AUBURN, Ala. – Angella Okutoyi has officially signed to join the Auburn women's tennis team this spring, head coach Caroline Lilley announced on Monday.
Okutoyi, who is a native of Nairobi, Kenya, will enter the Spring 2022 season as a true freshman. Okutoyi held an ITF junior ranking of 49th and claims six ITF junior singles titles and 13 ITF junior doubles titles. She also won the Junior Wimbeldon Doubles Championship in 2022, which made her the first Kenyan to win a Grand Slam title.
"Angie [Okutoyi] is a trailblazer, someone who serves as an incredible inspiration and role model for future generations of aspiring tennis players," said Auburn head coach Caroline Lilley. "With a plethora of international experience on the biggest stages in junior tennis, she has remained grounded in her commitment to prioritizing her development as a person above all else. In all our conversations with Angie and with those who know her well, the one thing always on display was her character. She does things the right way, holding herself to a high standard while allowing her moral compass to guide her. Her competitiveness will serve her well, but her compassion and kindness make her someone people want to follow."
"I chose Auburn because I was raised the Tiger way," Okutoyi said.
Okutoyi also became the first Kenyan to win a match at a junior girls' Grand Slam at the 2022 Australian Open. She is a two time African junior champion in singles and ranked as the best junior player in the continent of Africa.
"We would like to thank her coach, Francis Rogoi, as well as both Rosemary Owino and Wanjii Karani, for allowing us to be a part of this journey," Coach Lilley said. "Angie has a terrific team back home, and we are excited to collaborate with them as she navigates the next chapter of her life. We welcome Angie, her loved ones and those most instrumental in her upbringing to the Auburn family!"