All-State Ace: Jane Carter

Four-year varsity player. Four-time All-Conference. Four-time All-State.

Not many athletes can say they’ve accomplished that feat. But senior tennis player Jane Carter lives in that rare air.

This year, Jane placed sixth in the IHSA State Tennis Tournament—matching the highest finish ever for a Timothy Christian tennis player. That result earned her All-State honors for the fourth consecutive year—twice in doubles and twice in singles.

As a freshman, Jane earned All-State honors in doubles—a feat she duplicated in her junior year when she and doubles partner Crystina Lee (Class of 2024) finished second in the state. She earned All-State recognition for singles her sophomore and senior years. Each of those four years, she was also named All-Conference. Those awards reflect her versatility and her willingness to do whatever it took to help her team. Over four years of varsity tennis, Jane compiled an outstanding 129–28 record.

With so many accolades already under her belt by the end of junior year, you might wonder what would motivate her senior season. While others might have coasted, Jane approached her final year with fresh determination. She spent the summer preparing for a full season of singles play, focusing on fine-tuning key aspects of her game.

“I worked hard every day for hours in the summer with my tennis instructor,” she said. “I worked on improving my drop shot, my serve, and my touch shots. Those were the things I needed to succeed in singles my senior year.” Her effort paid off.

“There are lots of ups and downs in tennis. You learn to deal with victory and defeat, elation and disappointment. The key is to never give up.”

Jane led her team to strong finishes throughout the regular season and once again earned All-Conference recognition. As the State Tournament approached, her mindset was clear: “This is my last shot in high school. I want to make it to the Saturday final rounds and see how far I can go.” She reached her goal—and made it to the final rounds on Saturday.

Looking back on her Timothy tennis career, Jane calls it a blessing from God—filled with meaningful memories, fun teammates, and the steady guidance of Coach Keith Mills. “Tennis was great. My teammates were a lot of fun. The prayers and support I received from the Timothy community have been really important to me,” she said.

Reflecting on life lessons learned through the sport, Jane points to three:

Perseverance: “There are lots of ups and downs in tennis. You learn to deal with victory and defeat, elation and disappointment. The key is to never give up, knowing God is always with you.”

Positive Attitude: “Tennis is an odd combination of an individual sport and a team sport. Your individual performance impacts the team. In singles, you’re out there all alone. You can’t get down on yourself when things aren’t going well.”

Family Support: “Throughout my high school career, my family has been extremely supportive. They made sure I had opportunities to work with great instructors to keep improving. My family attended all of my matches, including the State Tournament. Knowing they’re in my corner boosts my confidence.”

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Jane Carter Career Highlights

• 4-Time Conference Champion
• 4-Time All-Conference 
• 4-Time All-State
• 1st Team All-State 2025
• 2nd in State, Doubles 2024
• 6th Place State, Singles 2025
• High School Career: 129 Wins, 28 Loses