Tam Le, a senior valedictorian (4.42 GPA) has played doubles his whole tennis career; while Max Nguyen a freshman has played mostly singles in the past teamed up for this year’s tennis doubles matches. 

The unlikely pair instantly clicked, becoming largely successful in Costa Mesa’s pre-league match-ups. Their play styles complimented each other since Le is an aggressive net player and poacher, while Nguyen’s ground strokes controlled the pace from the baseline.


Last Friday around 9 AM Orange Coast League Doubles Champions, Tam Le and Max Nguyen, played their last official high school tennis match together. The duo played their last match at the state CIF at Corona Del Mar High School against Santiago High School’s doubles team. After winning the first set 6-3, then losing 3-6, they lost in the tiebreaker set 7-10. Regardless, returning from their match, Tam and Max had bright smiles on their faces as they relished over a successful season. The team had been extremely successful in league, holding a record of 23-1, losing once the season to Eric Cerros and Matt Thomas from Estancia High School.  

Both of these players are far from new to the game and have had some previous playing experience.  Tam has played for nine years (on and off) including playing in the league since freshman year. Max on the other hand has played for five years (on and off) and has a decent amount of tournament experience. Max has also been coached privately before and is encouraged to play by his dad. At times Max feels that he could have been a lot better if he didn’t stop playing. When asked about this he says he regrets it a lot. After playing with Tam and being so successful at playing doubles, Max doubts that he can return to playing singles. This would give him a better chance in succeeding; since the single’s top positions have consistently been dominated by Laguna Beach High’s players.  

The future looks bright for these two. After graduating this year, Tam plans to go to UCI and is considering majoring in engineering and architecture. Max, on the other hand, has plenty of time to improve on an already strong foundation of his game.  Currently a freshman, Max has another four years to improve on his weaknesses and polish his strengths.  

While most of us relaxed during spring break, our very own Natalie Tetreault, freshman, along with two 7th graders from CMMS, were competing in the Junior Olympics for karate in Las Vegas. 

Although Tetreault did not bring home any medals for Kata (an almost dance-like routine of patterned movements) and Sparring, you have to wonder how a 15 year old had made it to the Junior Olympics as a red belt. As with any sport, it all sums up to one thing: passion. 

"My younger brother started it for me. I just went with my mom to pick him up one day, and I thought 'This looks cool,' " Tetreault says. Already in her fifth year, Tetreault talks about how karate had changed her life in terms of fitness, time management, and discipline. With two-and-a-half hour workouts, three times a week, as well as time-consuming  tournaments, it's no wonder that Tetreault's physical fitness and time management skills were largely honed by karate. Of course, the discipline that karate demands, such as doing 80 push ups for groaning about a drill, is something that will impact anybody's character.

Yet Tetreault's love for karate goes past fitness and character development to something deeper; something that hardly has room for words. When asked why she does karate, Tetreault answered with a simple "I don't know…it's just something I have to do (but in the good way); it's my 'thing'. "

As passionate as Tetreault is about karate, her dedication holds complex dynamics that many people don't realize. With the ability to kill someone with her bare hands, it's no surprise that Tetreault feels the great responsibility, and even fear of what she can do. 

In response questioning of actually being able to use her skills, Tetreault admitted to the fact that she had thought about how morally acceptable it is to purposely hurt someone, potentially very badly, even in self-defense. "I would only use it in a life-or-death situation." 

There are not very many passions out there that one can love and fear, as Natalie Tetreault does with karate. To summarize her love for karate, she simply says "It's a part of who I am."