A swarm of parents and teammates press against the fence, nervously tracking every shot of the last match. Losing with only one game left before the end of the first set, frosh Jeffrey Zhang (12) suddenly secures a point on his first away game. Then, another. Shot by shot, his composure returns and his opponent’s frustration mounts. Jeffrey then claims thirteen consecutive games, winning both sets and sealing the victory for a match vividly recounted by his teammates and coach even three years later.

“As the match progressed, I was a lot more patient with myself,” Jeffrey said. “Especially since it was our first away game, I remember I was stressed out because Sacred Heart always their JV team to watch. There was a crowd of people lined up, and their parents were all cheering on. So, I was pretty nervous this time, but I put a towel in the back to waste time. That’s what I started doing, and my opponent got mad pretty quick.”

Jeffrey started playing tennis when he was five and competes for the varsity boys tennis team, drawing inspiration from his father who played ping pong in college but chose tennis, as it was more popular in the U.S. and was a larger-scale version. He picked up this sport for its individual nature, providing him with a sense of control as he takes full responsibility for his own performance.

“Tennis is mostly independent,” Jeffrey said. “Sometimes you just can’t blame anyone. You can only blame yourself. But at the same time, you’re the one who achieves stuff, even if it’s bad or good.”

Over the course of his journey, he learned to manage his emotions by disregarding the results, as he accepted his fate of the match and did not rush any points. This method of approaching the game with a more laid-back attitude allowed him to stay calm and collected. Tennis has shaped Jeffrey’s mentality and influenced who he is today both on the court and in the classroom.

“I got a lot more patient over time,” Jeffrey said. “That also translates to academics. If I run into a problem like a math problem, I’ll just look for information or answers on the Internet instead of giving up so quickly.”

With more composure, Jeffrey began to push himself. As Jeffrey and his father share philosophies on life about challenging himself, he learned to stay motivated, remembering the motto “Who else can do it but me.” This mindset led him to take on tough courses like Information Theory to step out of his comfort zone.

To further challenge himself, he began coaching younger players in lower and middle school since the summer of his frosh year under head coach John Fruttero to improve their games. Over time, he found interest in connecting with them. Jeffrey now trains the players three times a week for five hours total, working with students of different levels. He also guides them through warm-ups and rallies, encouraging a light-hearted approach to tennis while refining their skills.

“I hope to leave an impact through coaching or even my personality to whoever I meet,” Jeffrey said. “Take things easy. Not everything has to be so serious. I want to be remembered for my light-hearted approach to everything. It’s not the best thing in the world, but sometimes you have to chill out.”

Close friend senior Aarush Vailaya, who met Jeffrey during middle school tennis tryouts and later played doubles together, viewed him from an initially serious player to a friendly and supportive teammate who enjoyed spending time and chatting on game days. Through bonding in class and on the court in high school, Aarush appreciates Jeffrey’s balance between being laid-back and focused.

“He would be like, ‘Here’s some things we could do better,’” Aarush said. “He was willing to pick up the pace in order to make sure we’d win, and he was always willing to help me out — teach me what to do. I never felt like I shouldn’t be here. I always felt like this was a really fun experience.”

Close friend senior Bowen Xia also met Jeffrey in middle school, where Jeffrey’s amusing jokes left a lasting impression of his humor. Outside of school, the two work out at the gym together, and Bowen recognizes Jeffrey’s motivation to push his limits.

“He taught me to challenge myself,” Bowen said. “I would say he takes the hardest classes out of all of our friends, and that’s just inspired me to never settle for less and always do the most I can.”

Beyond course load, Jeffrey also took more initiative in academic interactions. English teacher Christopher Hurshman, who taught him in sophomore year, noticed Jeffrey lingering after class with questions as the year progressed, which strengthened their bond. In the following years, Jeffrey returned periodically, with conversations gradually shifting from class material to his goals and balancing activities. Over time, Hurshman saw Jeffrey grow from a reserved student to someone proactive.

“I’ve come to understand him as a lot more self-assured and confident than he seemed at first,” Hurshman said. “He’s grown more comfortable with his own goals and priorities over time.”

Hurshman also admires Jeffrey’s steadiness and consistency in his approach to assignments and tasks in his class. He respects Jeffrey’s independence in his priorities to learn and resistance to the temptation to follow his peers, recognizing it as a strength in the long run. 

“He’s the kind of person that you can count on to be reliable and do what he’s supposed to do,” Hurshman said. “He’s very invested in his own learning. He’s the person that carries himself with a sense of purpose, he is not easily swayed by things.”