High school years can be filled with memorable experiences and personal growth. Riverton’s Addelyn Holt has found this. The senior has been a big part of the girls tennis team and has made her senior year a successful one. 

Holt plays first single for the Silverwolves. She’s an example on and off the court to her teammates. In matches, she faces opponents’ top players and does so with a positive attitude and determination. Holt’s efforts have helped Riverton compete against some challenging foes in Region 2. She has also been preparing for the Class 6A state tournament, which is slated to start Oct. 5 at Brighton High School for first-round matches. The later rounds and final will take place Oct. 10 and 12 at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City. 

Tennis is a unique sport, Holt said. Though it’s a team sport, she’s on the court alone against an opponent. Her hard work and preparation, rather than her teammates’ efforts, largely determine her success. Holt said she has learned important lessons by playing the sport. 

“Something I love most about tennis is that for the most part it is an individual sport,” she said. “You are part of a team, but you play matches on your own, and it’s really up to you how much you work and improve in the offseason. If I’m not doing well, there’s nobody to blame but myself. It has taught me self-discipline and hard work.”

Compared to other players she faces in matches, Holt hasn’t even been playing tennis that long. She first picked up the sport the summer before she started ninth grade. She credits her mother for her love of the game and what she has accomplished so far. 

“My mom played tennis in high school, and we thought it would be fun if she taught me, and I tried out for the team,” she said. “We started working during my freshman summer, and I made the team that year and have been playing ever since. I owe a lot of my success as a player to my mom and all the time she has put into practicing with me.”

As a team, the Silverwolves have had some ups and downs during Holt’s four-year career. Last season, Riverton tied for 12th out of 18 teams in Class 6A at the state tournament. The team was seventh in 2022 when Holt was a sophomore. However, Holt doesn’t reflect as much on wins and losses as she does the time she has spent with her teammates and the bonds they have built together. She said the Silverwolves enjoy excellent team unity and are close away from matches. Holt and her teammates have fun together and find creative ways to keep up morale and enjoy the experience of playing high school tennis. 

“The best part of being on the Riverton team has been all the friends and memories I have made with the girls,” Holt said. “Especially this season, all the girls are super close, and it’s awesome to see everyone cheering and supporting each other. We all hang out at team dinners, sing songs on the bus home from matches and even planned a practice where we all dressed up like our coach. As seniors, we’ve worked a lot this season on our team chemistry, and it’s so cool to see that all the girls love being on the team.”

Since she first picked up a racket and began playing competitively a little more than three years ago, Holt has improved her skills. She is pleased with her development on the court and how much progress she has made since her freshman year. Also, with much of tennis being mental, Holt has excelled in this area, especially this season. 

“One of my strengths as a player and something I’ve improved this season, is my consistency,” she said. “This has helped me win more points and games in recent matches. Another one of my strengths is my mental game and attitude. I’ve learned a lot about how to stay calm and focused in matches, especially when I lose a point or am down games, which has helped me become a better player.”

Holt also has an important leadership role on the team. 

She is one of just three returning seniors on a young squad. This season, she has helped to mentor younger players and set an example for the other Silverwolves. It’s a role she has embraced.  

“I am a team captain this year and am also the only returning varsity player on the team,” she said. “I’ve been able to be an example to the girls and help bring a positive attitude to matches and practices.”

Coming into this season, Holt wanted to play first singles. She also wanted to be competitive against the talented foes she would face throughout the year. Just as important, Holt set out to make her senior year one she would never forget. 

“I also wanted to have a fun last high school season, so whether I win or lose I want to know I played my best and enjoy the sport,” she said. “A team goal that I’ve had, as well as the other girls, is to build our team unity and friendships. We want to make sure everyone is included and feels like they are a part of the team. There is a lot of talent and skill on our team, and also in our region, so I need to make sure I am playing my best and putting forth my best effort. I put in a lot of extra hours of practice on my own so that I can be at the top of my game for this season. As a team, we’ve made sure to find time outside of tennis to build our friendship and support each other.”

Holt has big plans after she graduates, too. 

After high school, she wants to attend a semester of college and then serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After her mission, she intends to keep playing tennis in leagues and local tournaments. She also wants to coach. λ