Utah State junior shifts to new role as team player
Since she came to the program in the spring of 2014, Nini Guensler has led the Utah State University women’s tennis team multiple times on the court — receiving Academic All-Mountain West Honors as both a freshman and sophomore, and having a 24-13 singles record last season.
Her wins included a 16-7 mark during dual matches playing the No. 1 and 2 spots. She also ended the season as the No. 16-ranked player in the Mountain Region.
Now, as she prepares to lead them as a senior next year, she is adjusting her role to lead on and off the court.
Adjustment is nothing new to Guensler, who was born and raised in the Republic of Georgia until seven years ago when she moved to California with her parents so she could play tennis.
“It was challenging at first because everything was new, but people made it easier to adjust because they were so nice and supportive,” said Guensler, with the same optimistic attitude she faces each challenge with. The first adjustment from home to the United States was in order to have more opportunities in her tennis career.
The change proved to be to her advantage. She ranked in the nation’s top 100 high school tennis players her senior year as she prepared to go to college.
Sean McInerney, the coach of Utah State’s women’s tennis team, knew Guensler would bring a lot of talent to his developing program, so even though she was originally committed to another university vocally, she changed her plans after hearing of the impact she could have on the team in Logan.
That decision brought a lot to the tennis program but also more adjustment for Guensler.
“It’s tough to balance school and tennis, but I really enjoy what I do, so it makes it easier to balance everything,” she said.
Guensler’s role has evolved since being in Logan. She is no longer just a tennis player, but part of a team.
“She was never on a team in her life before she got here,” McInerney said, who noticed the adjustments she has made as a teammate and now leader.
The maturity with which she handles these changes is something the coaches appreciate about her.
“She is night-and-day, 100 percent opposite of the human being that came in here as a freshman with dealing with outside people and teammates,” McInerney said. “I expect her to leave here a legacy of someone that showed the example with working her absolute tail off, going for what you want even if you don’t get it, and obviously caring about other people’s development.”
Guensler is happy to be in Logan and knows her role as part of the team.
“I just want to bring a lot of energy to the team and support and help (incoming freshmen) to understand college life as a student athlete,” Guensler said.
So far this season, the Aggies are 4-6 as a team. Conference play doesn’t begin until April 8. Guensler and Utah State have a slew of matches on the road before returning home to play against Montana State at home on March 26 at the Sports Academy and Racquet Club in Logan.
— paige.a.cavaness@aggiemail.usu.edu
Twitter: @ususportspaige