Sidney Messerly had several reasons for electing to attend Iowa Central after graduating from St. Edmond High School in Fort Dodge.

One of those was the opportunity to continue playing tennis.

Messerly found exactly what she needed in Jerry Thor's rapidly-growing program, and now, she's embracing all the opportunities that come with it.

"I have gotten to know the most amazing teammates and coaches," Messerly said. "They have become family to me while I get to do what I love."

Messerly, a freshman, recently helped the Tritons score a 9-0 victory over Buena Vista with a singles win. She also earned her first collegiate victory in doubles with teammate Jessica Jordison at the Tiger-Jinx Invitational in Kansas earlier this month. 

"It's really fun," Messerly said. "We practice daily for three hours. I enjoy having the opportunity to travel to new places for meets and tournaments. I also (decided on Iowa Central) because I wanted to remain close to home."

While she admits there is challenges to balancing school with tennis, it has allowed her to "learn how to manage my time better."