Michael Fletez has been playing tennis ever since his dad introduced him to the sport when he was 11 years old.

“He used to play tennis when he was younger, so he wanted to see if I liked the sport and he wanted me to play a sport,” Fletez said.

For Fletez, it was a way for him to find a passion that not only he loves, but his family does as well.

“Tennis is special to me ... I love to play this sport, and most of my family plays it so I can spend time with them and play,” said Fletez.

Fletez was born and raised in Phoenix. When it came time for him to go to high school, he knew he was going to play tennis.

“I started playing tennis competitively when I came to St. Mary’s. My freshman year was my first time ever playing competitively,” Fletez said.

Ever since his first match nearly three years ago, Fletez has continued to grow his game as a tennis player, and he himself has grown more as a person.

“Tennis helps me with my outside life … I can get my mind off of my what’s going on in my life and just have fun playing tennis,” Fletez said.

Without tennis, Fletez does not know what he would be doing in high school besides homework.

Sports allow people to escape their daily lives for just a bit, to enjoy some time doing what they do best. And as Fletez explains, without the sport he loves, he doesn’t know what his life would be like.

“Tennis means everything to me,” Fletez said. “I’ve been playing for about seven years. If it wasn’t for tennis I would be a completely different person.”

Sports has a way of teaching young and old athletes about respect and kindness to others, no matter if they are a competitor or a teammate. As Fletez explains, tennis has made him become a better man.

“I have learned how to be kind to my opponents,” Fletez said. “No matter the outcome of the game, I respect them.”

Teammate Quentin Duran has played alongside Fletez in doubles for all of these years and is very happy he has Fletez as his teammate.

“Being doubles partners for four years has helped out both of us a lot … we understand how each other plays now the more we get to play together,” Duran said. “It keeps tennis fun when you have someone you’ve known for such a long time. He complements my play style and I complement his. It’s just awesome to have that kind of a teammate.”

Despite varying success at St. Mary’s, Fletez plays the game with passion and heart, no matter if he ends up winning or losing. It has allowed him to try and understand what others are going through. He understands that the game can be frustrating and he knows that not everyone is going to be happy with losing a game. Fletez still maintains that the game for him is all about respect.

“A lesson from tennis that I would take away would be to be respectful to others whatever the situation may be,” Fletez said. “Tennis has helped me grow as a person because it taught me how to be a kind person towards others.”

Fletez will continue to play the sport his father introduced him to all those years ago for the rest of the season, and will continue to do it with a smile on his face.