This month’s Person of the Month is Lizzie Isyanov, who etched her name in the York’s history books with a remarkable second-place finish at the Illinois State Tennis Tournament. Her achievement is not just a personal triumph, but a milestone for York tennis, and she’s set to make even more waves in the years to come.
A Passion for Tennis from the Start
Lizzie’s tennis journey began at a young age, thanks to her father, who was a lifelong player in Russia. “I started playing tennis when I was around 3 years old,” Lizzie shared. “My dad played his whole life in Russia, so he originally started me, and as I got more into the sport, I began playing competitively through a club.” Her early start and family connection to the game laid the foundation for a career that would eventually lead her to the state stage.
A Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, Lizzie has clear and ambitious goals. Having recently committed to play tennis at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), she’s focused on excelling both on the court and in the classroom. “I really want to have a successful 4 years at UIUC, both in tennis and academically,” Lizzie said. “It’s such a relief to be committed, as that’s the ultimate goal I’ve been focusing on practically my whole tennis career.”
In addition to her athletic aspirations, Lizzie is mindful of the physical demands of the sport. “I also need to keep my body healthy and listen to it considering there’s such a high volume of tennis I am currently playing,” she noted, adding that avoiding injury is crucial to her long-term success.
Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Athletes
Lizzie’s journey to success has not been without its challenges, but she’s learned valuable lessons along the way. Her advice for others looking to follow in her footsteps is rooted in hard work, resilience, and focus. “My advice is to work as hard as you possibly can in whatever you do. Nothing is ever going to be handed to you, and there will always be ups and downs. Failure is okay, because although it sucks in the moment, the only thing you can really do is learn from it and set goals for yourself in the future,” she explained.
She also emphasizes the importance of maintaining focus. “It’s important to have your priorities straight and not get distracted, because losing focus in anything you do is never a good thing.”
A Historic Season
Lizzie’s second-place finish at state is a testament to her skill, determination, and growth as an athlete. It also marks a historic moment for York High School tennis, as Lizzie became one of the program’s most successful players to date. Her journey, however, is far from over, and her sights are now set on achieving even greater things at the collegiate level.
Congratulations to Lizzie Isyanov for her outstanding achievement, and we can’t wait to see where her passion for tennis takes her next.
Elmhurst Daily 