HighFIVE: Quinn Bernthal

Fairview's Quinn Bernthal is the new queen of 5A High School tennis

Tennis has been a part of Quinn Bernthal’s life as long as she can remember.

“When I was about three, my dad, a former college tennis player, hung a tennis ball in our living room so that my sister and I could try and hit it,” she says.

Fast forward fourteen years, and Quinn is now the Colorado 5A High School Champion at No. 1 singles. 

Quinn’s rise to the top of the Colorado high school tennis scene has been steady since her freshman year. The rising senior at Fairview High School in Boulder made it to the state finals at No. 3 singles her freshman year and at No. 1 singles her sophomore year, before capturing the No. 1 singles title last month. In her three years of high school, Quinn has lost only five matches.

“High school tennis is special because it makes an individual sport like tennis very social,” says Quinn.

The importance of team and working with others is extremely important to the Boulder native who credits much of her progress to being “very lucky to have great coaches”, including her lead coach, Chad Tsuda from The Meadows Club, as well as Colorado tennis legend, Sue Burke.

Quinn says she benefits from an array of talented hitting partners, including her dad and sister, as well as many adult players who help her along her tennis journey. In fact, she first met Tanya Cumulat, a then up-and-coming junior player, several years ago when she hit with Quinn. Now she's one of her high school coaches.

This sense of teamwork is definitely noticed by Quinn’s Fairview High School Coach, Chris Cartwright who has known Quinn for about a decace.

“Quinn’s impact on the team this year has been amazing. When she is on the court, she leads by example by bringing hard work and cheering for her teammates every day. When she’s off the court she is a great friend and very supportive of her teammates.”

Fairview were the 5A team runners-up this season.

Quinn immediately followed up the high school season by competing at the Level 4 Memorial Day Sectional where she made it to the 18s singles semifinals and won the doubles with Lorena Cedeno, one of her main rivals during the high school season. Quinn’s tournament successes have led her to be ranked No. 1 in Colorado, No. 7 in the Intermountain Section and No. 161 nationally as well as being a 4-star college recruit.

While she still has her senior year of high school tennis left, Quinn is looking towards a future of playing in college and has the tools and determination to do so.

Cartwright says “Quinn continues to develop as a player. She has gotten physically stronger and faster and, most importantly, mentally stronger which she showed by winning the state final even though she was down 0-3 in the third set. In the last few years, she has taken her game to a more offensive mindset and always wants to be in charge on the court. Her commitment to tennis is huge. There is no quit in her.”

Quinn echoes her love of the game and has an understanding and appreciation of tennis well beyond her 17 years. She says, “I love the complexity of tennis. It is special in that there are so many different variables and styles that make each point compelling. There is also always something to strive for. I enjoy the process of chasing a big goal and trying to improve, so working towards that definitely keeps me motivated!”

Quinn has a busy summer of tennis ahead of her before starting her final year of high school, but she has learned how to manage her time on the court and in the classroom to allow her to pursue other hobbies like hanging out with friends and family, hiking, and baking (her high school coach says “she makes the best chocolate chip cookies). 

And, come next high school season, we know that Quinn will defend her title with her trademark enthusiasm and passion for tennis and her teammates. She says, “I have an awesome team and many of my teammates and I have practiced together even before high school, so it's been neat to grow up on the court with them. The past two years at state they all ran on the court after some fun wins which are memories I love!” 

No doubt, Quinn will have many more memories made with high school tennis and beyond!

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