Kayla Calvert attended South Aiken H.S. before arriving on campus at USC Aiken. A native of Aiken, S.C, she started competing and playing tennis at the tender age of nine thanks in part to her father, who is a tennis coach.
A tremendous all-around person, Calvert works as hard in the classroom as she does on the tennis court, which led her to earning her degree in nursing a semester early.
Last summer, she took a pediatric nursing course.
“It was a smaller class size,” Calvert said. “It was only about nine people versus 40 people.”
Not all student-athletes can balance a nursing major, which is as rigorous as they come, while balancing all the demands placed on a student-athlete. However, Calvert has thrived in the situation.
“I actually do better with a lot on my plate,” she said. “It keeps me from procrastinating. Whenever I have more time, I just put everything off. When I have a lot to do, I start on a task as soon as I get an assignment.”
Calvert’s mother is in the medical field and suggested she look into nursing, which is how she chose the field of study.
“My mom is in the medical field and she said, ‘you should really think about nursing,’ and the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to be in the field.” Calvert stated.
Calvert’s teammates – Oliver Veskovac, Mariana Yamashita, Alice Neves and Victoria Giannaccini – have influenced her the most on the court.
“Olivera influences me because she is mentally tough and doesn’t let anything get to her, which is something I strive to do on the court. Mariana has outstanding enthusiasm and team spirit. Alice and Victoria are as passionate as anyone and motivate me to get better,” Calvert said. “They’re all so different and I look up to them in different ways.”
Originally, Calvert was not going to play tennis in college because she was burnt out, but that changed when head coach Steve Dahm entered the picture.
“Coach Dahm is so understanding and funny,” Calvert stated. “He’s going to make you laugh on the court and he really brought back my love for tennis.”
Calvert’s love for tennis has paid off as she’s 4-1 in singles action, including 1-0 at the No. 1 spot. In doubles play, she also sports a 4-1 mark, helping the team to a 4-1 overall record as of Feb. 19.
With Calvert’s passion for tennis and nursing, the sky is the limit for her in both endeavors.
“A Closer Look” is sponsored by Innovative Solutions.
- Written by Atiya Fields
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