University of Minnesota Athletics
From Israel to Minnesota: Tina Kreinis
By Tommy Sletten, Athletic Communications Student Intern
In her sophomore season, Tina Kreinis was a mainstay in both No. 2 singles and doubles and finished the year with a 17-15 record in singles, and a 24-6 record in doubles.
Kreinis has had a tennis background for her whole life, that has followed her no matter where she has lived.
Born in Israel, Kreinis moved to Toronto, Ont. when she was six years old. From a young age, she had a mastery for language, becoming fluent in Hebrew and Russian as a young girl, and picking up English quickly in Canada. With having Russian parents who were from Ukraine, Kreinis was exposed to many different cultures at a young age.
“I was so young when I moved to Canada, that I didn’t experience much of a culture shock. When I was young everything was so cool still though,” Kreinis said.
Having only experienced the year-long warm climate of Israel, she saw snow and other cold-climate animals for the first time at age six.
”It was the first time I had ever seen snow or seen certain animals,” she laughed. “I was so preoccupied with wanting to go sledding and doing all these things I couldn’t do in Israel that I settled in fast and I loved it so fast.”
In Canada, Kreinis moved schools every few years and did not quite settle in until high school, where she spent all four years at Northview Heights Secondary School.
Kreinis knew it would be tough leaving her friends again upon going to college and competing in tennis in the United States, but feels she found a home at the University of Minnesota because of her teammates and its diverse student body.
“Coming to Minneapolis was really cool because you get to meet all these different people from different places as well. I also got to meet people here that I have things in common with, like other Russian Jews, and people who have similar backgrounds to me, people who are as dedicated to schoolwork and sports as me,” Kreinis said. “I still have my friendships back home, but I was able to make friendships here just as well, and I think that’s the best thing you can do when you move to a new country.”
Kreinis saw personal growth in her time coming here because of the change she endured in coming to Minnesota and the United States and being more independent.
Highly recruited out of high school, and while she first considered going to a warmer climate for college for a change of pace from her home in Canada, Kreinis found that there were too many positives at the University of Minnesota to turn down.
“When I started to compare the most important things about these schools, like academics, team culture, and facilities, Minnesota was my number one choice by far,” Kreinis said. “My parents told me that I need to be 100% sure of this decision, I was then, and I would never go back on it now.”
Kreinis is also one of the most fiery and passionate personalities on and off the court, with even her banner at Baseline Tennis Center featuring her giving a fist pump after winning a big point. But, she feels grounded by her family back home, and her pet rat Vasya.
“My almost 23-year old brother brought home a pet rat one day, and at first we didn't know what to think, but we grew to love him so much,” Kreinis said. “He’s just so cute and so good. He’s a little bit shy, but he opens up and he’s such a good boy.”
Currently a psychology major, Kreinis has plans to become a doctor after her time at Minnesota. She currently finds time between her hectic academic and athletic schedule to volunteer at Fairview Health Services.
Kreinis got advice from the athletic office and was referred to volunteering at the hospital and getting experience in the healthcare field early. She went through the orientation process and started working in the nursing unit so she could get a more hands-on experience, and choose to be in the oncology department as well.
“I feel like oncology is something not everyone wants to do, and I wanted to challenge myself, “ Kreinis said. “I’ve been volunteering there since October and I check in with patients, restock supplies, and the most important thing for me is to interact with the patients. I try to make them feel like they’re not alone in their battle, and that’s the reason I first wanted to be a doctor.”
In her career Kreinis has high hopes for what she eventually can become, and the path she wants to take in the healthcare field.
“I really want to help people, and I want to be more than just social support. I want to be the reason that someone's life is saved or their life is changed because of a medial decision. I want to impact people as much as I possibly can. I know I have a tough path to take, but I love to do it, and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else except helping people.”
In her sophomore season, Tina Kreinis was a mainstay in both No. 2 singles and doubles and finished the year with a 17-15 record in singles, and a 24-6 record in doubles.
Kreinis has had a tennis background for her whole life, that has followed her no matter where she has lived.
Born in Israel, Kreinis moved to Toronto, Ont. when she was six years old. From a young age, she had a mastery for language, becoming fluent in Hebrew and Russian as a young girl, and picking up English quickly in Canada. With having Russian parents who were from Ukraine, Kreinis was exposed to many different cultures at a young age.
“I was so young when I moved to Canada, that I didn’t experience much of a culture shock. When I was young everything was so cool still though,” Kreinis said.
Having only experienced the year-long warm climate of Israel, she saw snow and other cold-climate animals for the first time at age six.
”It was the first time I had ever seen snow or seen certain animals,” she laughed. “I was so preoccupied with wanting to go sledding and doing all these things I couldn’t do in Israel that I settled in fast and I loved it so fast.”
In Canada, Kreinis moved schools every few years and did not quite settle in until high school, where she spent all four years at Northview Heights Secondary School.
Kreinis knew it would be tough leaving her friends again upon going to college and competing in tennis in the United States, but feels she found a home at the University of Minnesota because of her teammates and its diverse student body.
“Coming to Minneapolis was really cool because you get to meet all these different people from different places as well. I also got to meet people here that I have things in common with, like other Russian Jews, and people who have similar backgrounds to me, people who are as dedicated to schoolwork and sports as me,” Kreinis said. “I still have my friendships back home, but I was able to make friendships here just as well, and I think that’s the best thing you can do when you move to a new country.”
Kreinis saw personal growth in her time coming here because of the change she endured in coming to Minnesota and the United States and being more independent.
Highly recruited out of high school, and while she first considered going to a warmer climate for college for a change of pace from her home in Canada, Kreinis found that there were too many positives at the University of Minnesota to turn down.
“When I started to compare the most important things about these schools, like academics, team culture, and facilities, Minnesota was my number one choice by far,” Kreinis said. “My parents told me that I need to be 100% sure of this decision, I was then, and I would never go back on it now.”
Kreinis is also one of the most fiery and passionate personalities on and off the court, with even her banner at Baseline Tennis Center featuring her giving a fist pump after winning a big point. But, she feels grounded by her family back home, and her pet rat Vasya.
“My almost 23-year old brother brought home a pet rat one day, and at first we didn't know what to think, but we grew to love him so much,” Kreinis said. “He’s just so cute and so good. He’s a little bit shy, but he opens up and he’s such a good boy.”
Currently a psychology major, Kreinis has plans to become a doctor after her time at Minnesota. She currently finds time between her hectic academic and athletic schedule to volunteer at Fairview Health Services.
Kreinis got advice from the athletic office and was referred to volunteering at the hospital and getting experience in the healthcare field early. She went through the orientation process and started working in the nursing unit so she could get a more hands-on experience, and choose to be in the oncology department as well.
“I feel like oncology is something not everyone wants to do, and I wanted to challenge myself, “ Kreinis said. “I’ve been volunteering there since October and I check in with patients, restock supplies, and the most important thing for me is to interact with the patients. I try to make them feel like they’re not alone in their battle, and that’s the reason I first wanted to be a doctor.”
In her career Kreinis has high hopes for what she eventually can become, and the path she wants to take in the healthcare field.
“I really want to help people, and I want to be more than just social support. I want to be the reason that someone's life is saved or their life is changed because of a medial decision. I want to impact people as much as I possibly can. I know I have a tough path to take, but I love to do it, and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else except helping people.”