Junior Sportsmanship Spotlight Marlo Schiffman

Even when she was only 2 years old, Marlo Schiffman showed an interest for tennis. By the time she was 5, she was hooked.

“My big brother, Sam, had played since before I was born,” she said. “I always wanted to be on the court with him.”

These days, Schiffman is spending plenty of time competing, standing out with her play and her attitude. A frequent player in USTA Tournaments all over the Middle States Section and around the country, she recently earned the Middle States Junior Sportsmanship Award in her age category. The award is given based on the recommendation of tournament directors.

For Schiffman, a lot of her sportsmanship comes down to perspective and appreciation for the game.

“Tennis is an uplifting and motivating part of my life,” said Schiffman, who lives in Pittsburgh. “It enables me to have a healthy, competitive mindset on and off the court.”

Schiffman has been a high level junior player for years and has been a frequent name in the Middle States junior rankings. She’s competed in national tournaments all over the country while also standing out locally.

Schiffman first publicly burst onto the scene in Pittsburgh as a freshman at Upper St. Clair High School, where she made a run through to a sliver medal during the WPIAL Class AAA singles championships as a 14-year-old, qualifying for PIAA State Championships. Since then, Schiffman has continued to compete, especially focusing on USTA events. She’s also spent a lot of time thinking about her future in the game.

“I want to play collegiate tennis, where my team and coaches can help me grow my game to the next level,” she said. “Tennis will always be a part of my life. It has played an important role in making me who I am today.”

Off the court, Schiffman is also setting goals.

“My aspiration is to qualify for Future Business Leaders of America Nationals this year,” she said. “I also plan to design and sew more dresses for girls in unfortunate circumstances for their first day of school.”

For more information about USTA play, visit usta.com. For junior spotlights and other player features, follow USTA Middle States on Instagram and Facebook.