Schroeder eyes another big tennis season

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Ever since the current Miami Valley League began in 2019, the Tippecanoe girls tennis program has completely dominated the conference. With only one league loss in those eight years, the Red Devils have reached the pinnacle of success.

Tipp returns enough talent from last year’s title team to continue their dominance, including key junior Jillian Schroeder, a top performer last season at third singles.

Schroeder has been an all-conference performer her first two years with the Red Devils. Her love for the game began when she saw her sister succeed during her Red Devil career.

“Growing up, I remember watching almost all of my sister's high school tennis matches and anticipating when I would get to compete on the team, so when my freshman season started, I was very excited,” she said looking back at her success so far. “Leading up to that point I had trained all summer, and it truly paid off in my challenge matches and then during my season.”

“When my second year on the team rolled around, I was motivated by the success in my first year to try even harder my sophomore year, making it an even better season than the first one.

Being recognized as All-Conference both my freshman and sophomore years wasn’t something I expected, so it truly meant a lot to me.”

“It showed me that hard work and commitment do pay off. I know that these accomplishments didn’t happen all on my own. I’ve had great coaches, supportive teammates, and a family that’s always encouraged me. These awards have motivated me even more because I know there’s still a lot I can improve on, and I’m excited to keep growing during my next season.”

Schroeder is very familiar with the success of the Tipp program, and she believes it comes down to two main core things.

“I think two of the biggest reasons our program has been successful would be the culture of our team and our chemistry,” Schroeder said. “Everyone who is on our team makes it a very welcoming program and a fun group to be a part of. When our team isn’t out on the courts, we bond by getting food or planning activities. We all push each other to do better, which carries over into our matches.”

“Our coaches and team have done a great job building a program where everyone on the team feels important, whether you’re playing varsity or just starting out. I think it's that positive environment that makes people want to work hard and continue the tradition of Tippecanoe tennis.”

As the new season begins, she also realizes there is always room for improvement and has been working hard in the offseason to prepare for an even bigger and better junior season ahead.

“I’ve spent a lot of time practicing: working on certain parts of my game, doing tournaments, classes, and growing as a tennis player,” she said. “My biggest goal this year is to continue improving while being a good leader for the team. Of course, one of my goals is to win matches, but I also want to help create a positive environment for everyone and have fun with my team.”

It also helps that her family runs the Schroeder Tennis Center in Tipp, which has helped many players build and grow their game. She has taken advantage of having a first-class facility to continue to work on her game.

“Having access to a tennis center and great coaches has helped me improve because it has allowed me to practice consistently,” Schroeder said. “I’m really grateful for that opportunity. I think it really benefits our tennis program to have a place where players can come and practice, take lessons, and play year-round. Having people who share a passion for tennis around you gets me excited about the sport and when we get to compete as a team.”

While Schroeder still has two full seasons of tennis in front of her, she knows the sport is something that players can continue to enjoy after their competitive career ends.

“I’m still exploring what I’d like to do after high school, but if I had the opportunity to continue playing tennis in college, I’d be interested,” she said. “Tennis is really something that you can enjoy for your whole life, whether it be my main focus or a pastime.”