DeKalb County tennis player Jayde Lester did not pick up a tennis racket until her sophomore year. Now, as she enters her senior season, Lester is helping shape the Lady Tigers’ identity for the year ahead.
Lester said she joined the team after head coach Brian Cadle encouraged her to give the sport a try. Lester made an immediate impact in her first season, winning multiple singles and doubles matches and carving out a role as both a competitor and a teacher.
“I wasn’t really nervous because I had waited so long just to play,” Lester said. “There’s so many practices so it made me more and more excited and whenever I was able to get out there, I was kind of disappointed in how I played but it was still, I still enjoyed my time and I knew that it was something I was going to stick with forever.”
That commitment has showed up on the court. In a comeback win over Cannon County, Lester picked up a singles victory and teamed with Kaylee Hoersch to win the number three doubles match, helping DeKalb rally to a 5-4 team win. She also posted three wins at the DeKalb Invitational as part of the varsity lineup, underscoring her versatility in both singles and doubles.
But the journey has not been without setbacks. After starting as DeKalb’s No. 2 doubles player, Lester slid down the ladder her second year, a move that stung at first.
“I took it as a learning opportunity to try and really focus on my game and not be like I’m trying to win,” Lester said. “I just wanted to learn my technique and get better at it.”
Under Cadle and the DeKalb coaching staff, Lester said she has worked on refining her forehand, backhand and footwork, spending long summer days on the court to sharpen her fundamentals. The extra reps paid off, not just in her own play, but in her confidence to help others.
“It’s grown a lot,” Lester said. “It wasn’t until sophomore [year] is when I really got into it and I played so much summer tennis and that’s how I got to where I’m at now.”
As the Lady Tigers look toward the upcoming season, Lester brings experience and perspective to a roster focused on building momentum. Whether she is battling in the singles lineup or anchoring a doubles pairing, her emphasis on technique and consistency reflects a team-wide mindset.