For Addison Ginther, tennis wasn’t always part of the agenda. Like many student-athletes, she started high school with a different idea in mind.

“I tried out for the soccer team my freshman year and unfortunately didn’t make it,” Ginther said. “I really wanted to do something in high school, so that is when I picked up tennis.”

What started as a backup plan quickly became her main focus—but not without challenges. Ginther didn’t grow up playing tennis. Unlike her new teammates and future opponents, she didn’t have years of experience or a long history of training. Instead, she picked up a racket in August of her sophomore year with a simple but ambitious goal in mind.

“When I started playing in August, my goal was to work hard enough that I could make the team in the spring,” Ginther said.

The goal sounds straightforward, but the reality was anything but. Walking onto the court as a beginner in high school meant stepping into a sport where many players had already spent years developing their skills. From the start, Addison felt the pressure to catch up.

“The hardest part about starting so late was that I constantly felt behind everyone else who has been playing for years now,” she said. “I felt like I had to train quickly to meet the standards of everyone else.”

That feeling of being behind could have easily pushed her away from the sport. Instead, it became a driving force for her motivation.

Ginther committed herself to improving as quickly as possible. Practices alone weren’t enough—she knew she needed more time on the court if she wanted a real shot at making the team.

“To try to catch up, I had to take lessons and privates outside of practice,” she said. “I also went and played a ton with my mom, who used to play in high school.”

Those extra hours added up. While others relied on years of experience, Addison relied on consistency, determination, and a willingness to put in more work than expected. However, when tryouts came around in the spring, the nerves didn’t go away.

“I was super nervous going into tryouts,” Ginther said. “Even though I had been playing for a bit, I still did not fully understand the game.”

The situation had now changed. It wasn’t just about making the team anymore—it was about proving to herself that the work she had put in actually meant something.

“When I started, I doubted my ability to even make the team, let alone play in a high spot,” Ginther said. “I trained in the fall and played my hardest, and it paid off.”

That moment marked a turning point. What began as uncertainty slowly shifted into confidence. Now a senior, Addison can clearly see how far she has come—not just in skill, but in her overall experience as a tennis player.

“I feel like I have improved so much from my sophomore year,” Ginther said. “I have upgraded my technique and gameplay, as well as bonded with the team and coaches.”

The improvement wasn’t just physical. It was also about finding a place where she belonged. Coming into a sport late could have made it difficult to connect, but instead, it became an opportunity to grow alongside her teammates.

Looking back, Addison believes that starting late may have actually worked in her favor.

“I think starting later gave me more appreciation for the sport,” she said. “I’ve played soccer since I was five, so I understand that when you play a sport for so long, it can start to get boring, and you can feel burnt out.”

Tennis, on the other hand, never felt that way.

“Since I have not been playing for as long, the sport still feels fresh and fun for me, making it more enjoyable,” she said.

That perspective is something she hopes others can learn from. In a time when many athletes feel pressure to specialize early or commit to one sport from a young age, Addison’s story offers a different perspective—one that emphasizes growth over experience.

“I hope that people understand that it is okay to start later in sports,” Ginther said. “You do not have to be playing since you were little to make a team or be good enough.”

Her journey proves that success in sports isn’t always about how early you start. Sometimes, it’s about how willing you are to begin, even when you feel behind. For Addison Ginther, tennis wasn’t the original plan. But through hard work, persistence, and a fresh perspective, it became something even more meaningful—a reminder that it’s never too late to take a chance and thrive.