Spring Break
A double dutch-ess of tennis and jump rope
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Amanda Schubert, women's tennis
Issue date: 5/1/08
Sophomore women's tennis player Amanda Schubert has made it pretty far in life. At only 19 years old, she's made it to one of the nation's top universities and has taken two Centennial Conference titles.
Just this week, she took a 6-4, 6-0 win over Swathmore to claim the Blue Jay victory. Most would attribute these achievements to long hours on the court, a personal tennis trainer or a magical tennis racket of sorts. Believe it or not, though, the secret to Schubert's success doesn't reside in her tennis racket.
"Although tennis has gotten me to the NCAAs, I have always said that jump rope has gotten me the furthest as a person," she said.
Amanda Schubert is not only an exceptional tennis player, but she's also a champion jump roper. She started jumping at a young age, and joined a local team in elementary school. "I was so into it, that I would jump rope for hours on my driveway after camp," she said. Her team, The Swingers, travelled all over Virginia and the East Coast, competing in local and regional competitions. Even at a young age, Schubert thought her future was set: a life-long career of double-dutch and single rope (her two best events).
In junior high, her life bounced in another direction. "I started playing tennis in the 7th grade, after I realized that jump rope was not yet an NCAA sport."
Though she had to say goodbye to her double-dutch dreams, Schubert's hands didn't stay empty for long after she traded her jump rope for a tennis racket. Though she wasn't familiar with tennis at first, the sport soon captured her heart. Tennis proved to hold as much, if not more, enjoyment than jump roping.
"When I was learning new jump rope tricks, I'd come home with whip marks all over the backs of my arms and legs," she said. "When I was learning new tennis skills, though, I'd only have maybe a sore forearm." What an upgrade!
These days, Schubert's past the days of learning the basics. This season, she's focusing on her doubles matches- "especially my volleys and court sense." These details fall into a lifelong relationship with her sport.
Just this week, she took a 6-4, 6-0 win over Swathmore to claim the Blue Jay victory. Most would attribute these achievements to long hours on the court, a personal tennis trainer or a magical tennis racket of sorts. Believe it or not, though, the secret to Schubert's success doesn't reside in her tennis racket.
"Although tennis has gotten me to the NCAAs, I have always said that jump rope has gotten me the furthest as a person," she said.
Amanda Schubert is not only an exceptional tennis player, but she's also a champion jump roper. She started jumping at a young age, and joined a local team in elementary school. "I was so into it, that I would jump rope for hours on my driveway after camp," she said. Her team, The Swingers, travelled all over Virginia and the East Coast, competing in local and regional competitions. Even at a young age, Schubert thought her future was set: a life-long career of double-dutch and single rope (her two best events).
In junior high, her life bounced in another direction. "I started playing tennis in the 7th grade, after I realized that jump rope was not yet an NCAA sport."
Though she had to say goodbye to her double-dutch dreams, Schubert's hands didn't stay empty for long after she traded her jump rope for a tennis racket. Though she wasn't familiar with tennis at first, the sport soon captured her heart. Tennis proved to hold as much, if not more, enjoyment than jump roping.
"When I was learning new jump rope tricks, I'd come home with whip marks all over the backs of my arms and legs," she said. "When I was learning new tennis skills, though, I'd only have maybe a sore forearm." What an upgrade!
These days, Schubert's past the days of learning the basics. This season, she's focusing on her doubles matches- "especially my volleys and court sense." These details fall into a lifelong relationship with her sport.
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