Senior Penelope M. Signs on to Play Tennis at Marymount University!

This is a big day, not just for Penelope, but for everyone who has supported her, coached her, trained with her, and cheered her on over the years. Because, as many of you know, the path to becoming a college athlete isn’t easy. It’s filled with lots of practice, setbacks, comebacks, wins, losses, and everything in between. It takes more than talent — it takes heart, grit, determination, and a deep love for the game.

From two-hour Foxcroft practices to tournaments and match play, Penelope’s journey has been a steady climb fueled by her love for the game. She’s always been a fierce competitor. Her growth didn’t happen overnight. It happened through years of putting in the work. 

Along the way, Penelope has collected not just wins but memories that shaped her both as a player and as a person. One of her favorite memories is traveling to France to compete in a tennis tournament — a reminder that the game she started at five years old could take her across the world. That experience wasn’t just about playing; it was about expanding her perspective, stepping onto unfamiliar courts with confidence, and proving to herself that she could play anywhere.

But some of the most defining moments in Penelope’s tennis story didn’t happen overseas — they happened right here, at Foxcroft, where she has left a lasting mark on and off the court. This season, she created a moment that her teammates and coaches won’t soon forget. In a pressure-packed match, with the outcome hanging in the balance, Penelope stepped up and won a crucial tiebreaker that helped her team secure the GPAC Conference Championship. 

Coach Susie, who is so sad she cannot be here today, says, “Congratulations, Penelope, on becoming a Saint in the next chapter of your adventure. I am thrilled for you; being a member of a college tennis team was a game-changer for me and gave me benefits and memories that I still cherish. Since we are often our harshest critic, I hope to remind you of just a few of your valuable assets. Your grit and determination carried you across the finish line in many of your crucial matches. Your real-time problem-solving improved daily throughout the season and will continue to make a difference in your matches. And your leadership was palpable as you effectively led your teammates through some very tough matches to a winning season and onto the state tournament. We celebrate you and your accomplishments today! But it doesn’t end here. Look for me and all your supporters in the stands next season; we will be there cheering for you! Good luck next year!”

Beyond the victories, Penelope’s journey has been defined by her consistent growth. Every season, every match, and every practice has built her into the well-rounded athlete and person she is today. And now, she’s taking all of that with her to the next level.

At Marymount University, Penelope is preparing for an exciting new chapter. She shared that what excites her most about college tennis is the opportunity to meet new people and to learn new and more advanced concepts in the game she loves. In her words: “I’m excited to be open to a whole new level of competition and quality of the game.”

That mindset — that hunger to keep learning, keep improving, and keep pushing herself — is exactly what will serve her so well in the years ahead. Marymount is gaining more than just a talented tennis player. They’re gaining someone who leads by example, a competitor who never gives less than her best.

Marymount’s coach Carrroll says he “is excited that Penelope will be a part of the Marymount University Women’s Tennis Team as her commitment to the sport of tennis is consistent with the values of a student-athlete at Marymount University.”

To Penelope’s parents, thank you for nurturing her love for this sport since she was small. For all the rides to practice, the early mornings, the late nights, the encouragement, the quiet pep talks, and the loud cheers from the sidelines. You’ve been her foundation, and you should be incredibly proud of the young woman she has become.

To her coaches and teachers, thank you for helping her grow. For seeing her potential and challenging her to rise to it. For teaching her that success isn’t just about talent, but about focus, mental toughness, and the ability to keep showing up, especially on the hard days.

And to Penelope — this is your moment. College tennis will challenge you, stretch you, and inspire you in ways you haven’t yet experienced. And we know you’re ready. Ready to learn and to evolve. And to keep playing the game you’ve loved since you were a five-year-old with big dreams and a tiny racket.

So today, we celebrate the years behind you and the amazing years ahead. We can’t wait to see you compete, grow, and thrive at Marymount.

From Director of Athletics Michelle Woodruff