On The Court: Cornell's Audrey Small

College tennis is the next step (and a lot of the time, the last step) in a players career after high school, giving them four more years of the sport in a team setting. Players typically compete in the fall and the spring of the school year, and work to maintain their form over the winter and summer off-season traveling to tournaments or getting work in on the courts at their campus.

In the next edition of On The Court, we feature Cornell College's Audrey Small, a former Central DeWitt Saber who was part of the initial launch of the tennis program just a few years ago. Small is currently in her junior year under Coach Trent Schneider.

What is your tennis story?

Tennis was introduced to Central DeWitt during my junior year of high school I immediately fell in love with the game and knew I wanted to continue playing as long as possible since I discovered it so late in life. My dad also played tennis in high school when he was growing up, and it has been fun to play sets and matches with him every so often. I learned a lot of the basic skills of tennis throughout my high school career, but really started to advance my game when I got to the college level. I began to play with more strategy, understand the game more, and play with more experience under my belt. I have loved playing tennis at the college level and am so thankful tennis entered my life before I graduated.

What attracted you to Cornell College?

One of the first things that attracted me to Cornell was its beautiful campus. I felt at home so quickly due to the welcoming community and gorgeous landscape. I also was very interested in the block plan that Cornell employs as its academic structure, while being extremely compatible with being a student-athlete.

Why college tennis?

I chose to play tennis in college to continue playing the sport, have a built in family, and to create new experiences. I have learned a lot through being a college athlete, not just on the tennis court, but in the classroom, around campus, and in life. Having teammates to support you through the journey is something that is so special and invaluable.

Best piece of advice for high school players in their search for a college tennis program?

My advice would be to visit as many schools as possible, and trust your gut. I visited so many colleges but none of them felt right like Cornell did, so I trusted my gut feeling and am so happy I did. I would also get to know the players at each school you are considering, maybe its getting lunch or hitting some tennis balls with them on your visit. Ask as many questions as possible!

What topics do you wish you knew more about as you explored college tennis options coming out of high school?

The only thing I didn't know too much about before joining a college tennis team was the conference we were in. I would've maybe liked to know more about the teams we would be playing throughout the season, where they are located in relation to campus in terms of how far we may travel, and the competitive level we'd be playing at.

What is your major/career interests?

I am majoring in K-12 Health and Physical Education with a minor in Kinesiology. I am striving to become a physical/health educator in either and elementary or middle school enviornment, to help kids stay physically active.

Tennis achievements

High School

Team Regional Finalists (Spring 2022)

#2 singles/#1 doubles as Senior

#3 singles/#2 doubles as Junior

College

3 year varsity starter for singles and doubles

MWC #3 doubles runner-up (Fall 2024)

MWC Performer of the Week (Fall 2022)

Academic All-MWC

ITA Scholar Athlete