Many dream of the opportunity to reach victory just once, but Annie Jaskulski ’15 has had the chance to reach victory twice. A three-time state champion and team captain, Jaskulski has not rested on her laurels. Instead, she uses every day as an opportunity to reach a new level of greatness. Taking her game to a whole new level in college means increasing her fitness and practice time. Jaskulski takes her career to a new heights by practicing on the court for one and a half to three hours every day. She then does sprints, weights, high intensity interval training circuits, and finally yoga to prevent injury. Although tennis takes up a lot of her time, her parents chose to keep her in school, unlike many of her teammates who decided to get homeschooled.

Jaskulski first picked up a racquet at the age of eight. She was not playing for a team then, but just going to local parks or just hitting around with her dad. She started to take tennis seriously at the age of thirteen, when she focused more of her time on competing in tournaments. Since most of Jaskulski’s teammates are homeschooled, it is very hard for her to keep up with their intensity and competitive level. She refused to stop playing because of her love of the game. She explained, “When I play tennis I feel as though I can forget any problem that I’ve had that day. Whether I’m worried about how I did on an exam, or if I got in a disagreement with a friend, I know that when I’m on the court I can forget everything that’s happening and just focus on hitting the ball.” It is very hard to find a sport or activity that gives an outlet, and tennis seems to be a great way to let Jaskulski channel her feelings.

After discussing her tennis career, Jaskulski shared some of her greatest experiences. A memory that she will never forget was during her sophomore year. Jaskulski shared, “I would say that a specific memory that I have from tennis was the first time I won States as a sophomore. I was playing a senior that everyone expected to win and I was able to prove that age doesn’t matter when it comes to tennis.” Jaskulski is very determined to do well in tennis, and prove she is not the underdog. WFS tennis player Joslyn Gardener ’16 commented on what she thought would separate Jaskulski from other players. She said: “I think Jaskulski’s mental toughness will separate her from other collegiate players. Jaskulski is so focused and determined to win every single point.

Tennis is not only a game about skill, but also about having a good mindset, and Jaskulski has both. Co-captain, Meera Kohli ’15, commented on her leadership skills as a captain. She said; “Jaskulski’s definitely a really good role model for everyone. She’s obviously the strongest player on the team but she also always genuinely encourages everyone during practice and shares advice on how to play better.”

After winning the State championship twice, Jaskulski has decided to commit to University Of Delaware. Jaskulski chose Delaware not only because of the way the players welcomed her and treated her, but also because of the academic program Delaware has. She was not only a motivational captain for her team, but also an amazing tennis player. All of her teammates at Friends school are pushing her even more to do well in college and the rest of her career.