Bartlesville High School sophomore Jack Auschwitz has plenty to say about when he fell in love with tennis and why he still loves it to this day.

“I started playing tennis in eighth grade and was hooked from the moment I started playing,” he said. “I fell in love with the game, how it was played, the speed, the competitiveness, the players, and the pressure of the game to name a few things. This sport challenges and improves my mental toughness and athletic ability each and every match. Tennis is a sport I hope to be able to play for the rest of my life.”

The tennis season is wrapping up, and Auschwitz said there have been some challenges, but overall, the team has kept an optimistic attitude. 

“The season has been going pretty well,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of adjustments from losing seniors and not having much of a season last year due to covid. But overall, we have improved a lot as a team this year.” 

Auschwitz also runs cross country, but he said there was one thing more important to him than fast times on a 5k or running up the score in a doubles match, and that’s having character. 

“Character to me is how you are at your very core,” he said. “I show character on the court by making fair calls and show sportsmanship even in tough matches. I show character off the court by always being kind and respectful to anyone I interact with. I want to be remembered for my character just as well as my ability on the court.”

In his free time, Auschwitz said he enjoys anything outdoors, such as playing sports and fishing. He said he also enjoys hanging out with his friends and family.