Jared Christen

MANDAN – For Jared Christen, the tennis court has never simply been an athletic venue—it has been a second home.

The Mandan senior can’t pinpoint the exact moment he first picked up a racket. Growing up in a household steeped in tennis tradition, the game was practically second nature before he even started kindergarten.

“There really hasn’t been a time in my memory that I haven’t been playing,” Jared said. “I’ve been told that I’ve been playing since I was able to hold a racket. Three years old is probably a good estimate.”

That lifelong immersion turned Mandan boys’ tennis into something akin to a family-owned operation. With his father, Paul Christen, serving as head coach and his younger brother Matthew alongside him, the courts were fertile ground for big ambitions.

“The boys have always been around the team,” Paul said. “They'd be running around practice with a racquet, climbing on the ball carts, travel with us on the bus, etc. I tried to always let them direct any type of playing or games we might do, trying not to force any one thing on them.”

“Matthew and I would always be hanging around practices, and we knew that one day we would inherit part of the responsibility of the team,” Jared said. “It’s not always easy having family members on the team. Sometimes family and business get blended together, which can create issues, but I think we handle it all well and are able to be productive and successful. I am very proud of how we’ve created success as a family.”

That family network extends well beyond the fence line. While his father and brother share the daily grind, his uncle Tim offers veteran perspective, and his grandparents, Lynne and Tom, regularly make the trek from Williston to watch him compete. Rooting it all is his mother, whose steady support grounds his competitive drive.

Together, they have watched Jared evolve into one of North Dakota’s premier high school talents. He is the Braves’ all-time leader in matches won, surpassing assistant coach and Mandan standout  Erik Porter. But reaching the top of the podium required mastering the loneliest elements of the game. Unlike team sports where responsibility can be diffused, tennis provides nowhere to hide—a dynamic Jared embraces rather than fears.

“I love that tennis rewards the true and punishes those who say and do not do,” Jared noted. “There is no complaining about playing time. There is no false comparisons. If one player beats another, they were the better player that day. Your results are evidence of you as a player.”

Finding that edge took time. Jared broke into varsity early, but the physical and mental jump against older, more seasoned players tested his resolve. The turning point arrived during a challenging stretch at No. 2 singles as a freshman.

“I fell into a little slump. It was there where I started to realize that my struggles only continued to affect me if I believed that they would,” he said. “My first couple of years in high school were the earliest times I found myself mentally.”

That maturity transformed his playing style into an exercise in calm, methodical efficiency, shaped further by the tactical guidance of assistant coach Erik Porter.

“I think my unconscious, focused mental game is what defines me,” Jared said. “When I’m out on the court, I strive to be a tennis robot that doesn’t listen to or care about outside things. Play tennis and do nothing else. I’ve practiced my shots and learned what to do; in a match, it’s time to trust myself.”

From the coach's perspective, that robotic discipline translates into an unrelenting baseline game that gives opponents very little breathing room.

“He's always been an all-around player, not afraid to come to the net or sit back at the baseline when needed,” Paul said. “I'd say this year I've seen less tentative play from him when matches are close, though he hasn't had many of those moments yet. I think his consistency and relentless effort make him stand apart from other players.”

While tennis runs through his veins, Jared isn't a single-track competitor. He trades his racket for sneakers during basketball season and spikes for track and field in the spring. Carving his own path outside the family sport has sharpened his athletic instincts on the court.

“I haven’t been doing basketball and track for as long as I’ve played tennis, but I believe the lessons I learn doing other things immensely improves my tennis game,” Jared said. “One thing I enjoy about my other sports is that I’ve had to navigate it mostly on my own. Tennis is a Christen family sport, but my other sports aren’t common for us.”

Paul agrees that the cross-training has paid major dividends in tight match scenarios.

“Being part of multiple sports allows him to experience different scenarios, which in turn makes him able to handle any type of situation that may arise in a tennis match,” Paul noted.

Now entering his senior campaign, Jared’s rise mirrors the ascent of the Braves’ program. Once fighting just to remain relevant in the West Region, Mandan is now an established powerhouse, collecting conference hardware and contending for state titles.

Having captured a WDA singles championship and reached the state individual final a year ago, Jared has only one piece of unfinished business remaining. The sting of a state dual championship loss two seasons ago still lingers, driving the entire squad.

“Losing in the state championship two years ago hurt. Our roster is full of guys that have that heartbreak weighing on us,” he said. “The goal this year for our team is to win and not stop until the season is finished. My personal goals are the same as the goals I have for our team.”

Jared plans to play at the collegiate level, though his future campus remains undecided. For now, the focus is strictly on the present, taking in each baseline battle one point at a time.

“Every year, the end feels so far away. This year is different,” Jared said. “I’m aiming to enjoy each and every ‘last’ left to have.”