Hannah Pang ’19
The girls’ Athlete of the Month is Ashley Kennedy ’22, a member of Episcopal Academy’s varsity tennis team. Embarking on her twelfth year of playing tennis, Kennedy’s love for the game is evident. After becoming a varsity team member in 8th grade, Kennedy has become a vital part of Episcopal’s tennis program. “Ashley is a hardworking, relentless athlete. She has helped elevate our team to a whole new level,” states teammate Grace Hennigan ’19.
Kennedy began playing tennis at the age of three when she casually enrolled in tennis clinics with her friends and played whilst on vacations. When she was eight-years-old, her tennis career took a turn when she played in her first USTA tournament. From this point on she was on a path of consistent improvement. Her passion for the sport has developed and she now trains five to six days a week.
This season is Kennedy’s second year playing varsity tennis at Episcopal. Last year Kennedy was the only Middle Schooler on varsity. Despite being one of the youngest members to ever join the Episcopal varsity tennis team, Kennedy went undefeated playing first singles.. Throughout the season she continued to set herself apart, being named to the first team Inter-Ac.
Aside from her achievements at Episcopal, Kennedy is ranked number 441 nationally and 18 in the United States Tennis Association Girls 18 and under section, despite only being 14 years old. She participates in sectional and national USTA tournaments requiring her to travel frequently. After much success, Kennedy is beginning to play in the ITFs, which are international tennis tournaments. Kennedy hopes to continue to hone her tennis skills and eventually play at the collegiate level.
During the 2017 fall season, Kennedy had the opportunity to participate in EA Haverford day. She recalls, ” If I had to choose one meaningful match, it would be my first EA-AIS Day match. It was such a cool experience! I got lots of support from the entire EA community and was able to pull out a win against a tough opponent. I was so glad that I had the opportunity to play.”
Despite all of Kennedy’s impressive accomplishments, one of the most meaningful aspects of tennis to her is her team and all of the friends she has made. Kennedy’s appreciation for her team is evident, “The team was very welcoming and always looked out for me. It was, and still is, an honor being apart of such a wonderful team.”
Teammate and friend Mackenzie Lee ‘19 says, “Ashley is a really great influence on the team. Even though she’s the youngest, her perseverance and determination on the court is so admirable. I love cheering her on and making her smile through the fence.”