Athlete of the week: Benjamin Wendell Holbrook, Valley View HS

Name: Benjamin Wendell Holbrook

School: Valley View High School

Sport: Tennis

Class: 2018

Age: 16

Claim to fame: Going 20-3 at 3rd singles and being the youngest player in school history to win their position at SWBL

Bet you didn’t know: When I was 7, I was enrolled in speech therapy, where I stayed for four years, mastering 13 letters that I could not pronounce before.

Toughest opponent/why? Definitely Miami Valley — they’re a private school and they make sure to have some of the best players in the area. The kid I played was born with a racket in his hand. It was not a pretty match.

Favorite book: The Lord of The Rings Series. It’s a classic.

Favorite movie: Memory of the camps

Favorite TV Show: The Office, (U.S.)

Favorite musical artist: Buddy Holly

Favorite song: Singing in the Rain

Favorite pro athlete/why? Stanislas Wawrinka. He’s very fun to watch play and he is always doing something that looks like fun on his days off the court.

Favorite smell: Vanilla

Favorite home-cooked meal: Chicken and dumplings

Game-day rituals: Eating a candy from my Darth Vader PEZ-dispenser

Person who would play me in a movie/why? Tom Hanks — that man can play anyone with total accuracy

Words I live by: Be happy

Biggest influence/why? My tennis coach, Ben Maas. He encourages me to be a better person and not to get frustrated.

I am most annoyed by: People who talk unnecessarily loud

I can’t live without: My cat Phoebe

Most embarrassing moment: Tripping into a pool while being filmed

In 10 years I’ll be: Starting a family, hopefully

Best thing about tennis: Watching your hard work pay off the more that you play

Worst thing about tennis: Double faulting points away, stupid mistakes and shanking a ball completely out but having no idea how it went so wrong

Vegetable I just won’t eat: Honestly, nothing comes to mind, I like vegetables. Eat right, kids.

Favorite junk food: Chex Mix

Favorite school subject: So far it’s been history, but I’m really excited to take government next year

Last DVD I bought: Up and Ratatouille, I like Pixar

Person whose brain you’d like to pick: Orville Wright

Love to trade places for a day with: Bill Gates

When I’m bored I like to: Read and watch military documentaries

Worst habit: Biting my nails

On my bedroom walls: My team tennis posters, two Star Wars posters, a picture of the Yalta Conference, and a Star Wars calendar

Talent I’d most like to have: I wish I could juggle.

About the Author