By Travis Sloat

Being a tennis standout for Bartlesville High School isn’t the only thing senior Jordan Bilger loves. She also loves being a mentor to the younger students who look up to her.

“Being a leader has been a really fun role for me,” Bilger said. “I remember when I was a freshman, and how much it changed the atmosphere to have such uplifting and inclusive upperclassmen. Honestly the biggest thing is just getting the younger girls involved and building relationships with them off the court, so that they are more comfortable on the court. Encouragement is another big thing.”

Bilger said she started playing tennis in the sixth grade, and her knowledge and enjoyment of the game has done nothing but grow since then.

“I knew nothing except hit it over the little fence and keep it in the big fence,” she laughed. “But I loved it. It is such a fun sport. I really love playing doubles. As a team, we started out really young in middle school and it’s been awesome to grow and become a really competitive team. Our coaches are super supportive, and we have a great team atmosphere which makes tournaments really fun.”

But in the end, it all comes back to being a supportive, kind teammate for Bilger.

“Character is something I’ve learned through sports that I will carry with me throughout all areas of life,” she said. “To me, it means being self-motivated and extremely gritty, and it is utilizing every day as an opportunity to work on becoming better. All while being the best team player and leader possible, and having a positive attitude every day. That is something I carry onto the court.”

Bilger said her summer plans are to spend lots of time with family and friends, babysit a lot, and play some tennis.