16-Year-Old College Star Makes Waves at the English Open

DUPR
August 18, 2025
2 min

If you’ve ever tried to juggle school, practice, and tournaments, you know how hectic life gets. Now imagine doing all of that… while being a full-time high school and college student.  That’s exactly what Mary Monson is pulling off, and she just took her game all the way to the English Open.

Balancing it all out

At just 16 years old,  Mary plays for Utah Tech University, works a part-time job, travels for tournaments, represents DUPR as an ambassador, and still finds time to train every single day. 

 

“It gets really busy,” she laughed. “There’s no time to waste, so I’ve learned a ton of discipline and it’s helped me on and off the court.”

Sound familiar? Yeah, she’s living the same grind as every collegiate athlete, just on fast-forward.

Mary’s family support

For Mary, the English Open was more than just another tournament.


“My mom grew up in the UK and all of her family lives there. Competing in front of them meant the world to me.”

That kind of support hits different, and it gave her extra fire.

The international game is wild 

“The European style is pure chaos,” she said with a smile. “Crazy angles, insane gets, super athletic points. It was entertaining, and honestly, I was impressed by the level of play.”

Even while sick, Mary pushed through, making the quarterfinals in doubles and mixed,  taking down top players from both Europe and the U.S.

Favorite moment? A family double win 

Mary’s highlight wasn’t just her own match.

“My Round of 16 was happening right next to my younger sister’s semifinal. We both won at the same time, celebrated together, and our whole family was there cheering. That was unforgettable.”

Big goals ahead 

She’s just getting started. Here’s what’s on Mary’s vision board:

Why this matters for you

Mary’s proof that you don’t need to wait until “later” to go after it. School, training, travel …  It's a lot. But she’s showing that discipline + passion + love for the game = you can make it happen.

So the next time you’re cramming for an exam after a long practice, remember Mary’s story. She’s walking the same path  and proving you can chase big goals without giving anything up.

For more stories on collegiate players, join our “College News” channel on Instagram. 

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