As she makes her way to the base line, Avery Yang (11) presents herself with a certain aura that is unmatched. This is her 3rd year on the Yorba Linda High School women’s varsity tennis team, and each year she continues to outperform herself.
Not only is Avery an outstanding tennis player, but she is also an outstanding student. She is involved with the Asian Pacific Islander Student Union (APISU) as their co-president, as well as many other clubs. Yet what is her trick? How does Avery manage to have time for sports, school, friends, and still have time to sleep?
“Well it definitely takes a large amount of scheduling and organization,” explains Avery Yang (11) in an interview. This is just a few of the many tips Avery has for underclassmen who are looking to be a successful student athlete in their high school years. Suhani Desai (12) adds “I have known Avery since she was a freshman and she has got it down. She knows exactly what she needs to do and I admire her for her hard work and drive for success.” Another tip that Avery has is, “you should always prioritize certain subjects or activities over others. The more important tasks should always be done first, so that you can complete it with full concentration.”
When it comes to tennis, Avery is a “beast”. As a varsity starter since freshman year, Avery has gained experience and knows how to deal with the mental games that come with playing a highly competitive and stressful sport. “My personal advice is to stay calm; focus on your game, not theirs” (Yang 11). Like other sports, tennis is just as much of a mental game as physical, and it is important to stay calm and collected while playing. Although there might be a lot of pressure surrounding you, it is important to remember that at the end of the day, it is just a game.
Next year Avery Yang will be Yorba Linda High School’s women’s varsity tennis team co-captain. Her leadership, discipline, and relentless drive will make her not only a force on the court, but a true role model for her teammates. Needless to say, the future of Yorba Linda High School tennis is in great hands.
