I got the chance to sit down with Oni Jones ‘16 WY Girls Varsity tennis player and speak with her about her experience downstate. The competition level was high, but the dolphins managed to push through and place top 10 in the tournament.

Q: What did it feel like to come out successful downstate?

A: The feeling was amazing for both the team and I. The team placed top 10 in state and Camryn Salter ‘18 and I went the farthest downstate placing first in the doubles category for WY. Winning the title for the team felt amazing because I really felt like I put my heart into the game and the team.

Q: What was the competition level like?

A: The competition level was very competitive. Most of the teams were suburban teams so we saw a lot of tough matches. All of the girls downstate wanted the same thing and that was to win so we faced some pretty tough match-ups.

Q: Game highlights?

A: I played with Camryn Salter ‘18 in the state tournament. Throughout the entire match we were down by a few points, but came back and won the match. We were both very nervous because we thought the game was over, but both Camryn and I managed to pull through and come out victorious.

Q: How does it feel to win downstate, then pick up a college offer right after?

A: I feel very blessed picking up this commitment. Not only am I going to be playing D1 tennis, I’ll be receiving a free education and that’s what really matters. When the coach from Jackson State University offered me, it was such a relief. I was able to see that all my hard work paid off.