Julianne Gruber: On the Road to Becoming a Spartan
5/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
By MSU Athletic Communications Student Assistant Hanna Sprague
With her entire family living in the sunny state of Florida, senior women's tennis player Julianne Gruber packed her bags, boarded the plane and was off to begin her journey as a Spartan.
A native of Clearwater, Florida, Gruber was faced with a lot of change as she transitioned to East Lansing.
"I had no idea how to walk in the snow, drive in the snow or live in the snow," said Gruber. "People were worried about me moving up here."
Flashing back to her first days holding a racket, Gruber reflects on how far she's come both as a person and an athlete during her years on the court.
"I would always just kind of mess around with my dad playing on the street outside our house," said Gruber. "I didn't take lessons until I was 10, and I didn't start competing until I was 12."
Tennis was an area of unfamiliarity for the Gruber family. As the oldest of two kids, Julianne was the first to ever take an interest in the game. As her passion toward the game grew stronger, the support and dedication from the rest of the family followed suit.
"It was nice to know that even if things didn't go my way tennis wise, I always had them to fall back on," said Gruber. "They were happy as long as I was having fun."
Though her game was improving each and every time she stepped up to serve, her life was falling further and further off the track of a normal high school teenager.
Gruber spent her weekdays at the courts after school, practicing alongside her coach until the sun went down. When the weekend hit, the Gruber family would pack their suitcases and hop on the next flight to wherever competition was taking them.
"Every single weekend I was in a different state or somewhere else in Florida," said Gruber. "It was a big deal because I couldn't do things on the weekends; I was always gone."
Playing on the big stage across from some of the highest sought after recruits in the country, Gruber understood the importance behind the tournaments.
"It was pretty tough just knowing that each match you played would make a difference in your future," said Gruber. " I always wanted to do well and find my way to the next step."
The family has been to too many states to count, yet has built memories along the way, embracing the travel and the opportunities that have risen alongside the game of tennis.
"We would always make a trip out of it," said Gruber. "They would bring us to visit landmarks, which financially was always a lot more expensive than it needed to be. That definitely meant a lot."
When thinking back on all of the sacrifices she made to get her game ready to compete at the collegiate level, two words quickly came to mind.
"Worth it," said Gruber.
Opportunities arose in both the Big Ten and the Southeastern Conference, but, when the time came, Gruber knew that her heart was set on Michigan State.
"They do everything right here," said Gruber. "The athletic program is really great. Michigan State has an unbelievable reputation."
The tennis program has continually improved during Gruber's time as a Spartan, and she's sure that the program is in good hands for many years to come.
"It's crazy to start from the bottom and then leave from the top, but it feels really good knowing that I'm leaving with the team in a good position to succeed," said Gruber. "I'll be leaving, but they won't be missing out on anything because they've got it together."
Gruber focuses on the classroom just as much as the court, majoring in Human Development and Family Studies with hopes to become a child life specialist.
"My dad works in a hospital in Tampa, so my dream job would be to work in the same hospital as him," said Gruber.
With injuries keeping her out of the action in her senior season, Gruber hopes to be remembered for more than her tennis abilities during her time at MSU.
"I just want people to remember me as a hard worker," said Gruber. "Always wanting what best for the team. I'm just a fighter, both on and off the court."
Players Mentioned
