Athletic DNA

Athletic DNA is run by former University of Illinois tennis player Mike Calkins, New Zealand Davis Cup representative; former University of Idaho tennis player Dan Willman; and Karl Wiersholm, father of nationally ranked junior tennis player Henrik Wiersholm. The company began in Seattle when founders Calkins and Willman partnered to form an academy for junior tennis players. The academy was successful, producing four No. 1 players in five years. Wiersholm then approached Willman and Calkins about branding what they had done with their junior tennis players. Weirsholm noticed that in the general population of tennis players their work ethic and character traits were changing while at his academy positive work ethics and character traits seemed to be essentially part of their DNA. This is what inspired the name Athletic DNA. With a noticeable lack of apparel targeted towards youth, ADNA began designing and manufacturing apparel for juniors and sponsoring the top young players in the sport.

ADNA manufactures clothing for juniors and adults, and introduced a new line of tennis apparel for women in January, 2012.

ADNA Select Athletes

Since most people involved in the company have an extensive tennis background, either through coaching or playing, ADNA heavily invests in the development of their sponsored players. Junior tennis players in the top 500 of rankings qualify for sponsorship and clothing discounts through the company’s Select Program, which is open to the public for application. The ADNA Select Program currently includes over 200 junior tennis players.