Junior Sam Cullison brings the right amount of energy and excitement to all her matches. On the court, she is a superstar with precision and strength, but off the court, she thrives just as much with her extracurriculars and academics. Sam participates in a variety of clubs such as Speech and Debate, Patriots for Kids, and Architecture Club.

Sam has been a vital part of the John Carroll tennis team since her freshman year when she made varsity. Her love for tennis comes from when she started playing the summer in 2022 to be able to practice with her friends.

She has been playing doubles since then and never gives up an opportunity to practice.

While Sam embodies what it means to be a student athlete, that does not mean that she has not struggled.

Sam said, “The biggest challenge I face as a varsity player is having to leave school for so many matches and not get home until late.”

This is a problem many athletes at John Carroll encounter, but Sam overcomes this challenge by maintaining a 4.0 GPA.

The tennis team has many rituals and team warm-ups to hype up the group, but Sam has her own way of preparing for a nerve-racking match.

Sam said, “I mentally prepare for high-pressure matches by eating beforehand and listening to music to calm my nerves.”

Sam’s first year on the team was a memorable one as they almost won the championships.

Sam reminisces about the stressful match she and her partner played in the championship game.

She said, “My proudest moment on the court was freshman year when my doubles partner and I won our championship game.” Even though the John Carroll tennis team did not win the championships that year, Sam and her partner won their match.