OMAHA, Neb. – Omaha women's tennis coach
Adam Summitt has announced his 2022 recruiting class, which includes three talented players expected to make an immediate impact on the Maverick program.
Jessica Aragon, a former five-star recruit out of Plano, Texas, will come to Omaha next fall as a graduate student after earning her bachelor's degree from Nebraska next spring. Maple Grove, Minn., native Zoe Adkins and Summer Shannon, who is also from Plano, will be joining the Maverick program as freshmen.
"This is the best recruiting class we've had here at Omaha, rankings-wise," Summitt said.
Aragon is currently playing at Nebraska. She's set to transfer after her graduation in May. Aragon is a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, who also claimed a prestigious Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award at UNL.
"I chose Omaha because of the positive energy on the team and the genuine support Coach Summitt gives towards the development of his players as a whole," she said. "While visiting with the team, I became excited about the opportunity to succeed and accomplish our goals together."
Omaha is scheduled to play at Nebraska in the spring, meaning Aragon could face her future teammates.
"We are really grateful to have Jessica join our program next year. She is a great person and comes from a good family," Summitt said. "I have seen Jessica play during the last few years, and she actually has competed against us. I can say we are getting a high-level player with her. I know she's had some injuries and unfortunate luck that has sidelined her the last few years. This summer, she was healthy, and I saw what she could do when back on the court as she was competing at a very high level. I am excited to see her representing Omaha next year."
Adkins, a four-star recruit, was a state runner-up in Minnesota for Maple Grove High School as a senior after posting more than 100 singles victories during her prep career. She was unbeaten at No. 1 singles as a junior, leading her team to its first conference championship, in a season that had no state tournament due to the pandemic. Adkins was fourth at state as a sophomore and third as a freshman.
"Zoe is a special player, and we are thrilled she chose Omaha," Summitt said. "Zoe has a great personality, one coaches love. She comes from a great family that has instilled some great values in her. As for tennis, she is one of the top players in the Midwest and country. She possesses an all-around game and has a lot of variety to make her an incredibly difficult matchup for her opponents. Her mentality is one that is going to help make this team better on and off the court. She is going to mesh right in with the team and be a proud representative of our culture and values."
Said Adkins: "The Omaha campus made me feel different from the other schools I visited. The moment I arrived, I felt at home there. The campus is very nice, and I liked the idea of split campuses. I instantly connected with the team and the coach, and their kindness felt very genuine. The academic advisors were amazing, and I could tell they truly cared about me. I'm sure that UNO will be a great school for me, both athletically and academically."
Shannon recently helped her high school, Plano West, cap a 20-1 fall season by winning a state team championship in Texas. She has excelled in both singles and doubles play during her prep career.
"I am excited to have Summer commit to Omaha," Summitt said. "She has many qualities in what a player should be. She is very personable, great attitude, humble and respectful. The two big things I loved about Summer – her athleticism and her desire for the team to have success. She is an amazing athlete who has a well-rounded game with great fundamentals. She is going to develop here and make an impact in our lineup. The fact she cares so much about how the team does, stood out to me. She is a team player and will do anything, and play any role, to help our team succeed."
Said Shannon: "I chose Omaha because it is a great school in a great city. I loved the enthusiasm Coach Summitt showed towards the team, which made me excited to be a part of the team with great girls."
