Dwight Global Online School A Natural Fit For Tennis Players

Navigating the recruitment process for a high school athlete seeking to continue their career at the next level is a daunting task. Even for the best of the best and a highly sought-after recruit, the stress can be overwhelming, as the decision on where the next chapter in your life will take place is an immense one.

That was the case for Claire An, a five-star, blue chip senior recruit who grew up in New York and trained at CourtSense Tennis Training Center before moving to Florida to train at the Evert Tennis Academy. And despite being one of the best players in the country who had countless offers from the top tennis programs and elite academic institutions across the country, it helped to have people in her corner guiding her in that process.

An spent her high school years attending the Dwight Global Online School headquartered in New York City, which allowed her to train in Florida while still receiving a top education. And it was through the expertise and resources of Dwight that she was able to manage her own recruitment process, and not let it affect her education, training or match readiness.

“Dwight Global was incredibly supportive throughout my college recruitment process,” An said. “I was assigned to college counselors who were very knowledgeable and experienced with the unique demands of student-athletes. We met regularly and worked through specific tasks to make sure I stayed on track with all of my deadlines. They truly understood what it meant to balance school, training and recruitment, and helped me navigate everything–from building a strong academic profile to scheduling visits and calls with coaches–while keeping up with my coursework. Their support and flexibility made the entire process much smoother and a lot less stressful.”

That proved crucial for An, who will be headed to Duke University later this fall to begin the next stage of both her tennis and academic careers. The assistance in the college recruitment process is just one of the many areas in which the team at Dwight Global helps all of its students, but particularly those pursuing careers in tennis, of which it has many.

“A motto we live by at Dwight Global for our students is ‘Your dreams have no limits, why should your school?’. This is true for all of our students, but especially so for our junior tennis players, as we’ve given them an environment where they can thrive,” said Louisa Childs, Head of School at Dwight Global. “We are incredibly proud of these players and what they have been able to accomplish academically and on the tennis court. These students are ready to lead on university tennis teams and in life.”

The Dwight School has been serving its students for more than 150 years, and is one of New York City’s oldest independent schools. During that time, it has used all of its available resources to craft a personalized journey for every student based on individual interests and passions, and has always remained at the forefront of innovation to adapt to changing times and ensure it continues to serve its students’ journeys.

Dwight Global Online School represents the latest Dwight innovation. Through a combination of live video conferences that bring students together with instructors and each other, and on-demand resources that students can access any time, to personal Oxford/Cambridge-model tutorial sessions, Dwight Global extends the mission of developing global leaders to students everywhere in the world. And it is the Online School that has cultivated the perfect environment for top junior tennis players, as An explains:

“The school offers a flexible schedule that allows me to maintain a rigorous course load without sacrificing valuable time on court. As a high-level junior tennis player training and traveling require a significant time commitment, and Dwight truly understands and accommodates that lifestyle.”

She continued:

“What I especially appreciate is the combination of asynchronous and synchronous classes–being able to work independently when needed, while still engaging in live discussions with teachers and classmates. That balance has helped me stay connected, supported and on track academically, no matter where I am. Thanks to Dwight, I’ve been able to pursue my tennis goals at a high level while receiving an excellent education.”

An is just one of the many top tennis players benefitting from Dwight’s flexibility and experience, and the school boasts a loaded resume of players, including last winter’s NCAA Division I Singles Champion Michael Zheng.

A junior at Columbia, Zheng won the national championship last season, and previously reached the 2022 Wimbledon Boys’ Singles final, and gives a lot of credit to his education at Dwight for his success at the collegiate level.

“He has mentioned to us that after Dwight Global, he found he was well equipped to manage the demands of a collegiate tennis schedule and Columbia academics,” said Childs. “We hear stories like this again and again.”

The fact that Dwight Global is so in sync with its tennis playing students should come as no surprise, as the school’s Vice Chancellor, Blake Spahn, was the Captain of the 1994 Ivy League Champion Columbia Men’s Tennis Team, who went undefeated with him leading the way that season. In recent years, Spahn continued Dwight Global’s innovation and created the Travel Tennis Team Initiative, which provides opportunities for its students to play tournaments all over the world under the watchful eye of top coaches and chaperones.

“Dwight Global players benefit by experiencing new cultures, as well as gaining exposure to international competition while training, studying and competing together,” added Childs. “So far, the team has travelled to ITF tournaments in Costa Rica, Uruguay, Barbados and Guadalupe, and we are planning a trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands this spring. With so many top players and the flexibility provided by Dwight Global, our Traveling Tennis Team provides an excellent opportunity to create the community and camaraderie of a tennis team for students in middle school and high school.”

This new initiative is an indicator of Dwight’s commitment to its tennis players, not in just providing the necessary environment to thrive on and off the court, but also now facilitating tournament travel and providing opportunities to compete professionally, while also creating the type of team atmosphere they will experience at the next level in college.

The list of players who have benefitted from attending Dwight goes well beyond An and Zheng, and includes players such as Cooper Williams (Harvard), Pearlie Zhang (Princeton) and Mark Krupkin (Stanford), among countless others.

The needs that exist for top-level junior tennis players are unique, and in order for them to have the necessary resources to succeed, it’s important to find the ideal environment for them to thrive. Dwight Global has been at that forefront and with its consistent desire to remain innovative in meeting those needs, it will allow junior tennis players to be the best they can be on the court while preparing them for life off the court.

“My experience at Dwight has definitely prepared me for college life, especially as a student-athlete heading to Duke,” added An. “Managing a demanding academic schedule alongside intense tennis training and travel has taught me how to be independent, self-motivated and organized. Dwight teachers really care about your success and are genuinely invested in helping you thrive both academically and athletically.

I remember times when I was traveling for weeks at a time and my Dean would regularly check in with me–not just to see how I was doing academically, but to make sure I wasn’t overwhelmed or needed any additional help. That kind of support helped ease a lot of the stress that comes with balancing school and tennis, and it made me feel like I wasn’t navigating everything alone.”

The motto of Dwight School is “Your dreams have no limits, why should your school?”, and the team there works each and every day to make that a reality for its aspiring tennis players.