Throughout her Redwood career, Jordan Marotto has quietly emerged as one of the school’s top athletes. Her accolades speak for themselves — from winning 2023 Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) Player of the Year, to being voted Marin Independent Journal (IJ) Girls’ Tennis Player of the Year, she has solidified herself among the top players in the region. As a freshman, Marotto secured the number two spot on her team, and now in her third consecutive year as the team’s number one player, her dominance continues to grow. Last year, she won an impressive nine straight singles matches without dropping a set, then followed it up by winning in straight sets (6-1, 6-0) against Branson’s number one player to secure her team an MCAL title. The week after, she dominated the singles tournament, winning all three matches and raising the trophy yet again as the MCAL singles champion. Led by Marotto, the team ended up winning the Division One North Coast Section (NCS) title for the first time in 21 years, despite being massive underdogs.

Now, as a second-year captain, Marotto is focused on building her legacy even further. Her sights are set on leading her team to even greater heights, with not only NCS and MCAL championships but also the state championship in her vision. Her drive for success can be traced back to the beginning of her tennis career, where she played at a local club.

“I started playing tennis when I was around eight or nine,” Marotto said. “I also feel like there’s a big tennis culture in Marin, and I grew up going to Mount Tam Racquet Club.”

It was her mom’s love for tennis that sparked Marotto’s passion. 

“When I saw how my mom enjoyed the sport, [it] really showed me that tennis can be a lifelong joy,” Marotto said.

Marotto believes joining the Redwood tennis team was an instrumental part of her tennis journey. It brought a team aspect to a typically individual sport and helped her feel supported.

“The team environment at Redwood made [the pressure of competition] less stressful because I had a whole team behind me. I’ve been surrounded by great athletes, players and mentors like my coach Tracey,” Marotto said. 

In her second year as the girls’ varsity tennis coach, coach Tracey Porter had high praise for Marotto.

“[Marotto’s] toolbox is full of all the tools. She’s got an amazing forehand, an amazing backhand, great drop shot [and] great serve. Her volleys are solid and so is her footwork,” said Porter.

Beyond her technical skills, Porter also recognizes her natural leadership qualities.

“Jordan is confident, kind and a good communicator. She’s encouraging of others and builds her teammates up. She always brings a positive attitude to the court. She’s a natural leader. The girls look up to her and it seems so effortless to her,” said Porter.

Marotto has been a star-player throughout her entire high school career, making first team All-League singles in each year. While she has worked hard to improve each year, her most significant growth has come as a leader. As she grew into a leadership role, her mindset evolved as she grew into a leadership role.

“[As a freshman], I felt pressure to not let the team down if I lost. As a leader during my sophomore and junior years, I tried to turn that pressure into a privilege, using it to motivate me to play and act my best,” Marotto said. 

Reflecting on her time as a freshman, Marotto remembers how much she admired the captains. Now, she embraces that responsibility herself.

“As captain, I try to be someone the freshmen can look up to, not just for my tennis skills but for my mentality as well. I want to be approachable, someone they can come to with any questions,” Marotto said.

Marotto’s close friend and fellow Redwood tennis player, Livia Klompus, appreciates how she creates team chemistry by motivating and supporting her teammates.

“I admire her as a player and how she collaborates [with] and pushes her teammates. Jordan interacts with all grade levels, [making] everyone feel like they belong. She makes them excited about not only playing tennis, but being on the team with everyone together,” Klompus said.

Marotto’s success on the court has also been largely influenced by her personal tennis instructor, Tarrin Dougery. Marotto started working with Dougery in 2019 and acknowledges her for transforming her game.

“I call her my technician, in a sense that she can diagnose what is wrong with my strokes and correct it. [Dougery] helped me change into the player I am now,” Marotto said.

Marotto believes that consistency in mental and physical aspects help her reduce mistakes while maintaining a balance of aggressiveness. 

“I try to minimize the unforced errors and also be offensive when I need to be,” Marotto said. “I also try to remain as steady as possible, so it doesn’t give my opponent any kind of way to try and get a hold of my emotions.”

Porter has observed the strength of Marotto’s mental game.

“Jordan is very level-headed and stays calm and focused. She knows the game very well and is a fierce competitor. She has a quiet confidence about her without any hint of ego attached to the player she is,” Porter said.

  Maratto proves to be a shining star for the girls’ varsity squad this year and hopes to lead the team to its third straight MCAL title. However, her strengths as a leader and teammate will leave a lasting impact on Redwood and its future tennis players.