Samaya Smith makes history and takes the title of IHSAA tennis state champion

The Smith family name carries a legacy of accomplishments and recognitions in the Indianapolis community, particularly in track and field. Samaya Smith has added to that legacy under the guidance of her mother, Le'gretta Smith, while competing alongside her sisters at Warren Central on the girls' track team. At the same time, she's forging her own path and making a name for herself in the world of tennis.

A highly accomplished track star, Smith is now Indiana’s No. 1-ranked under-18 tennis player. The road to this point wasn’t easy, she told the IndyStar newspaper. After taking time off from tennis to pursue a state championship in track and field with her sisters, Smith began to question her decision, wondering if stepping away from tennis after making such rapid progress was the right move.

To return to her previous level of play, Smith competed in USTA tournaments and was selected for the Bethany Moore Memorial Scholarship, a grant that helps cover expenses such as tournament entry fees, travel, meals and lodging to support players in advancing their game.

She also trained with various coaches across the Indianapolis community. She worked hard on her mental game and credited much of her success to Austin Halcomb, an athletic mindset trainer, who helped her forget previous match points and adjust on the court when things weren’t going well. 

On June 14, Samaya Smith put all of her off-season work on display and earned Warren Central High School its first IHSAA girls’ tennis title, becoming the first Black girls' tennis individual state champion from Indianapolis.

Smith competed against a friend at the state finals, Westfield High School’s Alexandra Grilliot. The two train together at Indianapolis Racquet Club and know each other's games well, making this a competitive and exciting match. Grilliot took the first set 6-2, but Smith battled back, taking the following two sets 6-1, 6-2. During the changeover, her coaches said they could tell she was in the right headspace to make history and knew she could win.

Smith is a highly accomplished student athlete who has competed in state finals across multiple sports and won. She could easily have an ego, but those who know her describe her as kind, level-headed and a great sport—just the way you would want any history-making junior to be.

Her achievements speak volumes, but it’s her passion that truly defines her. In her own words, she reflects on her journey, her mindset and what the sport means to her.

Q: When you hit your final shot and became an individual state champion, what emotions were you feeling?

A: "I felt so much relief and excitement, and my legs just felt weak. I let out so much emotion because it was a long journey to get to that moment."

Q: What would you tell a younger athlete who dreams of success, such as winning a state championship?

A: "I would say hard work and determination get you a long way. Anything is possible by staying focused and loving the sport you play. That plays a huge part in success."

Q: What does tennis mean to you?  

A: "Tennis is everything to me! It's taught me so much: discipline, resilience, mental strength and so much more. This sport definitely pushes you to your limits physically and mentally. But there's something so special that not many sports have, and that's the one-on-one style, where it's just you and someone else battling for hours. That is what draws me to the sport."