Olivia Czerwonka loves the game of tennis.
It has taken her to heights she’s only dreamed of, and she is breaking records and balling out on the Division I college level.
Recently, she etched her names in the Valparaiso University record books, cementing her already impressive legacy.
A fifth-year senior and St. Joseph graduate, Czerwonka recently tied the program record for career singles victories at an invite at Bowling Green State University, and later in the day picked up her 66th win to move into first place all alone atop the program record book.
The program’s career singles record stood for over a decade and a half prior to Czerwonka’s big day. Kate Evangelist compiled her 65 wins during a career that spanned 2003-2007.
The Kenosha News recently caught up with the 21-year-old Kenosha native Czerwonka to talk about her love for tennis, her inspirations and her future.
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KN: Why did you get into tennis?
OC: I began playing tennis because my sister, Claire, started playing at the age of 4 and I wanted to be able to play with her.
KN: Who were your biggest inspirations growing up? What was childhood like?
OC: My sister was my biggest inspiration growing up. She is two years older than me and was naturally good at tennis. She had a successful tennis career as well, so she was always someone that I looked up and aspired to be like. Off the tennis court we are just as close, which made growing up with her so much fun. We live together now and are best friends (we do everything together). My parents always supported us, and it is because of their support that I was able to accomplish everything I have to this point.
KN: How often do you see your family, and what’s the support been like, since you’re far away in Valpo?
OC: My family is exceptionally close. They (my parents and grandparents) come to every one of my tennis matches, no matter how far. They are my biggest supporters on and off the court, and I couldn’t have been luckier to have them. It makes such a big difference, and I can honestly say I am who I am today because of my family, and none of this would be possible without them. Valparaiso is only 2 hours from our home, so it is easy to come back and visit.
4. Talk about breaking the record…did you know about it? How important is it to you? Was this ever a goal?
5. When did you think you started to get really good at tennis? How old were you? Also, what were some highlights of your St. Joe’s career?
6. What year are you in school? What kind of classes do you take, your major, etc? Do you currently work in your field, and what are you wanting to be some day?
7. Take me through your Valpo career. Any adversity faced, challenges? And how did you overcome them? What have you liked most about college – as a student, person and player?
8. What are your plans for after college? Will you live with others or family, move back home, etc? Obviously, you don’t have to share whatever you don’t want to share, but person profile stories are always better when it’s more about the person than sports, ya know?
9. What’s the goal the rest of the tennis season?
10. Why do you love tennis? What is special about it?
11. What advice do you have for young girls back home? Maybe that want to be like you?
2. My sister was my biggest inspiration growing up. She is 2 years older than me
and was naturally good at tennis. She had a successful tennis career as well, so
she was always someone that I looked up and aspired to be like. Off the tennis
court we are just as close, which made growing up with her so much fun. We live
together now and are best friends (we do everything together). My parents
always supported us, and it is because of their support that I was able to
accomplish everything I have to this point.
3. My family is exceptionally close. They (my parents and grandparents) come to
every one of my tennis matches, no matter how far. They are my biggest
supporters on and off the court and I couldn't have been luckier to have them. It
makes such a big difference, and I can honestly say I am who I am today
because of my family, and none of this would be possible without them. Valparaiso
is only 2 hours from our home, so it is easy to come back and visit.
4. I did know about breaking the singles tennis record that was set back in 2003.
Last season I was only 3 singles wins away from breaking it, before I was injured
with a partial tendon tear in my wrist. My goal this past summer was to come
back and break the record, so I had something to work towards all summer. It is
something that is important to me because it shows that all my hard work paid
off. I was also able to do this at the top spots of the lineup which is even more
impactful for me. I originally wasn’t going to play Division 1 tennis and I think that
when I committed here some people had doubts that I would even play, so being
able to not only hold the top spot but to break the record in that spot is amazing. I
also think that it is special because I hold the most singles wins, and my sister
Claire currently holds the most doubles wins.
5. I was always decent as tennis, during my high school tennis career, I made it
to the podium each year (6 th place, 5 th place, and 2 nd place twice at the WIIA Girls
Tennis Championship) but a switch flipped with me the summer before my
freshman year of college. I knew that I would be playing a completely different
level of tennis, so I pushed myself super hard those three months before college.
