<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0rGTaV_0vjxeWb200" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0rGTaV_0vjxeWb200" width="1200" height="600" >STERLING, Kan. (KWCH) - On the tennis court, not many people Chelsie Brown’s age can replicate her superpower.The Sterling junior, who is undefeated midway through the season after placing seventh at state last year, serves the ball upwards of 90 miles per hour. Her personal record is clocked at 96 mph.“There’s not many kids who see a serve like that really on the girl’s or guy’s side,” Sterling tennis coach Janae Ryan said.It’s also on the tennis court where Brown has found her place.She was born hard of hearing and has needed hearing aids since she was 2 years old. In school, she uses sign-language interpreters when she doesn’t fully understand what a teacher is saying.“I ask to repeat a lot of things,” she said. “I think a lot of people say like, ‘Nevermind, like it’s fine, whatever.’ I think for the most part, I just felt really sad because I felt like I didn’t belong.”In order to make a name for herself, Brown thought of going out for a sport. She discovered a passion for tennis in seventh grade and begin taking it seriously once she got into high school, competing in junior competition outside of high school.She is ranked third in the USTA Missouri Valley girls 16-and-under division, competing in 42 competitive tournaments.“Her junior year, she’s really grown up this year, played a lot of tennis, and she has all the physical skills to do it, as you can see,” Ryan said. “That’s just a testament to all the time and work she’s put in.”Her goals include competing for a state title this year and playing in college after her time at Sterling is done. In order to achieve those goals, she spends roughly 20 hours between competing and training every week. Following high school practice, she continues working for up to two hours every night.Brown’s hearing hasn’t affected her tennis ability. She can hear the ball once it’s hit and hear the shoes squeaking, but struggles hearing the sound of the ball hitting the net. She also doesn’t recognize crowd noise much.But there’s no doubt she’s found her calling on the court.“I feel like I’m a lot more normal now. I feel like I fit in a lot more,” Brown said. “I’d say I’m more known for tennis than I am hearing aids.”And those around her have loved seeing her confidence rise to new levels.“She didn’t let her disability define her at all,” Ryan said. “Just to see her confidence grow, and she realizes that doesn’t define who she is. She’s just Chelsie to us, and to everyone else she’s, ‘Chelsie the tennis player.“Chelsie the tennis player is just a girl who works incredibly hard, enjoys what she does. She does a great job.”Copyright 2024 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email news@kwch.com</div></body>

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Rising Star: Sterling's Chelsie Brown making her name in tennis

STERLING, Kan. (KWCH) - On the tennis court, not many people Chelsie Brown’s age can replicate her superpower. The Sterling junior, who is undefeated midway through the season after placing seventh at state last year, serves the ball upwards of 90 miles per hour. Her personal record is clocked at 96 mph.