By Natalie Tran
Freshmen Colin Nguyen and Sophie Vu have been playing tennis for most of their lives, and their talents have definitely been recognized. Making their way up to the stars, Nguyen and Vu snagged spots on Fountain Valley High School’s (FVHS) varsity tennis team this year.
This may not come as a huge surprise due to the players’ high skill and masterful expertise in the sport. Nguyen had been competing in tournaments since he was in elementary school while Vu played for Fountain Valley’s Junior Tennis Team (JTT). With extraordinary accomplishments like these, it’s no wonder Nguyen and Sophie proved themselves valuable assets to the team.
“I’ve been playing [tennis] since I was four, so I’ve played for a while,” Vu said. “But when I started getting serious about it, it was when I was in sixth grade and started competing … I was playing tournaments every other weekend.”
On the other hand, Nguyen had developed an affinity for the sport as it runs in the family in a traditional sense.
“I chose tennis because my dad and grandfather played it,” Nguyen said. “And when they came to America, I just grew up around the sport.”
Earning a varsity spot was no small feat for the two as it does come with its social challenges. Varsity teams are deemed coveted and filled with veteran upperclassmen. Being a freshman on varsity equates to a straight dive into the deep end. Nevertheless, Nguyen and Vu built strong connections with their teammates and even created friendships, making their experiences a lot less intimidating.
“Being a freshman on the varsity tennis team is pretty nerve-wracking, but it is also quite fun,” Vu said. “I created close relationships with the team; they’re all like family to me. I’ve just enjoyed being on the team as long as I’ve known them.”
Vu’s determination and grit in the sport do not go unnoticed by her teammates. Vu immediately connected with the team and overcame challenges presented to her with ease.
“As a tennis player, Sophie is like a gentle bear. She walks onto the court and whips out shots you don’t think anyone else would be able to hit, but she’s also so sweet at the same time,” senior captain Kaylee Tran said. “And I know it can be intimidating coming into a team that has known each other for the past few years, but Sophie fits in really well as if she’s known us all four years.”
The same things can be said by her teammate sophomore Iris Chau, who was also on the varsity team during her freshman year.
“Sophie is everything I would want in a teammate,” Chau said. “She has such a positive and energetic attitude. She always shows up to practice excited to hit with us.”
Nguyen also shares the same experiences as Sophie coming into the varsity team.
“Being a freshman on the team is pretty cool but I was nervous at first. Everyone is a lot bigger than me and I’m the youngest one out here,” Nguyen said. “But I’m friends with everyone on the team so that’s nice.”
As any other tennis player would, Nguyen also shares the joy of competing in tournaments with his teammates.
“The best part of competing at school [is] being able to play with my teammates and enjoy the sport with them,” Nguyen said.
Nguyen gets along very well with his teammates and is a proficient tennis player, senior co-captain Benjamin Nguyen can account for that.
“As a tennis player, Colin is pretty solid. He has a lot of promise and potential for later on in the season,” Benjamin Nguyen said. “And as a teammate, he’s really nice. He always puts others ahead of him and he’s like a little brother to me.”
Tennis head coach Harshul Patel also expressed his delight in having Nguyen and Vu on his team this year and said they’re “amazing” and “an absolute great addition to our team.”
“Sophie was the missing piece that we needed and with her on our team, we have become very well-balanced,” Patel said. “Colin, on the other hand, came in and saved the day since we were originally missing one player. We’re lucky to have both of them on the team.”
