2008 Woodie Awards
A true passion for tennis
Tennis stand-out Jacobs continues career at MJC
Amy Stephan
Issue date: 2/9/06 Section: Sports
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This is one feeling that tennis players such as Rebecca Jacobs gets while playing the game tennis.
Jacobs, 18, is a freshman at Modesto Junior College. Her devotion for tennis has been in her life since she was 13-years-old. She is currently majoring in elementary education.
Despite hitting the books hard to prepare for her career, she spends a great deal of time out on the court.
"I practice five days a week to get my strength up, even if it's to just get a quick run in at the racquet club," Jacobs said.
All the time and practice she puts in is for a reason.
Her determination for herself as well as for the women's team is put towards her hopes and goals for the season.
"I want our team to make Nor Cal and then continue on to state," Jacobs said.
Jacobs has enough confidence in her team to know that they will have enough strength to conquer the matches they need to win to make her dreams come true.
"I think we will have some hard matches but we will pull through," Jacobs said.
Team unity and support helps Rebecca make it through some of her toughest matches.
When Jacobs was asked why she had chosen tennis out of all the other sports available to her she said her parents, Murray and Jaime Jacobs, had a great influence on her decision. They put her in a summer camp to try it out and she fell in love with the sport.
Tennis seemed to have the right aspects that worked in Rebecca's life.
"Unlike many other sports tennis is one that I can continue to play throughout my whole life. It allows you to be independent as well as working with team members and not to mention the cute uniforms are a plus," Jacobs said.
Jacobs plays singles as well as doubles.
Her partner for doubles is Amanda Guajardo, age, year playing for the mjc team. Some might feel more nervous playing singles with all eyes on them, but not Rebecca Jacobs.
"I prefer playing singles, but doubles is fun because you have someone to get excited with if you win a match." Jacobs said. "but then again if you mess up you feel more disappointed because you not only let yourself down but your teammate as well."
"Our coach this year is great."
With help from Milan Motroni, MJC's women's tennis coach, Jacobs has been able to improve on her volleys and her forehand.
"I really like the team. I'm so excited about playing this season," Jacobs said.
Tennis is not just a competitive sport to Jacobs but a place to meet fun young ladies who also share some same interests.
After MJC, Jacobs plans on attending Brigham Young University, Idaho where she will continue to play tennis on an intramural team. BYU does not offer scholarships for tennis because of their non-existing sports teams but her love for tennis doesn't stop there.
Even though Jacobs plans on continuing to play tennis for the rest of her life, right now her concentration rests on helping the MJC team win a state title.