Steele Canyon High School’s boys tennis team bounded out to a 7-0 start this spring before the season was ultimately called due to the coronavirus pandemic. The perfect start included a 4-0 run in Grossmont Hills League play.
Two senior achievers on this year’s team included Samuel Greenbergs and Matthew Zieske.
Greenbergs is a decorated two-sport student-athlete in both tennis and water polo at the school.
He had lost only two matches as the Cougars’ No. 2 singles player while winning two San Diego Section championships in boys water polo (2017 in Division III and 2018 in Division II).
He was part of the school’s CIF tennis runner-up team in 2019 when Steele Canyon finished second to Sage Creek in the Division II final.
Individual awards include first team all-league selections in water polo and tennis, second team all-league selections in water polo and tennis and a second team All-CIF selection in water polo.
Besides being a team leader in the pool and on the tennis court, Greenbergs has also found time to be a leader in student government. He served as ASB president in both 2018-19 and 2019-20 and Class of 2020 secretary.
It was a full plate of activities but one in which he managed to excel.
“My greatest achievement of my four years was all that I did during my four years in ASB, serving as ASB president for two of those years,” he said.
Future plans include attending San Diego State University in the fall to study kinesiology and strive to be an emergency room doctor in the future.
Zieske has played tennis four years at Steele Canyon High School, including three seasons on the varsity team (sophomore through senior years).
He’s served as team captain, been a member of the academic honor roll and a league champion for three years.
He next plans to attend Cuyamaca College, though he’s undecided about college after that, and undecided about a major.
His proudest moment?
“When I ate an Arby’s meat mountain in one sitting,” he said.
Fast start
The Cougars entered the spring break schedule pause with wins over St Augustine, Monte Vista, El Capitan, Valhalla, Grossmont, Santana and Helix.