CATONSVILLE, Md. — It took a few years for Ashantae Winestock to become a regular on the tennis court. But when she did, in middle school, there was no looking back.
“My dad used to play, and he kind of introduced me to the sport, and I love it to this day,” she said.
People knew big things were in store for Ashantae as soon as she picked up a racket.
When she got to Western Tech High School she was already the No. 2 girls singles player on the team.
“That's kind of usually rare for freshmen to be in the starting lineup," she added.
“She's like a sponge,” said Western Tech Head Tennis Coach Leroy Levi. “Whatever you tell her, she's going to make sure she absorbs it, understands, so when she demonstrates, she's got purpose.”
Now a senior, her talents have grown along with her love affair with game.
“I just feel like I improved over my four years, and I love the sport even more now,” said Winestock.
She's a natural leader.
“I love my teammate,s and I just want to be kind of like a good role model for them,” Winestock said.
She is.
On the court she went undefeated this past regular season. In the classroom, she gets straight A's with a weighted grade point average of 4.7.
Ashantae goes to school in the morning then heads to her paid internship at the Department of Defense.
She's also a member of National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society. Ashantae said she's motivated by her family, including her older brother.
“My brother has autism, so I kind of also want to be able to do good for him, I guess, and be a good sister,” she said.
Next year Ashantae plans to play tennis at Hampton University. She wants to be a school psychologist.
“Kids, they have trouble and I want to be able to help them and help them grow and become better people,” she said.
Congratulations Ashantae Winestock. You're this week's M&T Bank Student Athlete of the Week.
To nominate a student athlete to be the next M&T Bank Student Athlete of the Week click here.
Follow Shawn Stepner on Twitter @StepnerWMAR and Facebook
