July 20, 2017
By Jeff Shearer
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. - When Jackie Kasler took her official visit to Auburn during her final year of high school, one thing stood out.
"The nicest people on earth live in Auburn," Kasler said. "On my official visit, I was just like, 'I like it here.'"
The Auburn Famlily sold Auburn to Kasler, and the rest was history.
Kasler, who played at Auburn from 2010-14, went on finish fifth in Auburn history with 150 career victories. In 2013, Kasler won 28 doubles matches, which was good for third in Auburn single-season history.
Kasler finished seventh in Auburn history with 74 doubles victories and eighth with 66 singles victories.
Kasler, a student in Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine, says playing tennis at Auburn helped prepare her for the next stage of her life.
"Dealing with different types of personalities and time management, for sure," Kasler said.
"Everyone I am in school with feels like they have no time, because we are taking 24 hours a semester, she said. "Now, I feel like I have so much time. Auburn also helped me with communication skills."
Kasler also noted how Auburn tennis coach Lauren Spencer was one of the most influential people in her life.
"I was a very interesting player, in terms of the way I played," Kasler said. "You would never teach my technique. I was just a big competitor. She didn't try to change my game. She allowed me to be myself.
"She's a really good coach, really motivational and she cares about her players. She still keeps up with me. She knows everything going on in my life and all of my teammates' lives. She is a really good mentor with not just tennis, but life."
Kasler is set to graduate from vet school next May and will enter a general practice as a small animal vet. The Auburn Family, she says, will always mean a lot to the Gulf Breeze, Fla. native.
"Auburn fans are so loyal," Kasler said. "No fans are as loyal to their alma mater as Auburn fans are. They accepted me. They made me feel like family."