June 15, 2021
Before Brenna Kelly was ever team captain, MVP or Panther Award winner, before she was an athlete of the week, or a state champion, before she helped build Mounds Park Academy girl’s tennis into a dynasty, she was just a middle schooler with a do what’s best for the team mentality. That brought her a long way.
In Kelly’s six years on girls varsity tennis, the Panthers made five trips to the state tournament, winning twice. Kelly, called by former head girl’s tennis coach Justen Seim ‘one of the smartest players I’ve ever coached’, played a critical role in that success. “Her intelligence level was just off the charts when it comes to playing tennis,” he added. “She’s able to dissect and break down people pretty well.”
As a senior, Kelly led perhaps the most dominant MPA girl’s tennis team ever to the state championship, an imposing 6-1 victory over Waseca. “It is so satisfying to know that we played well, were ready, focused and put an exclamation point on our season and career,” she told the St. Paul Pioneer Press after the win.
Kelly picked Emory University in Atlanta, GA to continue her tennis career at the collegiate level. A true student athlete, she made her choice based on Emory’s excellent academics as well as their successful tennis program.
As a collegian, she was an all-University Athletic Association first team honoree four times, an NCAA Division III doubles championship round of 16 qualifier, and an Intercollegiate Tennis Association scholar athlete. She was a two time captain, two time most improved player and best sportsmanship recipient. As a senior in 2014, she helped lead Emory to a 28-2 season and the Eagle’s sixth national championship in women’s tennis.
It all started at MPA, Kelly says. “MPA athletics prepared me in many ways; how to work and communicate with teammates and coaches, and the importance of putting one’s expectations aside in order to advance and support the team,” she said. “I developed a ‘do what’s best for your team’ mentality which helped me immensely when I began playing tennis at Emory University.”
Kelly majored in English Language and Literature at Emory and is attending medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
