Jeff Solomon is a name that you have probably heard this year. A great student, a friend to many, and Student Council Vice President, Jeff is also captain of the varsity tennis team. He has demonstrated great talent during his years at Harriton, and plans on playing club tennis next year at the University of Pennsylvania. We sat down with Jeff to learn more about his life as a student athlete.

Q: How long have you been playing tennis? What drew you to it?

A: I’ve been playing since I was 5. I started because my best friend in kindergarten played, so I wanted to play too.

Q: Is there a particular athlete who inspires you? Why?

A: Stan Wawrinka, simply because he has one of the best one-handed backhands in the game, and I also have one. That and he’s huge, so it gives me hope that I can one day stop being a “twigmaster.”

Q: What is your favorite thing about playing tennis?

A: My favorite thing has to be when people come up to the net and then I can hit them with the ball.

Q: Managing an intense curriculum, the responsibilities of vice president, and a varsity sport must be difficult. Does it ever get overwhelming?

A: Not really. You just have to find something that relaxes you. For me, it’s television. I’ll watch 3-4 hours a night. You also have to utilize your free time at school. That’s a big thing for me.

Q: Is there any advice that you would like to give to younger athletes?

A: Just remember that at the end of the day, it’s a game. Very few of us will be playing in college or playing professionally, so there’s no need to get mad at yourself for messing up. Messing up is just another part of the game.