to play guitar and paint. 

Why I would be a great fit:

I work well with others and am a very supportive teammate. I was Team Co-Captain for my JV basketball team and awarded “Best Teammate” for JV volleyball. I believe in the saying that we rise by lifting others. Through my diverse high school, sports, leadership, activities, community college classes, work, and my life experiences, I have gained the ability to easily connect with people of all ages and backgrounds.

I am very self-driven and work extremely hard. I apply any constructive criticism as fast as I can to improve my game and situation. I represent my school and teams with honor on and off the courts and in or out of the classrooms.

I am very competitive and give my all in every practice and match. I strongly believe if you put your mind to it, you can do anything. I believe that even if you are down by a lot, you can always come back with fire and win! I know that mental toughness is a key component to succeeding in tennis and I work hard to improve my mental toughness every time I play. During a match during my freshman year I was down 3-5 but ended up winning 7-5. That day and moment taught me to never give up! I am tenacious and will fight to the end for myself and my team.

I am very adaptable.

I respect my coaches, their directions, plans and input. I am coachable.

Thank you for taking the time to read my statement. I look forward to hearing from you!

VIDEO:

I have a video up on Youtube and hope to post more in the future. You can find it under searching “Rachel Heinke.”  I have also posted it on Instagram @rachelheinke2021, as well as short clips that I plan to continue posting through my tennis journey.

You can also reach it at this link:

https://instagram.com/rachelheinke2021?igshid=g1ew9gn2fwy0