HighFIVE: Scarlett Lutz

Scarlett Lutz is on a mission to be the best she can be, both on and off the court

We often hear about social media being a negative thing for teenagers, but for Scarlett Lutz, it sparked an interest that has evolved into a strong sense of giving back to others. 

“Tennis is a very important part of my life and I want to share that with other kids so they can learn this amazing sport,” she says.

Scarlett was born and raised in Denver and was introduced to tennis at the age of 4 by her father, Ryan, who played at the University of Denver. But Scarlett says she didn’t “commit to completely playing tennis” until she was 11. In a few short years, the now 14-year-old has earned a No. 6 ranking in Colorado and a top 700 national ranking.

While her on-court performance is impressive, it’s what Scarlett has done off the court that has garnered her attention recently. Scarlett is a Regional President for Second Serve, a youth-run non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of underprivileged kids who love tennis, by supporting them with the equipment they need. Their vision of fostering greater access, inclusion, and diversity within the sport of tennis by giving everyone a chance to play resonated with Scarlett. 

“I originally got involved with Second Serve after seeing posts on social media about the organization which made me want to learn more” she says. 

She quickly got involved by setting up donation boxes around Denver to collect slightly used tennis equipment including shoes, water bottles and clothing.

Scarlett collected hundreds of items which were donated primarily to the YMCA of Northern Utah and to kids in Africa. It was the opportunity to donate to places like Africa that appealed to Scarlett. 

She says, “when I learned they were shipping tennis equipment to people all around the world, I wanted to be able to help other kids learn about the sport who might not be able to afford the equipment to play tennis.” 

Scarlett continues to send items to the YMCA of Northern Utah and hopes to send even more after collecting summer donations.

The soon to be freshman at Northfield High School hopes to play on her high school team in the spring, with her goals being to play No. 1 singles and ultimately play college tennis. With the leadership, commitment and success that Scarlett has shown through Second Serve, we know there are great things ahead for her.

MidFirst Bank is one of the largest privately owned banks and this combination of size and private ownership provides our customers with a special brand of banking. We are a strong supporter of the communities we serve, investing time and money in important educational, charitable and civic organizations. Our volunteerism is powered by our employees from all of the communities in which we live and share with our customers. MidFirst Bank is a proud partner of USTA Colorado.