In the early days of my career at The Denver Post, I was assigned to cover prep sports. As a journalist, my role was to report objectively, yet there were moments when I couldn't help but develop a personal connection with certain athletes. One such athlete is Remy Nguyen, and her story is truly remarkable.

Signing Day: A Celebration of Hard Work and Sacrifice

On Tuesday, surrounded by more than 70 friends, family, former coaches, and community members at the Denver Tennis Park, Remy Nguyen signed her national letter of intent to play for the University of Denver women's tennis team. A portrait from 2011 of her and her family hung on the wall in a longstanding "Breaking the Barriers" photo exhibit next to the signing table. It seemed as if destiny had led her to this moment.Remy herself was a bit overwhelmed by the turnout. "It's a lot to take in," she admitted. And indeed, her journey to this point has been nothing short of extraordinary.Playing for Chaparral High School, the 17-year-old qualified for the Class 5A state tournament at No. 1 singles three times. According to MaxPreps, she compiled a remarkable 53-9 record during this time. In 2024 alone, she played 193 games in her first 15 matches and emerged victorious in 180 of them. Chaparral head coach Dan Padrnos had high praise for her, stating, "Her determination and skill on the court are truly remarkable. She goes on to be 20-0 on the season and reaches the championship match."She finished as the runner-up to a longtime friend, Valor Christian's Caroline Daugherty, in the finals and earned a spot on CHSAA's all-state first team. As a three-star recruit and one of the top 10 mountain region players in her class, according to tennisrecruiting.net, she is the first Colorado player to join the DU program since 2019.DU assistant coach Maureen Kechriotis emphasized Remy's qualities, saying, "Her racket skills, her attitude, and her coachability - that is everything we look for in a player. Effort and attitude are everything. We've watched her over the years and know that she has everything to be a success at D-I tennis."

Family's Unwavering Support

National Signing Day is not just about the athlete; it's a celebration of the entire family's hard work and dedication. For Remy, her parents, Tod and Vie, have been by her side through it all. They have changed their lives around to travel with her to tournaments several states away. As Remy said, "They've done so much, it's actually crazy. Practices, training, individual training, group training, scheduling, practice matches, scheduling tournaments, outside tournaments, out-of-state tournaments - every single thing is a ton of work. It's amazing what they've done for me."

Coaches' Fond Memories

Several of Remy's coaches shared fond memories during the event, highlighting her prowess on the court, her eagerness to learn, and her ability to help teammates improve. Their words spoke volumes about the strong values instilled in her by those who helped shape her into the person she is today.Longtime family friend and Remy's mental coach Brad Bernthal summed it up perfectly: "No one goes it alone. To have your coaches here, your parents, family and friends - we are all so excited for you. But it's also a celebration of each other. People like this don't fall out of the sky. It's a product of a community. Remy, just know that we're all here rooting for you and your success is reflected in all of us. We're excited by what you have done and it gets us excited for where things are going."Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver's teams.