Freshman Josie Frazier radiates passion and a competitive attitude. Coming out of high school as the number one recruit in the state of Arizona, she was highly sought-after at the collegiate level and ultimately chose Illinois.

Tennis is a big part of her family, as many family members have played the sport in the past. Frazier started playing tennis when she was just 5 years old.

“My mom played college tennis, and her sister played college tennis,” Frazier said. “So she got me into it at a young age, and from there on I just fell in love with the sport. I have two younger sisters who both play tennis, too.”

In high school, Frazier was a phenomenal player. She played in a plethora of junior tournaments throughout the years. All this work paid off, as she became national recognized as one of the best junior players in the country.

“She had a really good junior career in tennis,” said Evan Clark, head coach of Illinois’ women’s tennis. “She’s from Phoenix, Arizona, area, where she had a really good junior tennis career, and her rankings kept going up through juniors. She ended up as a blue-chipper five-star recruit coming up into college so she’s a fantastic recruit for us. She’s top 20, top 25 in the country. She got that blue (chip) status for a while.”

Out of all her tournaments during high school, one sticks out in her mind.

“Me and my partner last year played in mixed doubles, which is where a girl and a guy play together,” Frazier said. “We played in a money tournament back in my hometown of Scottsdale. We weren’t seeded or anything, but we ended up beating the No. 3 seed (and) the No. 1 seed and we made it all the way up to the finals. We ended up losing, but it was the first tournament where I won money, and it was the most fun I’ve ever had playing.”

As an upperclassman in high school, Frazier was considering different colleges. However, her search took an unexpected turn.

“I committed to William and Mary April of my junior year, and I really liked the school, but it was August going into my senior year when both of the coaches decided they were leaving,” said Frazier. “They were the main reason why I chose the school. So then after that I decommitted, and I was still looking at William and Mary because they were getting a new coach, but I was also looking at my options again.”

Throughout her short time at Illinois, Frazier has shown to have a positive mindset, both on and off the court. On the court, she shows her utmost dedication to the sport and her team.

“She’s extremely into (her training) and wants to get better, wants to be there all the time, so she’s been extremely enjoyable to be around in the program,” Clark said. “She’s just a good role model and a good person to be with every day.”

Her immersive approach is loved by those around her.

“She has a really good personality and her teammates really like her,” Clark said. “Coaches say she’s really easy to coach because she’s in to it. She’s intense and really wants feedback. She’s been fantastic and with that type of mentality, and the results will get better and better.”

With a constant drive to improve, Frazier is bound for success. Having such a strong competitive drive does come with a small concern of overworking, however.

“Her work ethic is the biggest thing that sticks out with me,” Clark said. “She’s the type of kid that we’re going to have to pull off the court and tell her that she needs to stop for the day or take a little break. Her strongest qualities are work ethic and commitment to what she’s doing. She wants to be out there and she wants to do well.”

The upcoming break is not going to stall her growth as a player. Throughout winter break, Frazier will be working on her tennis skills, especially the differences of playing tennis in Illinois compared to Arizona.

“I’ve never played indoor tennis before playing in Illinois because in Arizona it is all outdoor,” Frazier said. “So just working on getting better, adjusting to indoor tennis and handling the ball because it is a lot quicker indoors.”

Even with the amount of focus and intensity that she puts into tennis, Frazier makes sure to keep herself grounded.

“My mom and my dad both really inspire me. They especially helped me get to where I am today, and everything I do is because of them.”

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