VYPE: What are your goals for this season?
Jacie: My goals for this season are pretty hefty; I plan on going to state and if not winning then at least getting pretty far within the competition. Another one of my goals is to get more in sync with my doubles partner, Hailey Thompson.
VYPE: What is your most memorable sports memory?
Jacie: My most memorable memory in tennis would have to be one of my games sophomore year against Elk City. It was one of the longest matches I’ve ever been in. We lost the first set, won the second, then won the tie breaker. As sophomores, me and my doubles partner were not supposed to win that game.
VYPE: Who is your favorite teacher from any grade and why?
Jacie: My favorite would have to be my coach and history teacher Mr. Widener. He is an amazing coach, and an equally stellar teacher. He truly makes you feel cared about, but is definitely not afraid to joke around.
VYPE: Who inspires you and why?
Jacie: The person that most inspires me is my other coach Mrs. Widener is one of the most positive people I know. She faces a lot of medical issues, but she never lets that affect how she treats the world. She is also one of the fiercest net players I know.
VYPE: What teammate has left the biggest impression on you and why?
Jacie: The teammate that has left the biggest impression is my doubles partner Hailey. She is a fiery player with a lot of power, and sometimes if feels like we can read each other’s minds when playing,
VYPE: What is your favorite part about being on a team?
Jacie: My favorite part about being on the team is the collective optimism. Everyone wants you to succeed in whatever you are trying to do. No one puts down another player in order to make themselves look better. Though don’t get me wrong, there is still definitely a healthy amount of competitiveness.
VYPE: You can pick any place for a summer vacation, where do you go and who do you take with you?
Jacie: If I could go anywhere for summer vacation I would go to Iceland. That may seem like a weird answer, but I would like to visit it for the natural beauties such as the mountains and all the bodies of water. Another great bonus is that they don’t have mosquitoes!
VYPE: What is your best advice to younger players?
Jacie: My best advice to younger players is to not compare yourself to others. You might be learning something slower than someone else or you might have a harder time hitting super powerful shots, but don’t be discouraged. Everyone has their own path to getting better, and you can’t rush practice.
VYPE: Here is your chance to say hello, goodbye or thank you to anyone you wish.
Jacie: I’d like to say thank you to all the coaches I’ve had for tennis in the past, especially the one I had in sixth grade because my hand-eye coordination was nonexistent. I’d like to say thank you to Zach Widener and Angela Widener for being the most encouraging and helpful coaches I could ask for. My doubles partner Hailey also definitely deserves some thanks, I’m glad I get to be partners again this year and I’m ready to go to state again! Thank you to my mom Jana and my dad Jimmy, as well as all my other family that has supported my tennis journey. Lastly, thank you to my boyfriend Mikel, my best friend Avery, and all of my friends who have helped make tennis fun and enjoyable.
