Kalt’s play lands tennis scholarship

Garrettt Kalt proved that he’s one of the best doubles players in the region on the court.

Now, he’s proving his writing hand is just as good as his backhand.

The senior Greenwave tennis player was named the winner for the 2014 Reno–Tahoe High School Senior Tennis Player Scholarship through the Biggest Little Tennis Association last month after finishing a regional-qualifying season in the fall. The scholarship criteria included a resume, letter of recommendation from coach John Moore and an essay about how tennis impacted his life and future goals.

“My coach enthusiastically encouraged me to apply and one of my friend’s mom also mentioned the scholarship to me,” Kalt said of first hearing about the annual scholarship.

According to the tennis association website, the scholarship is awarded to deserving high school seniors who have participated in the United States Tennis Association, high school tennis and/or other organized youth tennis programs in the Greater Truckee Meadows area. Kalt received a $750 award for winning the scholarship, while second place received $500.

Kalt has played tennis since eighth grade and knew he wanted to continue the sport throughout high school. Outside of high school, Kalt competed in several tournaments in Reno and he plans on playing intramurals when he attends Washington State.

“I feel in love with tennis because of the people and the amount of fun I had on the courts,” Kalt said. “I plan to play tennis the rest of my life. That’s the beauty of this lifelong sport.”

Kalt’s essay, “Tenacious Tennis,” described his final regional tennis match when he and his partner, Adam Wadsworth, were the No. 2 seed and fell short of reaching the state tournament. More important than the last match of his career, though, was how he needed to carry on his duties as the school’s student body president.

“As difficult as it was, I had to let go of the pain and sorrow of losing. I had to move on in the game of life,” he wrote. “I could not let that loss affect my leadership, school spirit or my outlook on my senior year. Letting it go, I painted war marks on my face and donned my usual school spirit wardrobe before heading to the game. Reflecting back months later, I realized how much I matured and benefited from that match.”

Kalt, who will graduate as co-valedictorian, plans on enrolling in Washington State’s honors program and wants to become a broadcaster. Along with majoring in broadcast journalism, Kalt will major in political science, work summer internships at one of the major networks and hopes one day, he will be sitting at the desk of “Good Morning America,” delivering the news on one of the biggest platforms.

“Once on the air, I will strive to work my way up the ladder through hard work and dedication just like in tennis,” Kalt added. “Lessons learned on the court will carry me on my life’s journey.”