Preparation is one of the keys to being a successful athlete, no matter what sport you are playing. And while the physical work is important, Jenna Mitsdarfer knows that there is another area that is just as vital.

“Tennis is such a mental sport,” she said. “It has taken a lot of work to be able to get to a place where my mindset doesn’t affect my game. It has definitely taken a lot of perseverance to get to that point.”

Mitsdarfer is a senior at Union High School. Along with playing tennis she is also on the school’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council and helps run the student newspaper, UHS Today. As a student at Union, Jenna has learned from many teachers. But she says that there is one that has had a big influence on her life.

“My sophomore and junior year math teacher Mrs. Peterson has definitely been the most impactful teacher for me,” she said. “I’ve never had a teacher that I knew cared about me as a person so much, and the lessons I learned, both academic and non-academic have been invaluable.”

When she is out on the tennis court, Jenna has had someone that has been impactful on her life there too.

“I would say my biggest role models have been my coaches, specifically Coach Ashley,” Mitsdarfer said. “I’ve learned so much from him over the six years he’s coached me. He has really cultivated my leadership skills and helped shape the person I am today.”

There have been a lot of memorable moments that Jenna has experienced during her career, but she has one memory that stands out as her favorite.
 “The highlight of my tennis career so far has been my junior year of state,” she said. “My partner and I had a very successful tournament, and our two seniors did extremely well and were on the podium. It meant a lot to see two people that I loved dearly and know put so much effort into the sport succeed in that way.”