Senior Matthew Anderson has his sights set on finishing his Ada tennis career on top, but he wants to do it the right way—competing hard while lifting others up around him. “My personal goal for this season is to make all-state and also beat my record last year, which was 4th place at state,” Anderson said.
He believes this year’s group has the energy to chase big goals together. “The team morale is high this year,” he said. One of his favorite things has been watching the younger classes grow into their roles. “The biggest improvements I’ve seen this year are how much the freshman and sophomore class has been working to get on the level of the seniors and juniors,” he said. “It’s fun to watch them look up to us.”
Anderson and his teammates have their focus set on the biggest prize. “Our goal this year is to win the state,” he said. “We are working on this by practicing every day and challenging in 5A and 6A tournaments to up our game.”
On court, he leads from the front. “I play 1 doubles with my partner, Owen Moon,” he said. “Additionally, I am also the senior team captain for the boys’ team.”
Anderson leans on an aggressive style at the net. “My main way I break my opponents is by poaching the ball at the net,” he said. “Poaching means to cut the ball off at the net and win the point.” His preparation happens long before first serve. “I prepare myself beforehand by doing cardio workouts with Dan Cody,” he said. “Also, I practice hitting long rallies with a dear friend of mine, Kylee Witt.”
Beyond results, Anderson cares about how he’s remembered. “I want my legacy to be about how kind you can be while being competitive,” he said. “People get wrapped up in petty dramas at tournaments. I want people to be kind to one another and enjoy the game of tennis.”
Off the court, Anderson stays busy across campus. “I am Student Council President,” he said. “I am involved in performing arts and One Act Play. I’m in FCA, bible club, Garden club, and Asian Culture club. My plan after high school is to attend Oklahoma State University and major in business.”
