School: Upper Dublin
Andrea Berlinghof, Upper Dublin Senior
Tennis
Favorite athlete: Shawn Johnson
Favorite team: Eagles
Favorite memory competing in sports: “Freshman year, going to the state finals in teams and quarterfinals for doubles with my sister.”
Most embarrassing/funniest moment competing in sports: “More embarrassing than funny, but my friend ran into a wall during basketball and broke both her wrists. She’s able to laugh about it in retrospect.”
Future plans: Attend Johns Hopkins University, Carnegie Mellon University or the University of Rochester for science, math or engineering
Words to live by: “Strive for excellence”
One goal before turning 30: “See all four grand slams live – Wimbledon, US Open, French Open, Australian Open
One thing people don’t know about me: “I’ve been a vegetarian for nine years.”
Andrea Berlinghof boasts a dazzling resume on the tennis court.
And that’s just part of what sets the Upper Dublin senior apart. Berlinghof also is an honors student who is president of her school’s student government.
“I only hear teachers say wonderful things about her,” coach Carol Hachenbracht said. “Everyone seems to beam when they talk about Andrea.
“She puts her heart into everything, and she plays for the team. She’s always thinking about others.”
Berlinghof saw a stellar high school career come to an end last Saturday when she lost in the quarterfinals of the District One Tournament.
“It hit me when I walked off the court,” Berlinghof said. “All that was left is the team (competition), and my high school tennis career will be over.”
But what a career it has been.
A senior co-captain, she was the SOL American Conference singles champion this fall. It was an appropriate ending for an athlete who burst onto the scene as a freshman, capturing first place with older sister Ellen in the American Conference Doubles Tournament and advancing to the state quarterfinals after a third place finish in districts.
“I loved my freshman year playing doubles with my sister,” she said.
After playing third singles as a freshman, Berlinghof played seconds singles as a sophomore for a Flying Cardinal squad that reached the semifinals of the state team championships.
For the past two years, Berlinghof played first singles. As a junior she was American Conference runner-up.
“She has been a rock,” Hachenbracht said. “She is the rock of the team.
“Her leadership and the way she’s such a wonderful role model to the other players and just her enthusiasm and her hard work – the work ethic she has is superb.”
Berlinghof came by her love of tennis honestly, following in the steps of older sisters Erika and Ellen.
“I started in clinics when I was really little,” she said. “I didn’t start tournaments until 12-and-under. I started playing more as I got older.”
Berlinghof still competes in a tournament just every month, and she practices four a five times a week.
“I’ll hit with my dad (Bill Berlinghof),” she said. “My sister and I haven’t played for a while, but whenever she’s home, we always play matches. They’re always tight.”
Tennis wasn’t the only sport on Berlinghof’s plate. Growing up, the Upper Dublin senior played soccer, squash, golf and basketball. She also swam.
“I gradually stopped playing all of those,” she said.
One interest Berlinghof has not dropped is dance – ballet, modern jazz, point and lyrical. She estimates she spends seven hours a week working at her second love, and she hopes to take a dance class or two in college.
Her list of potential colleges – Johns Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon and the University of Rochester – is an impressive one, and wherever she ends up, Berlinghof – whose sister Ellen is at Johns Hopkins - will continue her tennis career. She plans to major in English, math or science.
Until then, the multi-talented student-athlete will keep busy with the long list of activities that have been her trademark for as long as she can remember.
“I don’t think I could imagine high school without the activities,” she said. “I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t do all of those. They’ve been a huge part of my life.”
