HighFIVE: Kristyn Wykert
H5 Episode 37 / Spring 2020 / by Katie Newell
For Kristyn Wykert, Certified Tennis Professional and Assistant Business Development Director at The Tennis Center at Steamboat Springs, using her skills and passion for the game is about doing more than creating better tennis players. It’s about creating a more connected and cohesive community in Steamboat, where everyone has an opportunity to improve their lives through tennis.
Having coached Steamboat Springs High School’s girls team, and now solely focused on heading up the USTA Colorado SERVES program for Steamboat Tennis Association and expanding the STA’s NJTL program, Kristyn’s philosophy as a USTA Colorado Tennis Specialist is simple: grow young lives through tennis.
Growing up in Wyoming, Kristyn was introduced to tennis by her father who was a strong tennis player. But it was her competitive spirit to beat her older sister, Caryn Miekle, which truly fueled her passion to become a great player.
Coming to Colorado for family vacations and then attending Colorado Mesa University, her love of the mountains helped lure her to one of the most beautiful places in the world. Kristyn worked during summer of 2015 at the Tennis Center at Steamboat. After she graduated she was offered a full-time position by Director of Tennis Bill Conway.
Now in her fourth year at The Steamboat Tennis Center, she’s on a mission to make sure every child in the community and surrounding areas gets exposed to tennis.
“It’s inspiring what the kids get from the classes. It’s the chance to try something new, meet other kids and be part of something. It’s happiness!” she said.
Steamboat is one of three sites in Colorado that was chosen to receive the USTA Colorado SERVES Program grant, which helps fund 2-9 week sessions throughout the year for kids that wouldn’t otherwise get the opportunity to play, giving them the access to lessons and equipment.
“My favorite aspect is that everybody learns a bit differently and my goal is to find how to connect with them and find something they can relate to,” she said of finding her career in the sport she loves.
With the philosophy that being involved in a community arms young people with the ability to be part of something bigger than themselves, she said it’s the integrity build into the lifelong sport that makes tennis such a strong fit.
“I want to help build a culture of family and community,” she said of her mission to bring programs to under resourced children and families in Steamboat. “I want us to be building each other up both on and off the tennis court.”
MidFirst Bank is one of the largest privately owned banks and this combination of size and private ownership provides our customers with a special brand of banking. We are a strong supporter of the communities we serve, investing time and money in important educational, charitable and civic organizations. Our volunteerism is powered by our employees from all of the communities in which we live and share with our customers. MidFirst Bank is a proud partner of USTA Colorado.
