University of Minnesota Athletics
2024-25 Tennis Roster
Schmitz, Aiva
Aiva Schmitz
- Class:
- Junior
- Height:
- 5-8
- High School:
- Kaiserslautern High School
- Hometown:
- New Auburn, Wis.
- Major:
- Biochemistry
Bio
2025 SPRING SEASON
Notched a 9-11 singles record • CSC Academic All-District • All-Big Ten Sportsmanship Honoree • Spring Academic All-Big Ten • went 7-14 in doubles • team captain • named to Preseason Big Ten Players to Watch List • primarily played No. 1 singles • notable singles wins against Missouri, Alabama, Boise State, Illinois, and Northwestern • clinched the victory for Minnesota over Boise State • primarily played No. 3 doubles with partner Arina Valitova • notable doubles victories over Iowa State, Boise State, and Indiana.
2024 FALL SEASON
Notched a 6-3 record in singles play and 5-3 in doubles play overall • went 3-0 in singles and 3-2 in doubles at the annual Gopher Invitational • finished 2-2 in singles and 1-1 in doubles in the consolation rounds at 2024 ITA Central Regional Championships • went 1-1 in singles and 3-0 in doubles at the CSUN Fall Invitational.
2024 SPRING SEASON
Picked up a 15-9 singles record • went 6-11 in doubles • played primarily at No. 3 singles throughout spring season • also notched wins at No. 1, 2, and 4 singles • played primarily at No. 3 doubles with partner Sofia Pizzoni • clinched the match-winning point for Minnesota in each of the Gophers' first 3 wins against conference opponents (Indiana, Purdue, Iowa) • named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week on Mar. 12 for back-to-back match-clinching performances against Indiana and No. 48 Purdue.
2023 FALL SEASON
Went 9-4 in singles play and 6-5 in doubles play overall • went 2-1 in singles and 5-1 in doubles at the annual Gopher Invitational • went 2-1 in singles and 1-1 in doubles at the SDSU Fall Classic • reached the 2nd round of singles in the 2023 ITA Central Regional Championships • went 2-1 in singles and 0-1 in doubles in the Drake Bulldog Classic.
2023 SPRING SEASON
Went 6-6 in singles play • went 4-5 in doubles play • played at No. 3 and No. 4 singles throughout spring season • played at No. 2 doubles.
2022 FALL SEASON
Went 4-4 in singles and 6-6 in doubles at the annual Gopher Invitational.
PREP
Attended Kaiserslautern High School, on a US military base in Germany • was ranked #6 in her age group in Germany • reached #90 in the German Women's Ranking • four-time State Champion in under 12s, 14s, 16s, and 18s • two-time Women's state champion • ranked as high as #728 in the ITF juniors ranking • plays for TUS Neunkirchen Women's team in the Regional Liga.
PERSONAL
Was the Salutatorian of her graduating class • was a High School Student-Athlete of the Year • was a National Merit Scholar and AP Scholar with Distinction • parents are Clare Barnard and Frank Schmitz • Frank was a professional tennis player on the ATP tour for 10 years • Clare played basketball at Marquette University, and then played professional basketball in Australia, Luxembourg, and Germany • has a younger sister, Stella (17) and brother Theo (8) • Stella is committed to play tennis at Rutgers University in Fall 2025.
Notched a 9-11 singles record • CSC Academic All-District • All-Big Ten Sportsmanship Honoree • Spring Academic All-Big Ten • went 7-14 in doubles • team captain • named to Preseason Big Ten Players to Watch List • primarily played No. 1 singles • notable singles wins against Missouri, Alabama, Boise State, Illinois, and Northwestern • clinched the victory for Minnesota over Boise State • primarily played No. 3 doubles with partner Arina Valitova • notable doubles victories over Iowa State, Boise State, and Indiana.
2024 FALL SEASON
Notched a 6-3 record in singles play and 5-3 in doubles play overall • went 3-0 in singles and 3-2 in doubles at the annual Gopher Invitational • finished 2-2 in singles and 1-1 in doubles in the consolation rounds at 2024 ITA Central Regional Championships • went 1-1 in singles and 3-0 in doubles at the CSUN Fall Invitational.
2024 SPRING SEASON
Picked up a 15-9 singles record • went 6-11 in doubles • played primarily at No. 3 singles throughout spring season • also notched wins at No. 1, 2, and 4 singles • played primarily at No. 3 doubles with partner Sofia Pizzoni • clinched the match-winning point for Minnesota in each of the Gophers' first 3 wins against conference opponents (Indiana, Purdue, Iowa) • named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week on Mar. 12 for back-to-back match-clinching performances against Indiana and No. 48 Purdue.
2023 FALL SEASON
Went 9-4 in singles play and 6-5 in doubles play overall • went 2-1 in singles and 5-1 in doubles at the annual Gopher Invitational • went 2-1 in singles and 1-1 in doubles at the SDSU Fall Classic • reached the 2nd round of singles in the 2023 ITA Central Regional Championships • went 2-1 in singles and 0-1 in doubles in the Drake Bulldog Classic.
2023 SPRING SEASON
Went 6-6 in singles play • went 4-5 in doubles play • played at No. 3 and No. 4 singles throughout spring season • played at No. 2 doubles.
2022 FALL SEASON
Went 4-4 in singles and 6-6 in doubles at the annual Gopher Invitational.
PREP
Attended Kaiserslautern High School, on a US military base in Germany • was ranked #6 in her age group in Germany • reached #90 in the German Women's Ranking • four-time State Champion in under 12s, 14s, 16s, and 18s • two-time Women's state champion • ranked as high as #728 in the ITF juniors ranking • plays for TUS Neunkirchen Women's team in the Regional Liga.
PERSONAL
Was the Salutatorian of her graduating class • was a High School Student-Athlete of the Year • was a National Merit Scholar and AP Scholar with Distinction • parents are Clare Barnard and Frank Schmitz • Frank was a professional tennis player on the ATP tour for 10 years • Clare played basketball at Marquette University, and then played professional basketball in Australia, Luxembourg, and Germany • has a younger sister, Stella (17) and brother Theo (8) • Stella is committed to play tennis at Rutgers University in Fall 2025.
Behind the Scenes: Media Day
Thursday, September 18
First Practice of 2025
Tuesday, September 09
Cinematic: Gophers-Maryland
Tuesday, April 01
Mic'd Up: Coach Anastasia Pennington
Tuesday, March 18
