Written by senior sports journalism student Cassie Campise and mass communication graduate student Jenna Nabors, students working for Sun Devil Athletics in the Public Relations Lab at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Murphy Cassone has been playing tennis since birth.
“Pretty much since I was in diapers. My parents just threw the racquet in my hand and then had me on the court,” Cassone said.
The No. 1 high school prospect out of Kansas had several offers and visited many different Division I schools, but it was the coaching staff at Arizona State University that resonated most with him the most.
“I went through a lot of ups and downs with tennis in high school and Matt Hill and Dominic Cotrone stuck with me,” said Cassone. “That stuck out to me the most and I felt the most value. And Matt believed in me the most, as well.”
Through hard work and dedication to the game, Cassone’s first season at ASU as a true freshman was full of accomplishments. Although he faced challenges, he overcame them with a growth mindset.
Growth Mindset
Cassone had limited tournament experience coming into college, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, at the end of his freshman year, he has played in multiple national tournaments and was named a member of the 2022 United States Tennis Association Summer team.
“He’s made a huge, huge jump in one year,” Hill said. “It’s been really impressive to see and makes it exciting to see where he’s going to be in another year.”
During his first season, Cassone spent the majority of his time at the tennis courts on campus. Hill said, oftentimes, the coaching staff would have to pull him off the court to get him to take a break.
“His desire to be good and his professionalism in his day-to-day work ethic is unmatched,” Hill said. “He has a different motor than your typical kid on the team, even at an elite Division I school, he kind of has another level. He’s willing to be out there all day every day if he has to.”
Year One Highlights
Cassone’s standout match he is most proud of is when he beat the No. 1 college tennis player at the time, Auguste Holmgren from the University of San Diego.
“Just…
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