The Chelsea Johnson News Page
Chelsea started playing tennis when she was five years old, and was first taught by her father. At an early age she took lessons from Becky Desmond, later to be her high school coach. She worked with Kyle Hawthorne, Wasyl Manko and Anthony DeCecco for many years at the Tennis Addiction Sports Club in Lionville, PA. She began playing tournaments when she was 14, training with Eric Riley and then later with Kevin Ryan and Paul Waltz. She played number one singles for Downingtown East from her freshmen to her junior year and opted not to play her senior year, focusing on tournament competition.
She decided she wanted to play college tennis in her junior year, spending 3 months in Florida training with Butch Staples and Martha Garzon at the Weston Athletic Club. During this time she attended 21st Century Cyber School, and graduating on the High Honor Roll. During her high school career, she was ranked 19th in the girls 18's Middle States Rankings.
She accepted a offer from Mount Saint Mary's University that included an academic and tennis scholarship. As a freshman, she set a school record for the most singles wins in a season, going 21-5. She was awarded the team's most valuable award at the end of the season in 2007 and was named to the Dean's list for the 2007 academic year. Her career at the Mount continues today where she is now a senior and co captain of the team, and looking foward to winning the NEC Conference in the Spring of 2010.
Chelsea's tennis career has been greatly influenced by the support from her family. Her parents traveled far and wide to take her to tournaments, and made many sacrifices so she could continue playing and improving her game. She was lucky that she had a built-in practice partner all her life, her younger brother, Zachary. He has been more than a practice partner to her – a supporter, a coach, even a sports psychologist at times!
Chelsea wins women's open in Trenton!!
