Riya Havanur is a senior at Northview High School and plays on the varsity tennis team.
Coming back from two great seasons through my sophomore and junior year as state champions, I think that our goal as a team for this school year is another state win. Our team is so efficient in getting the results that we want through active communication and strategized collaboration. With these factors, I hope to see my performance as an individual team member improve, contributing to the betterment of the entire team.
My family and I love stopping by cafes for celebrations and for regular sit-down and talk times. We enjoy cold drinks - whether that be a refresher from Starbucks, or a cup of bubble tea.
My advice for a younger student playing tennis is to find a balance. I think that it’s really important to stick to something once you start it. Finding a way to balance your sport with other activities throughout your student life will make sure that you have time to excel as a student in your academics, but it will also give you the time to get out and hit some balls when you feel like you need a break.
Brady Carnesale, Senior, JCHS, Baseball
As a senior, I will be focused on making the most of my last year in high school and working out plans for college. I have thoroughly enjoyed high school, participating in both the baseball and theater programs, and am excited to have a strong finish next year. A personal goal as well as a goal for the varsity team will be to make it to the playoffs; and, just like my teammates, I’ll be working hard to make that a reality. Our go-to restaurant after games has been Taco Mac ever since I was in little league. As for advice, as one of my coaches says, you don’t rise to the occasion, you fall to the level of your preparation. Also, I think it’s incredibly important to communicate with your teammates and boost morale.
Girish Senthilkumar is a junior, runs cross country and track and is on the swim team.
This coming year will mark my second full year of running after injuries. This season I hope to break 17 minutes in the 5k and hopefully help my team qualify for state. In track, being more of an individual sport, I hope to teach the underclassmen the proper mechanics of running so they can prosper as a runner. I also hope to break 2 minutes in the 800m and run a 4:30 mile. After every track race, we love to go to Waffle House as a team. It's one of the only restaurants open at such late times. I tell younger athletes to know that you have to push your limits sometimes. Without going that extra mile, it’s going to be nearly impossible to achieve greatness. Moreover, losses do not define your abilities. Remember… “Winners are just losers that never gave up.”