Savoie Srodulski of McDonough has spent half her life honing her tennis skills.

She said competing in the sport has taught her the importance of perseverance.

“Even when I’m losing or I’m down, I know that I can adjust to come back and win,” said Srodulski, 18.

Srodulski is a member of the NCAA Division II women’s tennis team at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville. She won first place in the Flight 6 Singles round-robin tournament at the Lander Invitational event, held October 8-10 in Greenwood, S.C.

The tournament featured athletes from multiple colleges in the southeastern U.S. Srodulski finished with three wins and no losses. She also won two of three doubles matches with her partner, Paulina Katsoudas of Acworth, to finish as a runner-up in Flight 3 Doubles.

Srodulski started playing tennis when she was nine years old. A five-year starter, she played at the junior-varsity level in eighth grade, then continued on the varsity team from 9th-12th grades.

Still, she said it wasn’t until last year that she began to realize how good she really was.

“Senior year is when it really started to set in,” she said. “I just knew I was going to play college tennis, and I knew that if I was good enough to compete at the collegiate level, then there was no reason to doubt myself.”

Srodulski said the pressure to succeed has grown over the years.

“In high school, I really loved it because of the girls on the team and the camaraderie, and that’s really just continued on through college,” she said. “I think the transition from ninth grade to 10th-grade tennis was really a challenge for me. I went from being second singles to first singles as a sophomore, and essentially became the leader of the team.
“I had to overcome mental challenges more than physical,” continued Srodulski. “Playing against people who are better than me has helped me grow in my own capabilities.”

Srodulski graduated summa cum laude from Ola High School in May. She simultaneously completed her first year of college through dual enrollment at GCSU. She is currently a sophomore, majoring in marketing.

When she’s not racking up victories on the tennis court, Srodulski works to make a difference in the lives of others by educating people about donating blood. As a Red Cross Blood Donor Ambassador, she volunteers at monthly blood drives and trains online to expand her knowledge about donating.

“I volunteered at my school’s Red Cross blood drive in August of 2019, and I gave my first blood donation there,” she said. “A few weeks later, I got three cards in the mail from those my blood went to save.”

Srodulski was named Junior Miss of America for 2019-20, from the American Pageants organization. She used her platform to talk about blood donation and volunteering. Those efforts continued in February of this year, when she was named Miss Georgia Teen for the Royal International Miss organization.

Srodulski is proud of the awareness she has brought in encouraging others to donate blood.

“I saw how much it impacted me firsthand when I saw who my blood went to save,” she said. “I just know how much others can be impacted through the same thing.”

Srodulski, in September, was named one of 10 members of the National Intern Team for the USA National Miss. She said the opportunity will help her build her resume, and gain experience in the field of marketing.

Srodulski is part of the Leadership Academy at GCSU. She is also a member of the National Honor Society, the Rho Kappa Honor Society, the Technical Honor Society, and the HOSA healthcare club.

Srodulski credited her family for helping her to reach her goals. She said her accomplishments in tennis and pageants, and her efforts with the Red Cross, have challenged her and made her stronger.

“It really just helped to shape me into the person I am today,” she said. “I’ve become very well-rounded, and I’ve met a lot of people in my life that have impacted me in different ways.”