I picked up a racquet at age ten in Alameda and soon began competing in USTA tournaments, earning a spot in California’s junior rankings. At Northgate High School I rose to #1 singles by sophomore year, finishing in the top twenty-five in Northern California and the top one hundred nationwide. A full scholarship took me to Centercourt in New York, where I trained with nationally ranked athletes, improved my ITF standing, and achieved a USTA rating of 5.5 and a UTR of 13. I later led the NCAA team at Dubuque University as its #1 seed. These experiences shaped the technical insight and competitive mindset I now share with my students.