Sophomore tennis stud Kelly Sipp has never taken one second of her time at Oberlin for granted. An only child who learned from her parents what it truly meant to work hard, the Wadsworth, Ohio native has quietly and tirelessly carved out an image characterized by an endless work ethic that is beyond the epitome of a dedicated student athlete.

This has culminated in Sipp living a college lifestyle unmatched by anyone from Union Street down to Hebrew Heritage House. During the week she can often be found studying in her third floor single in East; eating her favorite combination of cheese sandwich, plain pasta and fries at Stevenson; hitting tennis balls with teammates in the fieldhouse or walking around campus in her thick, black winter jacket; but come the weekend, she is like weapons of mass destruction: nowhere to be found.

Once classes end on Friday, Sipp jumps into her silver 2001 Pontiac Sunfire and makes the hour drive home where she stays for the entire weekend. Her weekly trip is strictly business; she helps her parents deliver newspapers for the Akron Beacon Journal on Saturday and Sunday. This disappearance has gone on every weekend since she was a freshman, when she decided at the last minute to snub Mt. Union for the greener pastures of Oberlin.

Sipp’s job at home is more personal than her pocketing a few extra dollars. The ocean blue-eyed Sipp explained that she wakes up early on the weekends in order to help her parents, just to allow them to sleep an extra hour or two after a strenuous week that consists of them working two jobs each. While some people might feel that this is overwork, Sipp calmly dismisses such claims, saying, “I was raised to work for what I earn.”

While her parents put in so much energy to pay Sipp’s tuition, Sipp sees her weekend trips home as a way to make their lives a bit easier, while simultaneously earning money for books. Satisfying this need leaves a gaping hole in Sipp’s social life at school though, as she is rarely around for the weekend events. Sipp acknowledges it can sometimes be frustrating to miss out on the fun, but it’s a sacrifice she has to make.

“[Working on the weekend] keeps me grounded. I do kind of miss not being able to make the tennis gatherings. But if I don’t go home, I won’t have the money to be here,” she said.

She also tries to minimize her dad’s weekly workload because of his medical issues. Sipp’s father has a severe case of diabetes and is currently on the waiting list for  kidney and liver transplants, yet he still musters enough energy to work full time several days a week. His health became an issue when Sipp was a junior in high school.

Since Sipp got her first job at Applebee’s in her senior year of high school, having a job has become as second-nature as breathing for her. Excluding the 100-125 newspapers delivered every weekend, which she has done for many years now, Sipp has built an impressive resume. Last summer she worked at a Pacific Sun clothing store, coached a 24/7 tennis camp at Oberlin for five weeks and worked for the newspaper every day. She continued her streak with three jobs over the recent Winter Term. Daily four a.m. shifts were followed by eight- to nine-hour shifts at Applebee’s.

What is more amazing is how tight-knit and supportive the family is of each other. Sipp is the first member of her immediate family to go to college, and the first on her mother’s side. That has not hindered Sipp, who has harnessed the hard working mentality evident in her parents, and grown to be a very successful woman on and off the court. Just because certain circumstances did not allow her parents to go to school, it did not stop them from wishing the best for their daughter.

Sipp recalls her mother chanting, “Harvard, Harvard, Harvard,” when she was younger, showing her that the possibilities are endless for those who work hard. “My parents were adamant about getting an education. It was not just to go to school but also to learn something,” Sipp said.

Although Harvard was not fortunate enough to receive an application from Sipp, she had several good opportunities. She was offered a full ride to Southwest Minnesota State University and the number one slot on the tennis team. In the end, however, it was just too far away from her parents.

“I couldn’t imagine being so far away without seeing them every so often. I wanted to be able to commute,” said Sipp.

In the end, it was a combination of staying close to home, playing tennis in college and loving the tennis team on her prospective student visit that helped convince Sipp that Oberlin was the right choice. Despite only playing tennis for two years, there was no question she wanted to continue to play at the next level.

No matter what she has done at school or at home, since she picked up a racket her sophomore year of high school, tennis has been at the forefront of her life. She was sidelined from athletics at the age of nine after she was told there was a small tumor in her right big toe. If she were to break her foot while she was still growing, the consequences could have been catastrophic.

Therefore it wasn’t until sophomore year when she was asked to hit tennis balls with a friend. Three months later she became the number one player on junior varsity. Strong performances allowed her to claim the number one spot her junior and senior years on varsity. She became addicted to the sport.

Sipp did not let her limited time in the sport hold her back; she practiced all the time, eager to learn. Last spring was a new experience for her, juggling schoolwork, practice and going home to work. It became so hectic that  her friends started wondering what was wrong when on Monday she would have little homework completed. “I sleep during the day when I go home because of the early morning shifts. No one understands why I don’t do my homework.”

As usual, she did not let a few obstacles hold her back. She finished with about a .500 record last year, playing at the number five and six singles spots, and the number two and three doubles spots. This year she is rotating through the four to six singles slots. Over Winter Term she put in extra hours to improve her game, coming to Oberlin for two to three days a week to hit, lift and run.

Her off-season work was evident in last Saturday’s match against Baldwin-Wallace, as Sipp defeated her opponent with ease, 6-0 and 6-1. Interspersed throughout the match between quick bursts of speed and strong forehand returns were smiles of confidence that lit up her face, showing that she was happy to be back on the court. Although Sipp walked away the obvious winner on Saturday, she knows there is still plenty to work on in her game.

“I try to hit with the girls’ and guys’ team along with my coach. I want to be more mentally prepared for matches. I am always learning.”

Sipp feels the team has what it takes to compete for a top spot in the NCAC this year, as the team returns senior Bianca Barr, junior Kimiko Glynn and the Hayden sisters. “The team this year is really deep. We only lost one player.”

Sipp is very appreciative of what her parents have allowed her to do in college. Asked what it is like being the first person in the family to go to school, Sipp responded, “It gives you a sense of pride.”

With costs of school continuing to increase, there might be a few extra early morning shifts for Sipp. While many might dread such a job, she enjoys it. “I’ve actually found it relaxing. It’s just me out in the quiet.” She is unfazed, though, confident her family will work out a way to pay for it all.

She finds it difficult to leave family every weekend, as it’s a “totally different world” at home. “It’s a treat since I’m such a picky eater. I can’t eat the chunky tomato sauce at Stevenson,” she explained, chuckling.

If this is one of the only complaints from a woman who has worked so hard, the sky is truly the limit for her.