NAME: Nicolas Altonian
AGE: 18
FAMILY: Mom, Alisha Hill; stepdad, Chuck McKenney; stepbrothers, Will and Nate McKenney; Dad, Scott Altonian; stepmom, Natalia Altonian; sisters, Aleksandra and Valentina Altonia; stepsister, Youlka Natlitkina
SCHOOL YEAR: Just graduated
SPORTS YOU PLAY: Tennis, swimming
FAVORITE SPORT, AND WHY: My favorite sport to play is tennis. It used to be basketball before high school, but after I joined the tennis team in my freshman year, tennis became my favorite. I love the ups and downs of the sport like perfect drop shots, powerful overheads and long points that end in my favor. Everything about the sport makes me smile when I’m playing. If I could go back to my freshman year, I would choose to play tennis every time.
MOST MEMORABLE MATCH, AND WHY? Last year, as a captain of the JV team, and also as one of its top players, I was called up to the varsity to play an away match at Gloucester. Sophomore Caleb Sidman and I got to play against two varsity Gloucester players, and we quickly learned that we were outmatched. We trailed early, 4-1, and knew that if we didn’t lock-in we would lose in embarrassing fashion. It was my turn to serve. My first serve was a good one that led to one bad return, and Caleb was right there with an overhead shot to earn our first point. We knew at that time that it was possible to get the comeback win. Point after point, game after game, we clawed our way back. We had them on their heels. As our varsity teammates were cheering us on, I closed it out with a good down the line shot that the Gloucester player couldn’t reach, and we were able to come away with the memorable 6-4 victory. We had won five straight games in that comeback effort.
WHAT COLLEGE WILL YOU BE ATTENDING? I’m going to UMass Amherst.
COLLEGE MAJOR: Double major in history and adolescent education
ARE YOU GOING TO PLAY SPORTS IN COLLEGE? I want to continue to play tennis in college at the club level.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER COLLEGE? I want to be a high school history teacher, but eventually I want to pursue my PhD in order to become a college professor.
