Faith Kustka '24 Recruiting Profile

Hello,

My name is Faith Kustka, I am from Kewaunee WI, and I am currently completing my Junior year of high school. I want to major in Elementary education. Then later on maybe a few years after I graduate I want to get my certificate in Special education, and American Sign Language.  

I have been playing tennis for two years now. My goal is to get recruited to play college tennis. I want to get recruited for College tennis because I want to continue my tennis career after high school. Tennis is a part of me. Once I pick up my racket, and a tennis ball I feel at peace. I feel calm and relaxed.

 I decided I wanted to play tennis my freshman year of high school but there was no team due to covid.  One year later it was Sophomore year. The first day of practice my sophomore year was August 10th 2021, and by the time the first practice was done I had fallen absolutely in love with it. I fell in love with tennis because at the time I started playing I was going through the process of getting adopted. I had mixed feelings. I happy, but also constantly getting stressed. Tennis was the one things that helped me keep calm. Whenever I was struggling, or still am struggling I play tennis. When I am playing tennis everything in reality disappears. A coping skill. 

 Whenever I get to practice off season,or during the season when my heart starts pumping fast, a wave of good energy runs through me. I was actually really really happy, and ever since I started playing my sophomore year that spark, wave of good energy running through me, that excited, happy,thrilled feeling is all still there during every single practice. I also love playing singles, I love playing singles because It brings out the competitive side of me. I like too play doubles, I like to play doubles as well, because I like that its all made of teamwork,communication, and it is really fun. 

I would be a good candidate for your tennis team because I am always willing to improve. There is this thing I always say there is no such thing as 100%, there is always something that could be worked on. I am always willing to take any feedback and put it into practice. For example , this last year I needed to work on my forward hand. I had sometimes where I did not follow through. My coach told me that on my racket there is a W. The W should be pointed in the direction where I want to hit. I spend the rest of practice each day  working on my forward hand, I woke up early to go outside to practice my forward hand, and I showed up to practice early to work on my forward hand. I took breaks obviously but my point is If you have no dedication then what is the point of trying. I am a very dedicated player when it comes to tennis, and especially school.

Besides taking feedback and applying it. There is something that is also extremely important when it comes being on a team. That is being there for your teammates.When it comes to being on a team in any general sport my team is like family. You help them, you are there for them, and most importantly you cheer them on.