Junior Kirbey Mouse enters her final high school tennis season as Elk City’s most seasoned varsity player, ready to guide a new generation from the baseline.
“I am most proud of winning tennis academic state my sophomore season,” Mouse said.
That success came with lessons that reach beyond the scoreboard. “Tennis has taught me that you do not need to be perfect to have success,” she said. “In this game you may lose more points than you win, but turning around and having a good mindset is what sets you apart from your opponents.”
One teacher became more than an instructor. “My favorite teacher is Ms. Graves, my sophomore english teacher,” Mouse said. “Ms. Graves cares not only about your success in the classroom, but also about your success outside of the classroom. She is always there as a person to talk to and check up on you.”
Family resilience shapes her outlook. “My mom inspires me to persevere in every place that God leads me to,” she said. “You may not always like the place you are in, but you are there for a reason, so make the best of your situation.”
Carrying Elk City’s colors means competing with integrity. “I love representing my high school as an athlete because it enables me to compete in the sport I love, while representing what Elk City Tennis stands for,” she said. “It is great to play this game at such a high level, but showing good character and sportsmanship will follow you further than any sport can.”
Mental reset defines her approach. “Joni McConnell, my tennis coach, places a heavy emphasis on having ‘tennis amnesia,’” Mouse said. “You need to forget about the mistakes you make and move on to the next point. If you only focus on the points you lose, it will be twice as hard to win. This is just as applicable in life as it is in tennis; only focusing on all of the negative things can do nothing but bring more negativity, look forward to the positive.”
Support built her path. “Thank you to my parents and coaches who have done nothing but support me for all of the years I have played tennis,” she said. “I would not be able to play this game without your dedication to showing up and making me a better player and person.”
