Congratulations to Madison Wollenzier on recently breaking into the Top 15 in West Michigan in the Girls 18's Division. In the most recent ranking(Click Here), she has now climbed to #8. Click Here to see the rapidly growing list of West Ottawa players who have achieved a West Michigan Top 15 ranking or a Midwest Top 150.
Players who do special things usually have unique stories, and so does Madison. Most players who get a ranking like this have been playing tennis for quite a long time. Although Madison played tennis in middle school, she did no training outside of the season, and her primary sport was gymnastics. She didn't even go out for tennis as a Freshman.
Then, two months before her sophomore season she approached me with an interest in tennis, as she made a decision to step back form gymnastics. I remember the day. We went to a club so I could get to know her, meet her, and talk with her family about what seriously training for tennis looked like. A couple hours later I got a text form the director of the club informing me that the girl I'd been hitting with earlier was back up playing again. He texted me a third time that evening saying she was up there AGAIN. That was 18 months ago. Over the last year and a half, playing with that type of a work ethic has been a daily routine for Madison. A few weeks ago, she beat a solid #1 singles player of a nearby school in a USTA tournament.
If you want to get into something new, but feel like it's too late for you because everyone around you is too far ahead of you, that isn't necessarily the case. If you are willing to work hard enough, you may be able to get there. Remember, it doesn't take a certain amount of years to master things, it takes a certain number of HOURS. If you put enough hours in, you can get several "years" better in far less time. Madison still has her entire senior year to keep improving ahead. I'm looking forward to seeing where it leads. Thanks Madison for all your hard work and keep it up!
(Note: Another Top 15 update will be coming soon!!!)
Players who do special things usually have unique stories, and so does Madison. Most players who get a ranking like this have been playing tennis for quite a long time. Although Madison played tennis in middle school, she did no training outside of the season, and her primary sport was gymnastics. She didn't even go out for tennis as a Freshman.
Then, two months before her sophomore season she approached me with an interest in tennis, as she made a decision to step back form gymnastics. I remember the day. We went to a club so I could get to know her, meet her, and talk with her family about what seriously training for tennis looked like. A couple hours later I got a text form the director of the club informing me that the girl I'd been hitting with earlier was back up playing again. He texted me a third time that evening saying she was up there AGAIN. That was 18 months ago. Over the last year and a half, playing with that type of a work ethic has been a daily routine for Madison. A few weeks ago, she beat a solid #1 singles player of a nearby school in a USTA tournament.
If you want to get into something new, but feel like it's too late for you because everyone around you is too far ahead of you, that isn't necessarily the case. If you are willing to work hard enough, you may be able to get there. Remember, it doesn't take a certain amount of years to master things, it takes a certain number of HOURS. If you put enough hours in, you can get several "years" better in far less time. Madison still has her entire senior year to keep improving ahead. I'm looking forward to seeing where it leads. Thanks Madison for all your hard work and keep it up!
(Note: Another Top 15 update will be coming soon!!!)
