Psychology junior Anda Ghinga is a shining example of the most outstanding student athletes that MSU has to offer.
As a recipient of the 2024 Marie Morgan Award, Ghinga has been recognized for not only setting a stellar example as a student athlete but also for having exemplary participation in the community.
Ghinga is an international student from Arad, Romania. She came to MSU after meeting head coach Scott Linn. Afterward, she knew MSU was the place for her.
“Honestly, it was mostly the conversation with Coach. He was very open and very excited, and I kind of feel, like, wanted, like this person is like we are going to make great things together. So far it has been right,” Ghinga said.
Ghinga is the first tennis player on either the men’s or women’s teams to receive the award since the year 2019.
This award is one of the highest honors an athlete can receive at MSU, so it stands that all athletes hope to earn it.
All year the award has been the talk amongst all of the MSU athletes. With everyone vying to be the winner of the prestigious award, Ghinga was shocked to hear her name called.
“I was in shock, so my teammates had to tell me, like, ‘You have to go up there,’ because I was like, ‘I don’t know what to do.’ So it’s an award that everyone is talking about, in the athletics department, so I didn’t think it would be me so it was amazing,” Ghinga said.
Part of receiving the Morgan Award is the time the athlete has put into the community on behalf of MSU. Head coach Scott Linn prides himself in the amount of community service hours his team puts in during the offseason.
“So we do a lot of work with the Humane Society, like with the dogs, we feed them, we walk them, we clean everything. We did a lot of Read to Learn. I love that one, it’s great to read with the kids, and everything. Then we work a lot of the athletic events for other teams,” Ghinga said.
Ghinga plays singles (17-1), and doubles teams (10-7). The women’s tennis team is ranked No. 4 in the nation in Division II collegiate tennis. Ghinga is confident in her skills as a tennis player and trusts her team.
“I would say something that has been working for me would be the team, Everyone’s like I’ve said it before and this is true, like everyone has a sense of responsibility. It makes it easier. I don’t have to worry about my teammates right? Because I know that they are going to hit extra, they are going to do their job and everything so that allows me to focus a bit more on myself and that’s amazing,” Ghinga said.
Ghinga has played tennis since she was young. It was something her dad picked up. As her dad got more into the sport, so did Ghinga, and he coached her throughout her childhood.
After graduating, Ghinga plans to stick around MSU and pursue her master’s.
“I’m staying after college. I am doing my masters here, and then I do want to play some tournaments, but I also really want to become a counselor,” Ghinga said, adding, “I’m still debating. I’m not sure which way I’m going to go yet.”
While Ghinga may still be debating on what her plans for the future are, she is still focusing on the current tennis season and how to progress moving forward. Winning the Morgan Award has not deterred Ghinga from finishing the season strong, for her community, her team, herself, and her coaches.
“I just want to make sure that the community, like people around here and everyone, knows we’re grateful for their support. And honestly, I’m grateful for my teammates, and for coach, and definitely my parents. They made everything possible,” Ghinga said.
