On the record with: Bardstown junior John Stone
Bearno’s Student-Athlete of the Week
Photo by Peter W. Zubaty
Bardstown junior John Stone also plays for the Tiger soccer team.
By Peter W. Zubaty
Bardstown junior tennis player John Stone is this week’s nominee for Bearno’s Student-Athlete of the Week.
Stone carries a 3.6 GPA, is junior class secretary at Bardstown High, and is a member of the National Honor Society and the school’s art and ping-pong club. He also plays soccer in the fall and plays golf leisurely, and hopes to attend either the University of Kentucky or the University of Louisville to study political science, history or video production.
Kentucky Standard sports editor Peter W. Zubaty had a few questions for Stone in order to better get to know him.
PZ: What do you enjoy most about tennis?
JS: The speed of it, I love how the game requires you to think on your feet and make split-second decisions. It gets to where it’s all about reflex. You never know what’s going to happen the next time someone hits the ball. That uncertainty gives the game an edge that’s hard to beat.
PZ: What’s your favorite TV show?
JS: My favorite TV show is “The X-Files.” It’s only in reruns now but I started watching it about two years ago and haven’t stopped watching it since. I’ve always been a sucker for well-written sci-fi shows that really make you think.
PZ: What does it mean to you to be a leader?
JS: To be a leader means to bring out a sense of confidence in a fellow player. To make them want to get better and have fun while their doing it. It also means you need to set a good example on sportsmanship.
PZ: What’s been your biggest thrill on the tennis court?
JS: My biggest thrill on the tennis court is something that happens a lot every time I play a match. When the other players hit a shot that’s incredibly far away I love getting to it in the nick of time and slamming it back over right before it double bounces. It’s such an awesome feeling because they’re hard to get to in time, and when you do you feel really good about it.
PZ: Who’s your favorite singer or band? What’s your favorite song or album?
JS: I don’t have a single favorite band or singer, but I’m really into old rock from the ‘70s and ‘80s. Foreigner, Boston, Kiss any stuff like that I like. As for a favorite song, there are just too many classics to name them all here.
PZ: What’s different about tennis as opposed to other sports such as soccer?
JS: You have to have to be constantly on your toes and on edge. It’s a game of reflex and speed — which I’ve not really seen much of in any other sport.
PZ: Do you have a favorite pre-match meal?
JS: I’m actually really bad about what I eat and drink before a match or a practice. I’ll often be going through a McDonalds or Burger King drive-thru about an hour before a match. I used to take a soda to practice every day last year, something I’ve cut back on so far this season.
PZ: It’s probably been a welcome sight to see the weather turn nicer. How tough is it to practice in the cold weather? Is it tough in the spring knowing there’s always the threat of a rainout?
JS: It’s great to see nice weather finally. It’s about time that it warmed up. Personally, I don’t have much problem with cold weather. Spencer Smith, my teammate, and I were out playing one day in 40-degree weather in early January.
PZ: Between school and sports, there probably isn’t much free time left over. What do you do for fun when there is some precious free time?
JS: I like to do what most teenagers do. Hang out with friends, watch movies, sleep. I also like to film and edit videos for YouTube. It’s a hobby that I do for fun and relaxation.
Watch John’s TV interview on Zubaty-Bahm Sports Week today at 3:30, 4:30 or 5:30 p.m. on PLG-TV 13 or online at www.plgtv.com.