Katie Stays Focused On and Off the Court
KU Scholar Athlete of the Month: Katie Robeson
School: Henry Clay High
Grade: 12
Sports: Tennis
Academics: Katie has a 4.81 weighted GPA, has taken nine 9 A.P. classes, scored 29 on the ACT and is a National Honor Society member.
Parents: Shelli & Tom
As a junior last year, tennis player Katie Robeson of Henry Clay High advanced to the Regional semifinals where she faced a long-time nemesis, a player she had defeated only once in their many duels over the years.
But last year was different. In what she called the biggest moment of her high school career, Katie won 6-3, 6-1, and later advanced to the State quarterfinals.s a junior last year, tennis player Katie Robeson of Henry Clay High advanced to the Regional semifinals where she faced a long-time nemesis, a player she had defeated only once in their many duels over the years.
In her Regional semifinal match, Katie entered that elusive athletic nirvana: she was in the zone.
“The reason that match is so important to me is because of the mental strength I had,” Katie said. “I was so focused that I don’t remember much of the match. I don’t know if I could have been more focused. Mentally, I competed so hard.”
Katie seems ideally suited for mental strength. Just look at her grades.
She carries a 4.81 weighted GPA and except for one B is a straight-A student in high school.
She has taken nine A.P. classes and scored a 29 on the ACT.
An avid reader of historical fiction and mysteries, she’s a National Honor Society member and in her senior year finally found time to pursue another interest, art. She likes to draw and paint seascapes.
A self-starter from her earliest days as a student, Katie is that academic rarity – a reverse procrastinator.
“She is always ahead of the game, never misses an assignment and has been that way since fourth grade,” said her mother Shelli.
“She never has to stay up late because she knows she needs her rest for tennis and gets everything done on time.”
Added her father, Tom: “She attacks school. Katie wants to score as high as possible.”
School brings out her competitive side, Katie said.
“I compete with myself, and school brings out my perfectionist mindset,” she said. “When I do well on tests and understand things, that gives me confidence.”
That trait carries over to the tennis court where Katie has played on the varsity since sixth grade and been Henry Clay’s No. 1 player since her freshman year. She was team captain as a junior and senior.
She has accepted an academic and tennis scholarship to Anderson University in South Carolina.
“She is tactical, very calculated and even keel on the court,” her father said.
And self-reliant.
“In singles, you’re the only one out there,” Katie said. “There are no substitutes so you have to figure it out yourself. That builds mental strength.”
As we’ve seen, for Katie, that’s a powerful weapon.
