HighFIVE: Josie Schaffer
The following HighFIVE profile appears in the 2018 Summer issue of Colorado Tennis newspaper. Photo by Dan Mohrmann / Mile High Sports Magazine
Grace and gratitude define the path that Josie Schaffer has carved out for herself and those looking for an outstanding role model.
Josie entered her junior year at Kent Denver looking to become the first player since Colorado Tennis Hall of Famer Nicole Leimbach to win three consecutive state high school No. 1 singles titles, having already secured the crowns her freshman and sophomore years. But Niwot freshman Lucy Lu upset the reigning champ 7-6, 6-2 (see PREPS, page 28).
“Lucy played amazing,” Josie said of the dynamic match adding, “She definitely played better than me that day.”
That grace through a tough loss and eagerness to compliment her opponent is intertwined with her will to win and work hard for her next opportunity.
“I’ve always been a competitive person,” she said. “I like working really hard at something, getting good at it, then competing.”
Introduced to tennis by her father, Brett, a Division 1 player at University of Virginia in the 1980s, court time was family fun time. The Schaffer family includes Brett, Louisa, her older sister Samantha, and younger sister Raquel.
Early on, Josie took some time off the court to play soccer, but then returned to the courts with a focused desire to win around the age of 10. She recently took 2nd at the 2018 USTA Intermountain Summer Championships (G18s, see page 32).
“My parents didn’t want me to travel until I was 12 or 13,” Josie said of her tennis background. “They wanted to keep me hungry,” she explained of being limited to local tournaments for a while.
It’s a strategy that’s worked well for Josie, who has her eye on winning the 4A No. 1 Singles titles her final year of high school.
“I learned several things through the pressure I felt last year trying to win the third time,” she said. “Mostly I learned to focus on my own game and to try not to worry about my opponent. In terms of her approach for next year she said, “I want to get the most out of it that I can as it’s my last state opportunity in high school.”
Josie cross trains by swimming laps, working out, and running — a passion all three sisters share.
Currently considering several options for collegiate play, Josie wants to find a team that encourages her to continue developing as a player. Admiring the play of Serena Williams who she calls, “determined and fearless,” as well as Nadal, who she said works harder than anyone, she said for her it’s about practicing as hard as possible and learning to accept the outcome.
“Tennis is a very interesting sport,” she said. “It teaches you how to win and work hard. It also teaches you to be humble and gracious.”
Drawn in high school academically to history and politics, Josie doesn’t know what she wants to study in college yet partially by advice.
“My dad told me to be patient and just go there to learn,” she said, excited to have her future wide open.
When she’s not on the court, she loves spending time with her family hiking. When asked what advice she would offer young netters, Josie doesn’t hesitate to respond.
“I would tell them that you aren’t always going to get everything you want in terms of the outcome of a match. You can do everything possible to prepare and still not get the result you want. But you can be grateful for the opportunity and accept the outcome. That’s the key. And honestly it’s about having fun and enjoying your time on the court.”
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