Kourtny Kosto

June 2024 Issue

Story and Photography (top) by
Jacie Elizabeth Millen

Endurance, strength, and diligence are three radiant attributes Kourtny Kosto exemplifies on and off the tennis courts, where she has flourished in her love for the game.

Born and raised on Hilton Head, an island known world-wide for golf and tennis, it was only natural Kourtny gave them both a try. Starting out as a competitive trapeze, ribbons, and Cirque du Soleil dancer, Kourtny always knew she was going to live an active life.

However, when the dance studio closed, she didn’t know what would be next. Soon after, her younger brother, Kash, got into playing tennis, and Kourtny decided to join in one afternoon just to see what the rave was all about. She fell in love instantly. So, at 9 years old, Kourtny had found her passion, the thing that stokes persistence and drive, the thing that ignites a natural high. Kourtny found joy in practicing, competing and winning. Her love for the sport never waned, until… the love she felt for her mother’s well-being exceeded her love of tennis. Anybody can work hard and give their all, but not everyone can keep that momentum while their mother is battling breast cancer. When her mother was diagnosed, Kourtny stepped off the courts and into the necessary roles of being a responsible big sister and caretaker. As her duties at home grew bigger, her time became limited on the courts.

Amanda Kosto, her mom, bought Kourtny and Kash a golf cart to drive back and forth to the Island Rec Center tennis courts, which are just around the corner from their home. Regardless of her illness, or that she could no longer drive to Sea Pines to take her children to practice, Amanda wanted them to stay involved in their passions and get as much playing time as they could.

In constant training at Van Der Meer Tennis for four years, hitting and training with D1 players and private coaches the past two summers, and now being enrolled in the Smith Stearns Tennis Academy, Kourtny is determined to reach her goals. A rising senior, she has also played on the Hilton Head High tennis team for the past four years. 

Before illness served a double fault to the Kosto’s, Kourtny held a Universal Tennis Ranking 5.0 UTR. (For a sense of gauging, in 2019, Serena Williams UTR ranking was 13.36; 16.50 UTR is the highest.) Typically, the rank of a D1 collegiate player or lower-ranked professional tennis player is between 7-8 UTR. With the weight of the illness and less time on the courts, Kourtny’s rank fell to 2 UTR, which negatively affected any college scouting potential. Her mother’s final surgery was last August, and she is now 100% cancer-free. 

With the best possible news radiating throughout the Kosto home, Kourtny’s tennis game has been flipped back on! She has revived her 5.0 UTR ranking and is determined to climb to 7.0 UTR this summer.

Dedication and hard work aren’t just words when it comes to what Kourtny is about to do. Her current practice regime is four hours a day on the courts Monday through Friday, plus a 90-minute daily workout. She has gone almost three months without taking a day off, whether it be from tennis, her job, or school—she has a 3.9 GPA. She is seeing results and achieving her goals but only by digging deep and doing whatever it takes. Kourtny is a stellar example of the saying, “Nothing good ever comes easy!”

Recently ranked No. 2,715 in the U.S. and No. 72 in her district, Kourtny has the potential to be a superstar player. She has what it takes, and more importantly she’s willing to do what it takes.

Life tossed this young lady major challenges, and not only did she rise to the occasion, she also struck back with full force, an unshakable positive attitude, and a beautiful, authentic smile. 

Up Close:
Kourtny’s Words of Wisdom: “Not giving up is the key to success, wanting something, going for it, working hard for it, it’s all going to pay off in the end, so why not put your all in?” 

Next Generation: Kourtny makes time to coach young children the basics of tennis through the Quickstart Program at Van Der Meer Tennis.

A Mental Game: “Tennis is almost harder mentally than physically. It’s a lot of inner-body work and solo mental work. Many people don’t understand tennis isn’t just about your physical ability but your mental ability, as well.”