Name: Sona Shah

School, spring sport and position/event: Horizon High School, Tennis, Singles & Doubles, Varsity Captain

Awards or recognitions you’ve received while playing in high school: Principal’s Award (2019); All PVUSD District Girl Tennis Singles Team (2019); Varsity Letter (2019); Team Spirit Award (2017)

How long have you been playing your sport? I have been playing tennis for eight years, and I have been on the high school team for all four years.

Why did you choose to play your sport? I chose to play tennis, specifically in high school, because it provided me a team to rely on in what was otherwise an individual sport. Despite being just one or two teammates on the court, the entire team was always there to support one another.

What is your favorite personal sports memory from your playing career? Although our season was cut short and we did not get to have as many this year, my favorite memories came from our bus rides together to away matches. We always played music to hype us up as we entered opponent territory, and our signature song as we left the bus was “Who Let the Dogs Out” to signal the arrival of the Horizon Huskies.

Who has impacted you the most along your sports journey? Why? My tennis coach outside of school, Rick Bontrager, impacted me the most along my tennis journey. He always reminded me to carry myself with confidence and believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. He taught me to eliminate the word “can’t” from my vocabulary, and he always pushed me to keep improving. It was because of him that I developed a love for the sport.

What are you going to miss most about high school sports? I am going to miss my teammates the most. We developed a bond with each other so quickly, and we were always there to cheer each other on. I distinctly remember the many times I was the last match on the courts, and the whole team was sitting on the sidelines cheering for me.

What comes next for you after high school? In the fall I will be attending Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University under the National Merit Scholarship to study Computer Information Systems. Although I will not be continuing my athletic career, I am grateful for all the memories I made with my team both on and off the court.

What advice would you give to the underclassmen? Make the most of your time on this team. Challenge your spot on the ladder. Don’t be afraid to question a call. The lessons you learn and the strength you gain from experiences like these are what make it worth it. The four years will go by fast, but some of my best memories from high school are from tennis, so don’t take it for granted.

Editor's Note: The Independent is seeking to highlight senior spring athlete's whose seasons were cut short because of the COVID-19 pandemic. You can email News Services Editor Josh Martinez at jmartinez@newszap.com for a questionnaire to fill out for a future senior spotlight.