JUNIOR SPOTLIGHT: Devon Jack
Brown University women’s tennis freshman Devon Jack has already made her impact felt on her team, not only with her play but also her sportsmanship.
In a mid-season match against Yale University recently, the former San Marino High star eked out a two-set tiebreaker win to give the Bears a 3-2 lead in an eventual 4-3 victory.
“My college tennis experience has been going great so far,” Jack said. “I love my team and how close the girls are. It truly feels like a family. My coaches, Paul Wardlaw (head coach) and JC Nunez (assistant coach) work extremely hard to make us not only better tennis players, but better people too. I am incredibly lucky to play for them.”
Back in early February, Jack received the 2017 SCTA Evelyn Houseman Lifetime Junior Sportsmanship Award at the annual banquet at the Los Angeles Tennis Center. The distinguished award is the highest honor a junior player can receive from the SCTA. The honor is given to an individual who, throughout their junior tennis career, has displayed exemplary conduct, outstanding sportsmanship and excellence, honesty and integrity while participating in the programs of the SCTA and the United States Tennis Association. For receiving the award, Jack will be given a lifetime membership to the USTA.
“I believe that sportsmanship means being respectful on and off the court, no matter how much stress or pressure is involved,” said Jack, who was a five-star recruit and ranked No. 27 on Tennis Recruiting’s list of top recruits for the Class of 2016.
Jack is the daughter of Nam and Michael Jack. Her mother graduated from Brown in 1980. Jack is currently focusing her studies on Biology with a minor in Economics.
Jack was a two-time National High School All-American and Rio Hondo League Singles Champion her final two years at San Marino High, with her team winning back-to-back CIF-SS Championships.
“My parents always say, ‘How you deal with adversity defines your character,’ which can be applied to tennis, school, and life,” Jack said. “When faced with adversity, a true sportsman will act with the utmost respect towards their opponent and those around them, as well as hold themselves to the highest standard of self-conduct. I am so incredibly thankful to receive the SCTA Evelyn Houseman Lifetime Sportsmanship Award. Southern California Junior Tennis will always be my home and it is the best section with the best people!”