After winning the Skyline Conference Player of the Year during her freshman year at Farmingdale, it would’ve been tough for Jessica Sickles to top that accomplishment. There was
no need to worry, however, she closed out her college career on the court with another Player of the Year during her senior year.
Neither of those compare to her most memorable moment on the court, according to the senior from Massapequa.
“My best moment was reaching the Nationals last year,” she said about the tournament hosted by Amherst College. “It was great being in the tournament even though we lost in the first round,” she added. The team was defeated by Endicott College 5-2.
This season, the women again had a tremendous season. They won the Skyline Conference and finished with a record of 13-1. While Sickles took home the coveted honor for the second time (and named to First-Team all four years), teammate Priscille Signore was named to the First-Team and Michelle Fredericks was named to the Second-Team.
Sickles was named Player of the Week three times in 2014 alone, and holds a 39-16 career record. She played every match of her career in the No. 1 spot and faced the best player on every team. She still dominated in all aspects playing the game she grew up loving.
“Tennis was always my favorite sport,” she said. “It was the only sport I ever played,” Sickles added. “My mom actually taught me how to play—she played competitively.”
Beginning at such a young age was beneficial for Sickles, who went on to have quite a career at Massapequa High School. She graduated in 2011 coming off being named All-Division, All-County and All-State.
It was there that Head Coach Adam Waterhouse took notice of the star athlete. There was a mutual interest, and Sickles became a Ram.
Despite attaining all that success in high school, Sickles feels she has progressed since getting to Farmingdale. “My game has definitely improved since I got here,” she said. “In all
aspects, especially the mental side of tennis and with my confidence,” she added.
It’s hard to argue with that judging by her success on the court, which mirrors the success that some of her favorite athletes have experienced.
“I grew up watching Maria Sharapova, Venus and Serena Williams,” she said. The 27-year-old Sharapova is currently the No. 2 ranked female tennis player in the world, 13 years after making her professional debut in 2001. Venus and Serena are two of the most recognizable athletes in the world, they rank first and third, respectively, in career money earnings.
Serena is also currently the No. 1 ranked female player in the world. Obviously, the level of competition is not comparable but victories count at any level.
Now that the collegiate career is over, Sickles is planning on graduating a semester early because she is getting married. Following that, she will look to use her degree in Sports
Management in some capacity, with an emphasis clearly on tennis.
“I would like to do something with tennis, I wouldn’t mind coaching,” she said. Of course, it is much easier to be a coach when playing the
game comes easy to you, as it has for Sickles.
