Adelyn Gross loves to travel.
Read about some of the Ƶ area's top high school girls tennis players as the season gets under way.
And that’s a good thing as Gross, who is a freshman at St. Joseph’s Academy this fall, has quite the travel itinerary due to her tennis exploits.
In the past 12 months Gross has competed in tennis tournaments in Bradenton, Fla. (twice); Rome, Ga. (twice); Cincinnati (twice); Wichita; Lincoln, Neb.; New Orleans; Coral Gables (Fla.); San Antonio; Kansas City; Seminole, Fla.; Mobile, Ala.; Palm Springs, Calif.; Las Vegas; Edmond, Okla.; Plantation, Fla.; and just this weekend in Orlando.
And Gross usually does not make just a cameo appearance in these Missouri Valley and United States Tennis Association national events. More often than not she makes it to the final day of a tournament.
Her success and numerous victories have earned Gross a national ranking of 19th in the country in the 14s combined. She is ranked 15th nationally in doubles.
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Gross is ranked No. 1 in her age group in the Ƶ district and Missouri Valley section.
But she is going to stay local for the next couple of months to play high school tennis for a very good St. Joseph’s squad.
Her older sister, Emerey, played for St. Joseph’s in 2022 before moving to the IMG Academy in Bradenton. Emerey won a Class 3 state doubles title with Abby Gaines in her one year of high school tennis.
“I decided on St. Joe’s because Emerey played there and she loved it,” Gross said. “I think it’s going to be super exciting to be part of a team.”
Adelyn said she has no idea how many years she will play high school tennis, but Angels coach Doug Smith is going to enjoy having her at least for this year.
St. Joseph’s was expected to return its entire lineup from a team which may have been the second best team in Class 3 last year. The Angels just happened to be in the same district, though, with eventual champion John Burroughs.
The starting six with the Angels last year were all returning, but senior Payton Friedman tore her ACL recently and will miss the season.
“It’s tough to lose a player like Payton, who was almost an automatic win for us,” Smith said. “But barring any more injuries, I still like our chances.”
And one of the main reason for Smith’s optimism is the addition of Gross, who will take over the No. 1 singles spot, ahead of returning Class 3 individual doubles champions Ali Kennedy and Ashley Behan.
An addition of a player like Gross can sometimes mess with team chemistry. But that is not the case with the Angels.
“I had a meeting before the season with Ali and Ashley, who are my captains, and they understand the situation,” Smith said. “Adelyn gets along with everyone, and the girls look up to her because of her stature.”
Four of the top six finishers in Class 3 singles last year were seniors. Senior Sydney Fuger of North Kansas City finished second last year, losing to Amber Yin of Lafayette, who finished as an undefeated champion.
It will be interesting to see how Gross fits into the mix with Fuger and the rest of the Class 3 players in Springfield in October.
“I’m looking forward to the season,” Gross said. “I would love to be as successful as Emerey.”
Read about some of the Ƶ area's top high school girls tennis players as the season gets under way.