Getting to know Jesse Voth-Gaeddert
Jesse Voth-Gaeddert
Hesston tennis
Voth-Gaeddert, a senior, won his first tournament this season at the perfect time — the Class 4A regional. He heads into the state tournament at Pratt's Blake Tennis Complex today and Saturday with a 25-7 record.
Do you feel you are playing your best tennis right now?
"I do. I haven't won a tournament this season until regionals, but... all the other players I've lost to are phenomenal tennis players. ... I was able to play pretty well on Friday and Saturday (at regionals). I didn't think I played my 100-percent best, but I think I was playing really well."
You've faced some of the state's top singles players —Smoky Valley's Quinn Dippel (30-0), Wichita Independent's Jake Norman (21-1) and Wichita Collegiate's Daniel Ritchie (27-5) —what have you learned?
"Just how aggressive they are. They go after shots and they try to control the points more. That's how I think they win the majority of their points; they don't let up, they don't show any mercy."
How important is contending for the 4A team title?
"We have a really good team, and all six of our players are going to state. That's going to be a lot of fun.... The team title is important. I know there are two other teams that also have their whole team at state, so that will be a challenge for us to see if we can get in the top three. That would be awesome if we could bring home a trophy as a team."
You also play football and basketball, what sport do you prefer?
"Whatever sport we're in at the time. If it's spring, it's tennis, if it's winter, it's basketball, if it's fall, it's football.... Playing a bunch of different sports brings a lot of different experiences and just different ways of getting excitement, of getting that adrenaline that the sport brings."
You're considering playing tennis in college. Why tennis over basketball and football?
"I'm still thinking. I haven't decided what sports I'll play in college. I've really enjoyed tennis throughout my life. Just the excitement that it brings.... You have to be mentally and physically tough at the same time."