Built for service and sport: How National Guard duty fuels Jazzmyn Williams' 4.5 game

Jazzmyn Williams does it all. She is a staff sergeant in the Kansas National Guard, works as an intelligence analyst, competes in powerlifting competitions and plays in a 4.5 USTA Kansas women’s league.

Before all of that she was a student-athlete, first at Andover Central High School and then at Friends University in Wichita, where she received a scholarship to play tennis.

After being cut from the volleyball team in seventh grade, a friend told Williams she should give tennis a try. It’s been a constant in her life ever since.

“I talked to my mom, and she said it involved a lot of running,” Williams said. “I took that as a challenge and decided to try out in eighth grade. I immediately fell in love with the sport. I went on to compete at state multiple times while playing (in high school).”

Williams started at Friends University in the fall of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the timing was certainly challenging, she made the most of it. Between her studies and playing tennis for the school, she found the experience greatly fulfilling.

“I loved the school and the camaraderie among the team,” Williams said. “I truly had a blast every single year.”

Balancing Tennis & Service

Even though she earned a scholarship to Friends University, Williams still needed to cover some of her school expenses. At that point, she hadn’t thought about joining the military as an option.

However, after much thought and conversations with her mom, she enlisted in the National Guard in January 2021 and shipped off to basic training shortly thereafter.

“I had to miss a semester at Friends,” she said. “But when I returned my scholarship was still intact, and I was able to start the tennis season strong.”

Williams was grateful for the flexibility of serving in the National Guard and from her coaches at Friends University. They worked around her schedule and commitments so she could balance her tennis with her service requirements. She graduated with a degree in cybersecurity in 2024.

“My only regular commitment was reporting to the military base the first weekend of each month,” she said. “They were even willing to work around my schedule if I had tennis matches that weekend. Overall, it was a great experience and the best way to pay for college.”

Williams also credited the military for instilling in her the desire to stay physically fit, which she said naturally translated to her tennis game.

“It taught me to recognize the value of being the best version of myself, staying active and finding fulfillment in the things I love,” she said.

While tennis remains her first love, Williams is also a powerlifter. She was on the Friends University powerlifting team her senior year in addition to playing for the tennis team.

“That experience taught me how to properly fuel my body for the physical demands I was putting it through,” she said.

After college, she started dabbling in bodybuilding, though now she focuses more on functional health and fitness.

“My goal is to build a strong physique and become the best athlete I can be on the court,” she said. “It taught me that there’s more to fitness than just your sport, and that you can be both strong and beautiful.”

Keeping fit has some perks on the court, too.

“It’s also helped my tennis game by teaching me greater mental and physical discipline and improving my endurance on the court,” Williams said. “Plus, it helped me look a little more intimidating.”

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