DeKalb Tigers tennis player Jayde Lester enters her second season in competitive tennis.
Lester started playing tennis her sophomore year after Head Coach Brian Cadle convinced her to give it a try. Lester won multiple singles and doubles matches in her first year playing the sport. Lester said she has been able to coach other people on their techniques as a result of what she has learned.
“I wasn’t really nervous because I had waited so long just to play,” Lester said. “There’s so many practices so it made me more and more excited and whenever I was able to get out there, I was kind of disappointed in how I played but it was still, I still enjoyed my time and I knew that it was something I was going to stick with forever.”
Lester said DeKalb’s coaches have taught her forehand, backhand, and footwork among other key aspects. Lester started as the number two doubles tennis player at DeKalb. Lester has gone from number three to number six entering this year. Lester said the fall down hurt initially.
“I took it as a learning opportunity to try and really focus on my game and not be like I’m trying to win,” Lester said. “I just wanted to learn my technique and get better at it.”
Lester said her game has come a long way.
“It’s grown a lot,” Lester said. “It wasn’t until sophomore summer is when I really got into it and I played so much summer tennis and that’s how I got to where I’m at now.”
Lester enters her senior year at DeKalb. Lester said she wants to go to college, but is currently uncommitted to one as of now.
