MOUNT FOREST — Victoria Herrington from Mount Forest recently finished in the top four in the Ontario U18 outdoor provincials in doubles and placed in the top 12 in singles.
She also won the Caledon 18-and-under tournament on July 20.
The 18-year-old has been playing tennis since about the age of four and has kept with it with some inspiration from her older sister.
“We’re seven years apart. She played and as she was getting really good, I would look at her and be like ‘I want to get good too now,’” Herrington began. “I just wanted to keep playing because of her.”
In provincials, Herrington said everyone signs up for doubles on the first day. She explained she was partnered with a girl she played with in a previous tournament who was a reliable partner and advanced player.
After finishing in the top four, Herrington says she was very proud of herself for what she accomplished.
“I knew I tried my best. Obviously, it would have been nice to advance to the finals, but my partner played really well and we both tried really hard. So, I think that’s what I’ll take from that,” she said.
This was Herrington’s last time in provincials as she will now be moving on to a post-secondary tennis career.
Participating for the last time, she said, was very emotional.
“I was sad that it was my last provincials, but I was also feeling happy [because] I worked so hard to get here,” she said.
Herrington recently received a scholarship from Spring Arbor University in Michigan. She said she was looking into a few different schools, but Spring Arbor stood out to her the most so she went to visit the campus.
“I just fit in so well, there. I loved all the people; they were so nice and welcoming. And the campus is very beautiful,” said Herrington.
Criminal justice major
The tennis player will be majoring in criminal justice and will be headed to Michigan in less than two weeks to begin her tennis career at Spring Arbor.
“It’s definitely come faster than I thought it would, but I’m very excited to go.”
David Darling is Herrington’s coach at Spring Arbor University and has been coaching the women’s tennis team there since 2017. He is also a 2013 graduate of Spring Arbor.
Darling has been recognized in the past as a four-time All-Crossroads League performer and a four-time National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) All-American.
The school’s tennis coach told the Community News he is excited Herrington is coming to Spring Arbor. Teammates will be moving in on Aug. 14, and practice will begin the following day.
Darling said Herrington has a “positive attitude” on and off the court and he could tell that she really enjoys the game and being on the court.
He referred to her as a “court rat,” much like a gym rat, meaning that she is an individual that likes going on the court and playing. It is where she always wants to be.
With the start of practice quickly approaching, Darling said he is looking forward to seeing Herrington improve her tennis skills at Spring Arbor, adding he is glad he will be part of that process.
