Carolina Stories: The Reese Brantmeier Project

November 4, 2025 | Women's Tennis

By: Daniel Forcella; Video by Emily Sobecki

All-America. Player of the Year. National Champion. North Carolina senior Reese Brantmeier has many accomplishments to be proud of during her tennis career in Chapel Hill and too many to list in entirety here.

For the Wisconsin native, maybe none are as rewarding as the completion of The Reese Brantmeier Project, the restoration of two community tennis courts in her hometown of Whitewater.

Growing up with a passion for tennis came with its challenges for Reese. Yes, there were courts directly outside the window of her elementary school classroom, but they were unplayable.

“I saw those courts, and I was like, ‘Wow, this would be so great to have tennis in my backyard,’” Brantmeier remembers.

I saw those courts, and I was like, 'Wow this would be so great to have tennis in my backyard.'

Reese Brantmeier

Reese was fortunate. Her family was able to drive her 45 minutes to an hour outside of town to practice every day. Not everyone had that luxury, and that's when her dream began to take shape.

“It was fourth grade when she finally said something. She told the principal that she was going to fix those (courts),” said her mother, Becky.

Reese always had big ideas. “She does not drop anything. It is a conviction. If she says it, it's happening.”

While the magnitude of the project may have been a bit much for a fourth-grader, Reese never forgot about it. Once she arrived at UNC as a freshman in 2022, she was ready to get to work.

She does not drop anything. It is a conviction. If she says it, it's happening.

Becky Brantmeier

The Brantmeier women led the way and teamed up with a strategic partner in the Patrick W. Ryan Memorial Tennis Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to promoting tennis in Southeastern Wisconsin.

“I'm very, very grateful to have had her support me throughout this whole process,” Reese said of her mom. “She was the first person to help me get it off the ground, so it was special to be able to share this with her.”

After nearly three years, the courts were completed this past summer.

In July of 2025, the grand opening event took place on the newly renovated courts with Reese, her family, her elementary school principal, her UNC coaches and many of the Whitewater community members in attendance.

“Knowing how much this would have meant to me when I was eight years old is so cool,” Reese said. “Knowing that my eight-year-old self would be so excited to go play on these courts and being able to see that opportunity be given to any eight-year-old who's in that elementary school now, (is so rewarding).”

Knowing how much this would have meant to me when I was eight years old is so cool.

Reese Brantmeier

At the event, several local elementary school students came out to play on the new courts.

And because she has had such a positive impact on everyone she is around, Reese's current coach, UNC head women's tennis coach Brian Kalbas made sure he was present for the ceremony to show his support.

"He flew up (for the event). It was just amazing to see that and get to give kids that opportunity is something that has been so special," Reese said.

“Going to the dedication and everybody coming out to the dedication, it was a moment that was truly special,” Kalbas said. “Going to see where she lives, it’s just amazing how much she has meant to so many people in that hometown.”

But this isn’t surprising to anyone who has gotten to know Reese. She’s unselfish. She cares about others.

“It's so rare in this day and age for someone who is that talented and that gifted (to) want to give back to so many other people,” Kalbas said. “It's usually that they want to reap all the benefits. They want to be showered with the praise, and she's not that way. She's unique.”

It's so rare in this day and age for someone who is that talented and that gifted (to) want to give back to so many other people.

Brian Kalbas

In a full-circle moment, her mother is now learning lessons from the amazing daughter she raised.

“You get a little complacent. I (raised) three kids. I'm home now with my dogs and my husband, and this experience has made me think, ‘You know what? I’m going to step out of my comfort zone and do something,'" Becky said. “She has motivated me and a lot of other people (with) her ability to keep all of this on her plate and continue to be successful with all of it.”

For Reese, it was always about how she could impact others. She wasn't concerned about how difficult it might be to make this dream a reality.

“If you have the right intentions, and you find the right people, you can really achieve anything,” she said.

And she did.