Taking the step from underclassman to upperclassman is a big move in high school. Student’s are getting closer to becoming the person they are meant to be. Every little step taken in high school can dictate one’s future—inside and outside of school. For junior Audrey Selander, tennis is something she relies on to help her mature and face the world. She also finds herself in the predicament of replacing a state qualifier this season.

“We’ve been working a lot on our shots up at the net,” Selander said. “We’ve also been working on adding power to our serves, just like Piper [Foote] had.”

Selander has a challenge in front of her with filling the shoes of a state qualifier, but her hopes are high and she stays determined.

While Foote and senior Sierra Ward both headed down to state last year to represent the girls tennis team, the players were blessed with the opportunity to learn the game from “some of the best to do it at Antioch.” Selander is working to become the best person and tennis player she can, and she’s fortunate enough to be able to do it with her team. Junior Fayth Vesser, one of Selander’s teammates, has nothing but positive things to say about Selander.

“She’s very consistent,” Vesser said. “[She] has strong shots. She’s very competitive and has team spirit“. Selander isn’t only a respectable force on the court, but is also a kind heart off of it. When it comes to getting the job done, coaches look for players who aren’t afraid of stepping up. While Ward returns to fight her way to another trip down state, Selander is impressing coaches and looking to punch her ticket.

“I’m expecting her to be really successful,” head girls tennis coach Jamie D’Andrea said. “She’s going to face good competition, but maybe not the strongest.”

Over the summer, Cori Gauff, a 15-year-old professional tennis player took the sports world by storm. Selander, being a tennis player around the same age, finds Gauff to be a significant role model in the sport.

“She’s an inspiration of mine,” Selander said. “Especially because she’s around my age. She makes me want to work harder everytime I touch the court.”

Gauff isn’t Selander’s only inspiration. Her start in the sport began with a nudge by someone close: her mother.

“I started tennis my freshman year,” Selander said. “My mom did it in high school and always wanted to get me into it, and it’s been a great way to meet new friends.