FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – It's been far from an easy journey for Northern Arizona University women's tennis player Jordan Denesik. Take one glance at her stat line from this season and you will likely be impressed; undefeated in conference matches, a match-clinching performance that moved NAU into first-place standing, a team-best 17 singles wins and an All-Big Sky Second Team selection to her name. But behind every win – and every one of her specialty fist pumps – there is another story to be told.
Denesik picked up her first racket at age five. At age 12, Jordan and her family moved from Colorado to Arizona where she decided tennis was her one true love. Despite being involved in nearly every physical activity and competitive sport you can think of – from rock climbing, to ice hockey to gymnastics – tennis was the lucky winner. It was tennis that had her heart, although eventually, tennis evolved into what Denesik faults for the eventual pain, struggle and family tension she would encounter down the road. Perhaps it was a love-hate relationship.
Denesik landed in the Southwest Region rankings after a solid three years of committing herself fully to the sport of tennis. But in between her eighth grade and freshman year of high school, things took a turn for the worse. Jordan dropped 20 pounds and instead of just playing tennis, losing weight became the focus. At age 15, Denesik started what would become a life-threating journey with an eating disorder. Several weeks of therapy weren't doing the trick; mom and dad couldn't get through to her; tennis was now just viewed as a means of burning calories.
After her freshman year, Denesik weighed 86 pounds and was nearly unrecognizable. Her blood circulation was so poor that her extremities started turning purple. Her heart beat was so weak that the doctor struggled to even find it. Tennis was no longer an option after her freshman high school season finished. Jordan's mental, physical and emotional states continued to deteriorate. It wasn't long until she was checked into an intensive outpatient program that met four times a week to offer her the help she so desperately needed.
The outpatient treatment wasn't enough. Jordan was later moved to an inpatient facility called Remuda Ranch where she would receive treatment for 60 days. During this time, she was fed through a tube, met with a psychiatrist, therapist and dietician daily and was monitored at all hours of the day. Other than learning how to eat again, breaking through the mental tug-of-war that comes with severe eating disorders posed tremendous challenges over the next two months for Jordan.
These 60 days came and went. Misery began to turn into fight, and fight into hope. Jordan slowly but surely began to find herself again. Even amidst the extreme chaos, Denesik's lifelong dream of playing Division I tennis was still tugging at her. She eased her way into playing tennis again after her time spent at Remuda Ranch. With exercise and eating restrictions still in place as a sophomore, the fight continued. The more Jordan followed her meal plan consisting of 2,700 calories, although reluctant to do so at times, the brighter the light at the end of the tunnel became.
Having not played in a junior tournament for several years, Jordan took it upon herself to get noticed by Division I coaches after jumping back into workouts. She was determined beyond belief to get her stroke back from the eighth grade. By the time her junior year hit, she still was not receiving much interest. This spiraled into yet another fight where thoughts of not feeling good enough resurfaced. What started out as anorexia now evolved into bulimia, but thankfully by the fall of Jordan's senior year, she along with her therapist and dietician were able to manage her behaviors.
Fast-forward to the spring semester of Denesik's senior year. With her eating disorders under control, it was time to make a decision as to where she would go to college. Jordan had emailed Head Coach Kim Bruno – as well as a handful of other coaches – and Bruno was one she heard back from. With every intention to leave the state of Arizona, in hopes that a fresh start would revive her further, financially it was not feasible.
"At first I told myself I was going to Florida," Denesik said. "I wanted to be on the opposite side of the country with everything that was going on up until that point. I felt like I needed to get away. I tried going every other place known to man, but I couldn't do it financially. I knew that if I stayed in state, which obviously I did, it would be NAU."
In the meantime, Bruno prompted Denesik to come introduce herself once she arrived on campus. Jordan was quick to jump at the opportunity – and Bruno fully willing to give her a chance after playing witness to her fierce persistence. After a walk-on tournament fell through, Bruno asked Jordan to come practice with the team for a couple weeks instead. With no results or rankings to show for, this served as Jordan's tryout.
"When I finally saw her play and had the opportunity to coach her, I was instantly impressed," Bruno said. "Not only was she a great athlete, but she had a superior work ethic, strong character and relentless determination. I knew with qualities like these, she would evolve into not only a great tennis player, but a successful human being."
"After practice one day, she pulled me aside and said we decided we want you to be a part of this team," Denesik said. I think I almost fell down to the ground and kissed her feet. It was so awesome."
Denesik's dream was now a reality. As a freshman, she did not make the starting lineup. Her eating disorders never fully went away with the stress of school, tennis and family. But Jordan continued to fight. She didn't budge in terms of giving up on something she worked for with every ounce of her being. By the time Denesik reached her sophomore season, she made the starting lineup. As a junior, she was voted the team's Most Valuable Player and earned an All-Big Sky Honorable Mention nod. As a senior, she landed a full-ride scholarship.
"There was never a point where she gave up or complained when she didn't make the top six," Bruno said. "Instead, she worked on her weaknesses, continued to develop her game and supported her teammates through thick and thin. There was never a drill or a match that she didn't give 110%. Even though she wasn't in the lineup, her teammates benefited from her relentless work ethic."
"When tennis got taken away and I couldn't do it at all, it was amazing how much I missed it," Denesik reflected. I instantly re-fell in love with the sport after treatment. Going through that, and looking back on it now, I think about how close I was to not being able to do anything ever again. It's motivated me to make the most of what I can do and what I have, as well as know that my body can go through so much. That's why I push myself so hard is because I know what my body can go through and still recover. It's pushed me to always be better."
And what better way to cap off a journey of ups, downs and everything in between than with a regular season Big Sky Championship and one of the best seasons in school history? Denesik proved to be the heart and soul of the Lumberjack squad this season, leading the way in the win column and making her teammates better by simply doing what she does best: playing with a feisty, energizer bunny, wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeve type spirit.
"There is no question that Jordan has overcome a lot in her lifetime," Bruno said. "In my 11 years of coaching at NAU, I have never seen such tremendous growth in a player as I have Jordan from her freshman to senior year. She has a lust for life and is the kindest person you will ever meet."
Just how did the once unheralded Jordan Denesik do it; from looking death square in the eye, to making the team as a walk-on, to earning a full-ride scholarship and stringing together a remarkable senior season? The answer is two-fold: a coach who instilled an insurmountable belief in a once timid girl and a level of fight that is second to none.
"Coach Bruno has always known how to coach me," Denesik said. "She would always tell me the right things whether it was harsh or loving. I never questioned how much she believed in me. Plus, I am never one to just go through the motions. I saw how good our team was this year and wanted to do anything I could to contribute. This team and NAU have given me so much; the least I can do is leave something behind for them."
With a degree in Biomedical Science, Denesik will be off to attend the No. 1 ranked Physical Therapy program in the country University of Delaware. There were a lot of unknowns leading up to this point for Jordan, but the twists and turns have exposed who she is and what she stands for. At one point, she had a love-hate relationship with tennis. But now, it's all love for tennis and for NAU – the place and the people who gave her a chance.
