Meet our Community Assistant: Preston Codrington

Feature photo: Preston Codrington with a couple of youngsters at the 2025 Alberta Open Community Day Try Tennis event.

We’re thrilled to welcome Preston Codrington to the Tennis Alberta team as our part-time Community Assistant.

Preston has a strong tennis background, having played competitive junior tennis out of Edmonton. He served as Head Tennis Professional at Broadmoor Tennis Club and as Tennis Alberta’s Head Roadshow Coach. He coached this summer at the Alberta Summer Games and has been a big asset to our community programs, including traveling to support rural communities.

Equally impressive in the world of academia, Preston is studying Biology at Western University in Ontario and has worked as a Biochemistry Laboratory Assistant within the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, contributing to valuable biomedical research.

We caught up with Preston for a quick Q&A to help our tennis community get to know the newest member of the Tennis Alberta team.

Q: You’ve been involved with Tennis Alberta in several capacities already, and now you’re stepping back in as Community Assistant. Can you tell us about your experience with Tennis Alberta so far, and what you’re looking forward to next?

Preston: Tennis Alberta has been a wonderful experience. I’ve loved every second of it.

Up to now, my background has been mostly coaching. In 2025, I jumped in wherever help was needed, and last season I served as Head Roadshow Coach, traveling to different clubs for anniversary celebrations and community events. It was fantastic to see so many members out enjoying the sport.

Other than my research job, I’ve only ever really done on-court coaching. Stepping into an administrative role as Community Assistant is a really interesting, different experience that I’m excited to take on.

Q: You had an impressive junior career, including winning the Canadian National Sportsmanship Award at U14 Nationals. Looking back now, what’s a key takeaway you gained that you might not have fully realized in the moment?

Preston: Right after I won the sportsmanship award, I messaged a friend who had competed at Nationals previously. When I told him, he responded, “That’s the most important award.”

At first, I didn’t understand that—I was far too consumed with where I finished in the draw. Looking back now, I completely get it. Tennis is a mentally grueling sport, and it’s very easy to argue with opponents or get down on yourself.

If you can overcome that barrier, stay mentally tough, and remain a good sport, that is far more rewarding than where you finish in a tournament. Years later, my placing in that event didn’t matter, but the sportsmanship award did.

Q: Who is a coach, teammate, or athlete that inspired you along the way—whether from racquet sports or beyond?

Preston: That’s a difficult question to answer because so many coaches shaped my junior career. Mentors like Carson Bell, Josh Sundwall, and Robert Senic who believed in me unconditionally and worked so hard on my behalf.

The coach who initially inspired it all was Marvin Hinds, who now coaches at the Derrick Club. When I was three or four, my older sister was taking lessons at the Glenora Club, and I would tag along with my mom to watch from the sidelines. One day, Marvin turned to my mom and said, “Why don’t you let Preston come play? He can take this little racquet and hit a balloon around.”

I fell in love with the game right then and there, and my parents signed me up immediately. Marvin believing in me, welcoming me onto the court, and recognizing how much I cared about tennis truly set the course for where I am today.

Q: You study Biology at Western and have experience in biomedical research. What is a concept or lesson from your studies that could help our juniors, community, or staff improve their daily routine or their tennis game?

Preston: Biology covers a broad spectrum, but right now I’m intensively studying theories of evolution, adaptation, and natural selection.

That connects directly back to tennis. In any competitive match, you have to adapt rapidly and adjust your tactics to counter your opponent. It’s a lot like natural selection on the court: if you aren’t able to adapt under pressure and in stressful moments, you aren’t going to find success in the match.

Q: Do you have a pump-up song or routine before you head into a competitive match?

Preston: I actually avoid music entirely before a match—I’m superstitious about it because it distracts me. I know a lot of players use music to lock in and get hyper-focused, but for me, it has the exact opposite effect.

Instead, my pre-match routine centers on the fundamentals. I tend to get pretty nervous before competing, so I rely on a thorough physical warm-up, resistance band work, and deep breathing exercises. Focusing on the physical basics and conscious breathing is what really helps relieve that tension and ground me before taking the court.

Q: What is your favourite type of cuisine, and what is your go-to pre-game meal?

Preston: When it comes to dining out, sushi is hands-down my favourite, so Japanese cuisine definitely tops the list.

For pre-match fuel, my routine hasn’t changed since junior tennis: a bagel with peanut butter and a banana. I started that habit back in U10 tournaments, and even last year competing in varsity tennis, it was my go-to breakfast. Pre-match nerves can make it tough to have a big appetite in the morning, but a peanut butter and banana bagel is easy to eat and guarantees I get the energy and potassium I need before stepping on the court.

A big thank you to Preston for chatting with us! We’re thrilled to have him supporting our team and our tennis community this season, and we wish him all the best with his studies this year.