Through tennis, Ady Preston honed a unique skillset, leading to her pursuit of a collegiate-level career.

Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Images by Ryan McGill

By the time Ady Preston was in the sixth grade, she had tried every sport available in her hometown of Jasper. Still, she struggled to find one that truly resonated with her. Her parents, both avid sports enthusiasts, were determined to pass on their active lifestyle to their children and encouraged Ady to keep searching for her niche.

At the time, as tennis was growing in popularity, Ady saw potential in this unique sport and channeled her athletic ambitions into it.

"I started later than most people, but it just stuck. It was so fun and interesting to me because, at the time, not many people played tennis," says Ady.

Her passion for tennis led Ady to train with local coach Rafi Rotter, a move she credits with significantly developing her skills. The journey wasn't without challenges, but Ady's determination and hard work helped her master the fundamentals and maintain her performance through proper training and nutrition.

Throughout her time at Jasper High School, Ady trained under coach Christian Matthews and the Vikings made it to the state championship every year of her high school career. Her senior year was particularly successful, as Ady reached the state finals in doubles.

Bevill State Community College tennis coach Eli Matthews noted Ady's progress under his brother's mentorship and saw her potential. During her senior year, he approached her about the possibility of a tennis scholarship.

"Throughout high school, I worked with Christian and Eli. During September of my senior year, Eli approached me and mentioned a scholarship. And that excited me because I didn't expect to go to college for sports, but 1 knew that 1 love tennis and decided I want to continue my career in it," says Ady.

Now Ady is enrolled at Bevill State, pursuing a career in NICU Nursing while honing her tennis skills and achieving new milestones. She appreciates the opportunity to stay close to home while playing college tennis and traveling throughout the Southeastern United States.

As Ady looks forward to competing with collegiate-level athletes and furthering her skillset, she remains grateful for the sport that anchored her athleticism and continues to enrich her life. 78