Justin Hayashi '05

College: Whitman College (Washington)
Year: Junior
Major: Asian Studies
Lakeside and Whitman Sport: Tennis

How I got involved in tennis
Baseball, basketball and soccer were really big in my life until I was about 12 years old, and then my mom suggested that an individual sport may be better for me than a team sport. She wanted me to choose one sport to focus on and helped direct me toward tennis. Fortunately, I really liked it!

Some notable successes
Pre-College Tennis: played in many USTA tournaments from the time I was about 13 years old
Best tennis moment was winning the state doubles for the second time my senior year at Lakeside; the team came away with a state championship as well

College Tennis:

recipient of the 2005 U.S. Tennis Association’s Dwight Mosley Scholarship Award (a national award given out to only two individuals each year)
2005-06 Rookie of the Year
qualifying for team nationals last season
team captain for 2007-2008

Challenges
I’ve sustained many injuries since I went to college: I’ve sprained my ankle three times, fractured my toe and pinky, and had tendonitis in my right shoulder. The injuries are rather shocking because I had never been injured in tennis before. Last year I was playing well, but an early injury sidelined me for the remainder of the season. That was a big disappointment because we had a talented team.

Lakeside’s impact
Lakeside taught me a lot about time management. I learned how to effectively participate in sports and get a good education. During my freshman year in college, a lot of other players struggled academically because they weren’t used to balancing academics with sports.

Impact of sports on personal/academic life
Every semester during tennis season, I usually do better academically than when I’m not in season. It’s definitely kept me on top of my schoolwork. This may sound kind of corny but it rings true for me: tennis teaches you determination and the will to win—things you can apply to academics as well.

Advice for current Lakeside students contemplating college athletics
I can only speak from a Division III standpoint; I know Division I athletics are very different. At Whitman, my coach tells me academics come first, sports second. Even though tennis takes me away from a lot of things, like social activities, it’s really worth it to me. For me, it’s a privilege to go to practice. Sports are a great outlet for me to get my mind on things besides academics.

The team
The tennis team is like a family to me. Since I don’t have as much time to commit to practicing as I did in high school, but I still want to give back to the team, I try to demonstrate leadership. I organize group events and make sure I do more social activities with the players to keep up the team chemistry, which is very important.

Goals
After I graduate, I’d like to pursue something along the lines of international business. I don’t know exactly what that might be yet, but I’d like to work in Japan if can. I worked there last summer, and I’m learning Japanese right now. I’m also considering going to law school to study international law.

—As told to Lakeside Alumni Relations staff