Name: Amanda Showalter
Hometown: Centerville, OH
Grade: First-year
Major: undecided, Biology Pre-Med or Pre-Health
Position: Singles and Doubles
This past weekend, first-year Amanda Showalter and the women’s tennis team played against three teams. Showalter contributed wins in both her singles and doubles matches. In the win against Augustana College, Showalter won her doubles match with sophomore Meredith Breda and won her singles match in three sets.
“She’s a very good athlete with a great work ethic. She’s coachable and wants to keep getting better. She’s very competitive. She is demanding of herself, and she’s starting to learn how to keep that trait productive. She’s reliable and dedicated. She’s a great teammate. In short, she has everything a young player needs to develop into a great player.” - Scott Riggle, head women’s tennis coach
The DePauw (TDP): What made you want to play tennis at the collegiate level?
Amanda Showalter (AS): Playing at the next level has always been something I had planned for. I watched my older sister compete at the collegiate level and it was always a goal I personally strived for. I love to compete, and tennis is a huge piece of my life. I honestly could not imagine my life without tennis; it has become such a staple in my life throughout the years.
TDP: It’s your first season, what changes have you made to your game to compete at a new level?
AS: I have had to become more patient in developing points. I have had to learn to play longer points and take time to let the points develop. I have always been an aggressive player who likes short points, so I had to learn to play smarter while still playing my game.
TDP: How have the upperclassmen on the team helped you develop your game?
AS: They have helped me learn to play for a team and not just myself. Tennis is an individual sport and I have always played for my personal gains and goals and here at the collegiate level I am playing for a team. I honestly think playing for a team has made me a better competitor and player because I see a greater goal to play for.
TDP: How do you see your game progressing over the next three years?
AS: I see my game getting better as I get older and wiser. A huge downfall in my game is my mental toughness and I think that is something that will grow with maturity, so I hope to see improvements with my mental game given a huge portion of tennis is mental toughness. I also hope to improve my doubles so that I can be a strong contributor to doubles wins in the future.
TDP: Do you prefer playing singles or doubles matches?
AS: I prefer playing singles as of now because I like being fully responsible for my win or loss. I tend to feel guilty when I make a mistake in a doubles match, so I feel more pressure in doubles. But, I have recently started to be more involved in doubles and it has really grown on me because it is more fast paced, competitive and fun. It nice to have someone else’s energy to pick you up when you are down. I would say each has its perks and downfalls.
TDP: Who has been your favorite team to play against? Who are you looking forward to playing?
AS: I personally really enjoy playing the higher ranked team like Emory and University of Chicago because there is less pressure and it is fun to play a high level player. I would say I have played some of my best matches against these higher ranked players. I am looking forward to conference to play our rival Kenyon and hopefully top them and bring a conference title home this year.
TDP: What is your favorite part about playing tennis at DePauw?
AS: It sounds cliche but my teammates. I can honestly say I look up to every single one of them and I am so glad to be a part of such an awesome group of girls. We are all so different and have our own quirks that come together to build a really amazing family. They have been incredibly welcoming and inclusive given I was the only freshman this year, and I am so happy to have gotten to get close with them.
