Isaac Villa Marin, a sophomore participating in his second year of Varsity Boys Tennis at FC, is no ordinary athlete. Through dedication and practice, Isaac has risen to the top of his sport.
At the age of four, Isaac’s parents noticed his ability to hit a regular sized tennis ball over the net, while his peers could only hit balls designated for kids. Isaac gives much credit to his parents, implying that they fostered his love for the sport.
“My father, being a former national and international professional racquetball player, was a huge influence for me, leading me to stick to a racket-based sport,” Isaac Villa Marin (10) said.
By the age of 11, Isaac decided he wanted to “shoot for something bigger.” He chose to focus on tennis more than any other sport, aiming to craft his skill.
“What got me interested in tennis is the freedom I feel everytime I step onto that court. At the same time, I also recognize the God given talent I had for it,” Villa Marin said.
Isaac has three motivators that encourage him to continue practicing tennis.
“The first reason I play the sport is to glorify my Lord with the talent he has gifted me, polishing as much as I can. Second is to win. The feeling of dismantling the opponent’s game gives me a rush of adrenaline, always leaving me wanting more. Third, I enjoy putting on a show for all of the people watching. I dream of being a source of entertainment for many, aiming to leave them wanting to see what I come up with next,” Villa Marin said.
In addition to this, Villa Marin seemingly has one driving motive that fuels his passion for tennis.
“At the end of the day what keeps me most engaged in this sport is the sense of duty I have with the Lord to polish this gift of tennis he has given me to levels no one has before,” Villa Marin said.
Villa Marin not only practices tennis with the FC Boys Tennis team, but also dedicates his own time to mastering the sport.
“I always try to stay humble, that’s what I’ve been taught from my parents. I completely agree with the saying, “It is 1% talent and 99% hard work and training.” I think what differentiates me from the rest, and the thing that I would want to be known for, is my technique. It has been an absolute rollercoaster, with lots of even blood, sweat, and tears, but most of all, time dedicated. To condense it as much as possible, a regular training day would be two and a half hours of on court hitting, rallying, and point playing, and a concluding hour of tennis specific weight lifting. I also make sure to stretch for at least 20 minutes,” Villa Marin said.
Through blood sweat and tears, Villa Marin continues to practice tennis daily. Villa Marin is a valued member of the FC Boys Tennis team, encouraging his teammates through pep talks before games and cheering through victories and losses.
“Isaac always manages to show up to every single game, and as the number one on the team, his commitment shines. He always gives his 100% for every point, and his effort is clearly displayed in his record. Isaac’s passion is an inspiration for me and my teammates to practice and improve, in hopes of getting to his skill level,” Jayden Nguyen (10), Isaac’s teammate and doubles partner in the 23-23 school year, said.
Seth Richardson, the head coach for FC Boys tennis, began coaching at FC during the 2015-2016 school year. Villa Marin has been mentored by Coach Richardson for two years, although he also works on his game with his father at a private club. Coach Richardson has noticed Villa Marin’s dedication to tennis both on and off the court.
“Isaac is a very cerebral player. Compared to last year, I have noticed Isaac’s in-game adjustments have become a goal of his in each and every match. Through the high-level reps he gets at his home club, Isaac is developing the mental side of his game, which is complimenting his physical attributes during each match. After each match, Isaac is able to self-evaluate and we often chat about what went well and what he felt were his weaknesses. From my background both playing tennis at a high level and watching my brother’s high level tournaments during our childhood years, I am well aware of how much one’s mentality can affect the outcome of a match. I believe that Isaac is becoming more aware of this each and every match,” Coach Richardson said.
Villa Marin’s skills also contribute to what differentiates him from other players at FC.
“Tennis is all about consistency: keeping the ball in the court from a player’s forehand and backhand, at the net, and when a player is serving. Isaac possesses a high level of consistency in all of his strokes. Being able to “hit one more shot,” is the quintessential characteristic of a great tennis player. Isaac is well on his way to becoming great; however, I believe that he understands how much work and time goes into being great. This is probably the most admirable quality that he possesses. Having a work ethic and understanding how many reps are needed to reach elite status is one of his defining, best characteristics,” Coach Richardson said.
