Wake Forest Athletics
Deacon Sports Xtra: Taking on a Transition
4/17/2023 9:20:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Junior standout Casie Wooten has embraced a new level of leadership as an upperclassman for Wake Forest women’s tennis.
The Wake Forest women's tennis team is gaining valuable experience and moving up the national ranking this season, while every player on the team is competing at a higher level than ever before in their career.
The Demon Deacons have four freshmen on the roster, three of whom are participating regularly in singles competition in team dual matches this year. Junior Casie Wooten is also having tremendous success this season, transitioning from No. 3 singles to No. 1 singles and having earned multiple ranked victories along the way.
"It's been an interesting year for the team and for me, personally," Wooten noted. "We've had a lot of growing and learning experiences, mainly because we are such a young team. We have four freshmen. We've been able to grow and learn from every single match.
"Playing at No. 1 has been a big change from when I played at No. 3 last year. It's been a fun challenge to expect more of myself and push myself by playing against the best players. It's a really cool role to step into."
Wooten has recorded double-figures in wins at No. 1 singles, playing night-in and night-out against some of the best college tennis players in the country.
"I just hate losing, but when you're playing against the absolute best players it's going to happen every once in a while," she said. "I know I can compete with all these girls. I just go out and try to do my best, and let the results take care of themselves. We all support each other and all know we have tough matches out there."
The Deacs got the spring season off to a rousing start with the Blue-Gray Classic Championship, grabbing victories over Tulsa, Illinois and Texas Tech en route to grabbing the championship crown back on Feb. 25.
"Everything has been incredible," Wooten said. "Our first real success came at Blue-Gray, when we won that tournament. That was amazing, because we lost in the finals last year in a tough matchup.
"Coach (Jeff Wyshner) always reminds us that everyone is in a position they haven't been before. We've all moved up within the lineup, and the freshmen are being put in important, pressure situations. Seeing them grow, step up, and support each other has been great. It's been a fun season and we've developed a lot. It's been impressive. I've never been on a team that has experienced this much growth."
Wooten was named Blue-Gray Classic Most Valuable Player for her performance that weekend.
"It was really cool," she said. "I actually only finished one of my singles matches in that tournament, because my teammates all finished theirs first. Long matches are my specialty. Blue-Gray is such a special tournament. Being named MVP was an honor. In all, it was a special experience."
Teaming with her roommate Mia Ahmad, the pair have amassed a 10-6 record this season at No. 2 doubles.
"We didn't start playing together until the spring, but it has been a very fun experience," Wooten explained. "We just go out there and have the best time. Even if we're down in a match, we don't feel the stress. We've come back from being down multiple times. It's calming to be on the court with someone you're around so much and share so much trust with."
Ahmad and Wooten have been roommates since their freshmen years, and also share their place with fellow junior Brooke Killingsworth. The trio all share the same major as well.
"We never get a moment away from each other — we practice, study and eat together all the time," Wooten said, with a laugh. "We all say we share the same brain, because we never get tired of each other."
If not for a suggestion from a fellow player in an event during her high school career, Wooten might have never ended up at Wake Forest.
"I was playing in a tournament and was hitting with a player who had committed to Wake Forest," she recalled. "I was going through the recruiting process, and she asked if I'd ever considered Wake Forest. I had heard of Wake Forest, but had never considered it at all.
"I went on my visit three weeks later, and committed the day after. Once I visited, I knew it was the place for me."
At the time, Wooten was considering schools like Purdue, Michigan State and North Carolina State.
"I went to a small high school, so the small campus was attractive to me," she said. "The athletic facilities are top notch and, of course, Wake Forest is very impressive academically. It was something I couldn't pass up. The atmosphere on the team with the girls was just outstanding, and I still have the best relationship with my teammates."
With postseason tournament play incoming, Wooten knows the Deacs have a chance to finish this season strong and build momentum into what could be a special 2023-24 campaign.
"I have many goals in mind, and I would love to become an All-American," she acknowledged. "But, I really just want to enjoy the rest of my time here at Wake Forest, because the experience has been amazing."
