Multi-sport athletes change focus to single sport

Each day, immediately after a two-hour JV tennis practice last spring, sophomore Howard Huang made his way over to the swimming pool for a 6:30-8 De Anza Cupertino Aquatics (DACA) club practice. After a while, the difficulty of juggling school work, two sports and other extracurricular activities began to take a toll on him. 

And so after roughly six years of competing in both sports, Huang decided to quit playing competitive tennis while  continuing to swim for DACA.

Huang’s decision to participate in swimming over tennis was primarily a result of scheduling conflicts with speech and debate, among other activities, rather than a preference of one sport over another. Swim practice is slightly later in the day, which allows him to have a bit of time between school and the practice to relax and do his homework. 

In addition, he said, “Being able to focus more attention on swimming has really helped me improve my technique and speed more than before.” 

While he had stepped away from tennis for now, he doesn’t rule out taking it up junior or senior year.

Junior Jason Chin used to participate in a mind-bending number of sports. Before high school, he simultaneously competed in tennis, soccer, swimming and fencing. When he was in elementary school, he also played baseball and ran track. In high school, Chin narrowed his focus to just fencing.

Although Chin began fencing when he was 11, a relatively late start for most competitive athletes, he is now ranked 34th nationally in the U17 division. But reaching such a high level hasn’t come easily.

“The commitment levels are pretty crazy,” Chin said. “I have national tournaments every month and regionals every two or three weeks. I have practice six days a week and I go to the gym three times a week for strength and conditioning. Occasionally, I’ll also go for international tournaments.”

Having such a rigorous weekly fencing routine led Chin to drop soccer and swimming, both sports that he enjoyed but were unable to juggle along with school work. Although he misses competing in these sports, Chin felt the benefits of focusing his attention on just one sport.

“I’m starting to reach the levels of others who started much earlier,” Chin said. “My improvement rate has accelerated over the last two years, and my passion for the sport is still growing.”

Chin plans on continuing competitive fencing in college while continuing to enjoy tennis, swimming and soccer at a recreational level.

“I wish to continue fencing beyond college, but that depends on what career path I choose,” Chin said. “All of these decisions are mine, and my parents have been very supportive.”