University of Minnesota Athletics
Alumni Spotlight: Jessika Mozia
1/10/2019 1:21:00 PM | Tennis
Degree/Major: Psychology, B.A.
Former four-star tennis recruit, two-time Colorado State Champion and five-time recipient of the USTA National Sportsmanship Award are just some of the few accomplishments Littleton, Colo. native Jessika Mozia compiled before donning the Maroon and Gold. However, Mozia has made herself known for much more during her time at the 'U' and as an alumnus of the Gopher women's tennis team. Gopher Sports sat down with the former Gopher to discuss her time on campus as well as life at a Fortune 500 company.
Coming out of high school you were one of the most sought after recruits in the country, what made you choose Minnesota?
JM: Coming out of high school and making the transition into college I had a list of things ranging from academics to athletics when it came to what I was looking for during the recruiting process. I knew I wanted to play for a school that had great academics and having the ability and resources to excel in my academics was key; which then enabled me to set up for my future endeavors post-college. I was also looking for a strong and competitive conference for tennis--somewhere I knew I was going to grow as an athlete and continue to get better. In addition to a strong conference, I wanted a team that carried a sense of family and team comradery. I wanted a place where my teammates were my family and open communication with the coaching staff was accessible. I wanted a team that had each other's back on and off the court, alongside, sharing the same goals, motivation and vision of representing the university. Lastly, I was looking for a college that had school spirit and supported other programs. With all this being said, Minnesota was my first visit I took and it checked all the requirements off my list. When I visited the University of Minnesota it felt like home, and I do not believe you can beat that.
What has been keeping you busy since you graduated? Where do you live and work?
JM: I currently work for Progressive Insurance handling bodily injury claims. In my free time I play tennis with some teammates and friends--I am still pretty involved in the tennis community. During the summer I played in a league and will be starting up a winter league come the beginning of 2019. I enjoy hanging out with friends and family as well. I love travelling, especially to new places. I also picked up a new love of escape rooms. I currently live in Downtown St. Paul and enjoy an active lifestyle.
GS: What personal or professional accomplishment(s) are you most proud of since you graduate from Minnesota?
JM: A professional accomplishment I am most proud of since graduating from the University of Minnesota is getting promoted within a Fortune 500 company--Progressive Insurance. Alongside the promotion I took on some extra activities, such as becoming a mentor for new hires in the same position.
GS: How did your time in the Maroon and Gold help prepare you for life after college?
JM: My time in the Maroon and Gold helped prepare myself for life after college because it enabled me to use the traits I fine-tuned and developed as a student athlete. Some of the traits are: strong work ethic, leadership skills, and teamwork. I developed these skills through the daily lifestyle of a student athlete which consisted of the motivation, devotion, determination and tenacity to try my best in class and on the court to get better, grow and see the successes from the outcome of the hard work done. These traits helped make my transition smooth from college into the next chapter of my journey.
GS: What is your favorite memory about your time as a Gopher on the court? Off court?
JM: One of my favorite memories about my time as a Gopher was my sophomore year against the University of Nebraska. We had to play offsite at a location that only had four courts due to the fact Nebraska's facility was under construction. We drew numbers out of a hat to determine the number of order for singles play. I did not want to go last, but ironically, it was the luck of the draw and I ended up with the last match. Since we were crunched for time due to our travel plans we ended up playing a clinch format which means the first team to win four matches wins it all. The match was tied 3-3 and it was my turn to start my match. The match ended up being three sets and we came out as victors. After the match we rushed to the vans, got lost on the way to the airport and had to sprint through the terminal. What made this moment so special was knowing how I did not have to go through it alone. I was never by myself from the point clinching tightness of my match to making sure we made it back to Minneapolis on time and safely. It showed me the power of team comradery and support which means a lot to me. It showed me that having everyone on the same page and striving for the same goal can produce a positive outcome. One of my favorite memories off the court is all the time we had team bonding time--we would do team dinners or game night and I loved spending time with my teammates off the court. Lastly, one of my favorite memories both on and off the court was my Freshman year and Purdue University. I lost my match badly and the following Monday I was pulled into coach's office. I thought our conversation was going to be about my match and keeping my head up from the loss, however, the conversation was a full scholarship offer for the upcoming years. That moment I will never forget.
GS: What makes Minnesota so special?
JM: Minnesota is so special because it was my first visit and I will always be grateful of my decision to come to such an academically and athletically competitive school. It always felt like home which enabled me to feel comfortable to learn so much about myself, make lifelong friendships, encounter new challenges, grow as a person and so much more.
GS: What is a piece of advice you would give to current or future players that you wish you received during your time?
JM: One piece of advice I would give to current or future players is to really live in the moment and soak up the time you have while at the University and with the team. Also, to use the resources the University provides. There are some chances to take great opportunities of the resources that get you more ready and prepared for the next chapter to come. Time really does go by fast.