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Inspiration of the Tennis team
Written by Lisa Tran
Dr. Johnny Nguyen practices daily with the tennis class on both A-days and B-days hoping to improve the team with their game skills. He graduated from North Garland in 2002, keeping a close relationship with tennis players and friends John Nallon and Corey Noel, who also continue to play with the tennis team.
“John Nallon, former player for North Garland and 2002’s State Champion, and I are committed to improving the team however we can,” Dr. Nguyen said. “It’s our way of giving back to the team that gave us so much. Back when we were playing, we were the powerhouses of Garland ISD, but I heard Naaman was taking over, so we wanted to come back to improve the team.”
In the past, Dr. Nguyen also remembers many good experiences at North, which helped him expand as a tennis player himself. Both Mr. Noel and Dr. Nguyen have also competed at the State competition playing doubles.
“Playing from the out-of-town tournaments to the on-court antics of our teammates, we always managed to enjoy ourselves and not take tennis too seriously,” Dr. Nguyen said. “I took lessons at a private club prior to freshman year, but North’s coach, coach Jack Arnold, gave great insight and helped concrete my game allowing Corey and I to win numerous tournaments at the highest level. [It was] definitely an enjoyable experience to see top-notch tennis players.”
However, Mr. Noel is busy finishing his Master’s degree at UTD, while managing Fair Oaks Tennis Center, and Mr. Nallon is doing the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) world tour, while trying to get his Professional Golf Association Tour card. Even though they are both busy, they have committed to coming out more often to play. At the moment, Dr. Nguyen is taking a break between clerkship at UT Southwestern, where he is attending medical school to become a general surgeon and plans to graduate Summa Cum Laude (With Highest Honors) this year.
“Fortunately, for me, it’s my own down time at school now for a few weeks prior to graduation, so there’s not much to do except vacation,” Dr. Nguyen said. “I’m enjoying these few weeks off. It’s allowing me to improve my tennis game and get some good exercise in.”
According to Dr. Nguyen, his goal is to improve morale, help develop the players’ competitiveness, and at the same time, buy uniforms they can be proud of. Because the team thought their design was plain and too original, Dr. Nguyen decided to buy new tennis shirts for everyone. The bright pink tennis shirts read “Both of us are tennis players, one of us is the champion… and the other one is just… you.”
“The players weren’t happy with their uniforms,” Dr. Nguyen said. “They wanted a design that stood out, and I could afford it.”
Spending so much time practicing with the tennis team, Dr. Nguyen’s favorite part about coming back is seeing the tennis players’ game improve through hard work and determination. He also encourages the team to always try their best; Dr. Nguyen is also willing to give advice to anyone who needs it.
“He’s a good role model for the team, and he also has good coaching tips for everybody,” coach Dan Michelson said. “I think it’s great that he comes around.”
Even though neither Coach John Buhl nor Coach Michelson was the tennis coach at the time that Dr. Nguyen attended North Garland, he believes that it is necessary to keep an ongoing relationship with the team.
“I think it’s great Johnny is here because he has really done a lot for the team,” Coach Buhl said. “It’s a good inspiration because he has become a medical doctor and still enjoys his tennis. He’s done so much for the team through his presence like playing with some of the players, getting us cool T-shirts and helping us reconnect with our 2002 State Champion John Nallon.”
Dr. Nguyen also agrees that tennis has become a sport that continues to grow, as well as the many players on and off the courts.
“Tennis was a lot smaller, and now there are 70 people,” Dr. Nguyen said. “I’m glad Coach Buhl allowed everyone to play, because there [are] a lot of talent on the courts.”
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May 14th, 2010 at 8:27 pm
Great story, Lisa! Keep up the great work. See you on the courts!