Personal Statement
**Committed to Monmouth University!!
My name is Jordyn Pax and I am a military child who grew to fall in love with sports, specifically tennis and volleyball. Never in a million years did my parents think I was going to be a tennis player--let alone a good one--since they never played. However, when I was 6, I asked to play tennis (because I was good at the Wii). Instantly I fell in love. My first Coach was Jim Shaunessy who molded me into the player I have become today. When we moved from Oklahoma to Texas, I thought I would never find another coach like him. Thankfully, I found comfort playing at John Newcombe Tennis Ranch in New Braunfels, TX, where PJ Hendrie mentored me. Now, my private coach is Lucas Haak(graduated Valparaiso player).
As a 10 year old, my USTA ranking was #1 in 12s in Oklahoma. In Texas, I played at the super champ level in 14s and 16s, where I was in the top 30 in the state. At that time, tennis was my primary sport and my UTR was an 8.02 and I was a 3-star recruit. I now play 2 sports at the elite level (Volleyball and Tennis) and am currently a 2-star tennis recruit in Indiana, ranked 8th in the state, with a 7.69 UTR in singles and 8.08 in doubles.
As a freshman, I played #1 singles on Varsity at Samuel Clemens High School in Texas. Our team made history winning District and Bi-District for the first time in 25 years. In the spring, I played mixed doubles with a senior, where we made it to the regional semi-finals and ended up top 16 in the state of Texas. I was academic all-district, 1st team all-district, and all-area. As a sophomore, I played #1 singles for Plainfield High School in Indiana, and ended the season with a record of 24-2. Sadly, some of my best matches did not go into UTR. I won the individual sectionals, regionals, and was a state finalist (Top 8 in State). In Regionals I beat a 3-star with a 9 UTR. Sophomore year I achieved the accolades of all-conference, all-state, and academic all-conference.
What I hope to emphasize to recruiters is the fact that I do not play full time tennis, but am still able to compete at a high level. I know I’ve not yet reached my full potential, and my game still has room to improve. However, I know that when I commit to full time tennis in college I will be at the best of my game physically and mentally. I do play club volleyball at Circle City Volleyball Company and had to commit a lot of my time. Despite this, I still was able to fit in some tennis tournaments and beat some full time players. I also have a basketball background. In the end, I am a true, all around, student-athlete with experience and success in both the team environment and as an individual.
Even with high school tennis and volleyball, USTA tennis, and club volleyball, I hold a 4.4 GPA. In Texas, I was ranked #2 out of 702 with an average grade of 108%. I have never gotten a B on a report card in my life. I plan to take my SAT and ACT this year as junior. I want to go into the medical field, so I take my studies very seriously. I do know that school comes first, but I can easily compartmentalize and manage my time to where I can succeed in all aspects as a student-athlete.
Through my life, I have faced many challenges and adversities as a military “brat.” I feel tennis and volleyball has sculpted me into the person I am today. I don’t play either sport full-time, but I can still compete at an elite level in both. With many things on my plate I still keep my education a priority. I’m not the best, biggest, or strongest, but I am by far the most resilient, dedicated, polite, coachable, and diverse student-athlete that would bring great success to your program and will do anything to play at the collegiate level.
