Zach Lipel, a sophomore at North Hollywood High School, is going to try out for the captain position in the tennis team this year in 2012. He is currently in a varsity team, a team that’s comprised of ten talented student tennis athletes. Even though he is a sophomore, Zach is one of the most talented players in North Hollywood high who started playing tennis when he was five.
Last season in 2011, Zach Lipel won all twelve matches for singles against many schools including Grant High School, El Camino High School, and Northridge Academy.
North Hollywood High School tennis team is traditionally known for granting a captain position only for juniors and seniors, and Zach is not the only one who is trying out. There are many other junior athletes competing to be a team captain. “I want to try out for the tennis captain, but I doubt if I can get in. There are many juniors who are trying out,” says Zach, “but I want to be as good as Novak Djokovic. That’s the reason why I practice everyday.” Steven Zheng, a friend of Zach and also a member of the school tennis team, talks about his friend’s athletic talent. “Zach is a very consistent player. He has a really consistent backhand and serves. His footwork is the fastest in our tennis team.”
However, Zach has another talent. He is taking AP Physics C class, a class known for its difficult tests. In spite of his daily tennis practices, Zach still maintains a good grade. Many people tell him to become a professional tennis, but others encourage him to be an engineer. Zach, however, is still trying to figure out what he wants to do. He says, “I am still thinking about what I want to do. Right now I want to do a major on physics and a minor on tennis.”
Zach is one of many student athletes who have two major activities at school: academics and sports.