6. I am in my 5th year of college tennis, where I am pursuing my Doctorate of
Nursing Practice degree. I graduated in May, Magna Cum Laude with my
Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I will graduate in 2026 with my DNP-FNP
degree and I will be able to practice as a Nurse Practitioner. Currently, I am
interested in going into the field of Women's Health.
7. The adversity I faced was that my first year of college the COVID pandemic
hit, so I never really had a “normal” college experience. It took a year of tennis
away from me and really changed tennis and college in general. To add, as I
mentioned above, I had an injury which I had to overcome and was difficult for
me since it happened during one of the most important parts of last season
during conference. I had to work hard to get back to where I am now, which
makes this accomplishment even more special for me. I've really enjoyed being a
part of the Valparaiso Women’s Tennis Team, it feels like a home away from
home. I feel like I have found my second family here which really has helped me
have such a great career. In addition, I love the nursing program because of the
support of the professors. I really think that there is no other school like
Valparaiso. It was so great to spend my entire career here with my sister. I was
on the team with her for 3 years, and my last 2 years she has been the Assistant
Coach, so sharing my college experience with her is immeasurable.
8. After my time as a player on the tennis team, I still have 2 more years in my
Doctoral program. I plan to finish this while coaching as the graduate assistant,
so I will still be around the sport I love so much. After this, I plan to move back to
Wisconsin with my boyfriend and work as a Nurse Practitioner.
9. The goal for the rest of this season is to win Individual conference in the fall,
team conference in the spring, and to beat the most doubles wins record at
Valpo, that my sister Claire currently possesses. Even though I broke one record
my work is not finished yet J
10. I love tennis because of all the opportunities it has given me. Tennis has
shaped me into the person that I am today. It has taught me so much, how to win
and how to lose. It has brought me humility and confidence and has allowed me
to meet some of my best friends while learning about myself. Tennis has allowed
me to go to an amazing school while pursuing my dream degree. There are so
many other things that tennis has brought to my life that I can’t even quantify in
words. I love competing and representing not only myself, but my family, and
school as well. I will cherish all the good, bad, and everything in between that
11. My advice for young girls is to work hard and find your passion. Always
believe in yourself and don’t let anyone tell you any different. Hard work always
pays off, not only in sports, but in life as well. If you are playing a sport in college
enjoy every moment because it goes by so quickly.
Favorite movie- Any of the Harry Potter Movies
Favorite artist- Bailey Zimmerman
I broke the record because I believed in myself.
Tennis is hard and mental, and sometimes lonely, but is the greatest thing that
Favorite show to binge watch- Grey’s Anatomy
iPhone or android- iPhone
Pre-match or post-match ritual? I always have pasta the night before I play.
Favorite athlete- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Go Bucks!) or Tommy Paul
Favorite sports team to root for? Green Bay Packers!!
If you could have dinner with one person dead or alive, who would it be and
why? Serena Williams because she has and will continue to be an inspiration
to all young female athletes, not just tennis athletes.
1. How old are you, where are you from, and why did you get into tennis?
2. Who were your biggest inspirations growing up? What was childhood like?
3. Speak on your family, any siblings, etc, that you’re close with, parents…how often do you see your fam, what’s the support been like, since you’re far away in Valpo?
4. Talk about breaking the record…did you know about it? How important is it to you? Was this ever a goal?
5. When did you think you started to get really good at tennis? How old were you? Also, what were some highlights of your St. Joe’s career?
6. What year are you in school? What kind of classes do you take, your major, etc? Do you currently work in your field, and what are you wanting to be some day?
7. Take me through your Valpo career. Any adversity faced, challenges? And how did you overcome them? What have you liked most about college – as a student, person and player?
8. What are your plans for after college? Will you live with others or family, move back home, etc? Obviously, you don’t have to share whatever you don’t want to share, but person profile stories are always better when it’s more about the person than sports, ya know?
9. What’s the goal the rest of the tennis season?
10. Why do you love tennis? What is special about it?
11. What advice do you have for young girls back home? Maybe that want to be like you?