In the competitive world of high school sports, Senior Kimberly Ng stands out not only for her impressive skills on the tennis court, but for her remarkable journey that took her from a novice player to captain of UC High’s Varsity Girls Tennis Team.
Ng’s story began in an admittedly unexpected place. She said, “I got involved because I really wanted to play a sport. I didn’t play any sports growing up, so I saw high school sports as a way to start getting into them.”
Head Coach Justin Nguyen shined a spotlight on Ng’s growth. Nguyen said, “Ng started tennis during high school. It has a high learning curve, and most players on the varsity squad start learning tennis much earlier. Kimberly worked very hard to improve her skills and make a place for herself on the varsity squad.”
Senior Julia Dreiling said, “She is a strong leader who is not afraid to use her voice and put people in their place. She is effective due to her ability to be assertive and her lack of fear in confrontation.”
Nguyen said, “Ng is what I call a ‘flex’ player. She is capable of playing both singles and doubles (by herself or with a teammate), so she will switch between as needed to bring a win to the team.”
Her growth has not come without its challenges though. Balancing sports with academics has been a significant hurdle, particularly during her sophomore and junior years when she juggled a heavy load of AP classes. She said, “It taught me a lot about time management and multitasking.”
“In between games and sets, I would be doing my homework and trying my best to get through various readings,” said Ng. She noted that her friendship with her teammates during these intense periods offered much-needed support, making the heavy schedule more bearable.
Nguyen said, “Kimberly has always been someone who was proactive. One of the times I saw this was during her junior year. I noticed that she took a strong leadership position during the Senior Night process. She also has a lot of leadership roles with different clubs at school, and so I know that she is responsible.”
Dreiling also added how well Ng balances schoolwork with being a leader. She said, “She works super hard on and off the court to not only become the best tennis player, but the best student she can be.”
Alongside her two co-captains, Ng leads warm-ups and practices, focusing on teamwork. She said, “My role has evolved into that of the ‘team mom,’ bringing snacks to every game and ensuring everyone is happy.” Her efforts to make practices enjoyable are evident in the laughter and camaraderie that characterizes their sessions.
Ng said, “If you ever come to our practice, you’ll just hear all of us giggling and laughing.” This positive energy is a driving force behind the team’s motivation and improvement.
Dreiling said, “We frequently play together before practices and matches to work on basic skills and help one another out.”
Looking ahead, Ng said, “I want to end this last season out well and just enjoy the time I have left.” Her aspirations for the team are equally ambitious, aiming to reach the Division finals and perhaps even secure a victory for her team.
Despite her impressive record, Ng has no plans to pursue college tennis professionally. However, her passion for the sport remains strong. “I have fallen in love with the sport and have no intentions of quitting it for good,” said Ng. She has plans to continue playing tennis recreationally in college in order to keep her love of the sport alive.
Nguyen discussed what he expects from Ng and the Tennis Team for her last season. He said, “This year, my emphasis is having fun. I think a lot of the girls take the sport very seriously, but I think it’s also important to have fun in general. Tennis is a fun sport, and I want the girls to remember that even after high school.”