He stared at his screen in admiration as Rafeal Nadal rallied the tennis ball back and forth with his

opponent. After every point won, nobody was on the court alongside him offering a high five. At the same time, nobody was beside him with a disapproving glance after a mistake. It was completely individual, a game based entirely in a single mind. Even at a young age, senior Curtis Christensen knew that the feat of making tennis something he could own was a path worth venturing.

As the lone senior on the boys tennis team this year, individualism is a principle that Christensen

has explored more than the average athlete at NS. He debated whether or not to play after the graduation of many of his close friends, but ultimately decided it was worthwhile. Head coach Matt Braithwaite found it admirable that Christensen stuck around even with the loss of his favorite teammates.

“When you get past the initial honeymoon phase of learning some of the nuances and beginnings,

then it’s more of do you enjoy this enough to want to continue doing it? Are you willing to grind it out?” Braithwaite said. “I credit Curtis in that regard. He made a commitment, which is really cool.”

Even though the team doesn’t look the same as it has for the past few years of Christensen's

journey, he has derived joy from newfound friendships with the underclassmen.

“They’re just funny kids,” Christensen said. “When we’re at practice and we need to work, they

know that they should work, but when we’re outside of practice or just taking breaks, they’re just super funny and super energetic. But I think it’s an interesting dynamic because usually it’s straight business.”

A bit of humor and lightness are key tools in how Christensen maintains his easygoing nature and

personality. As the first singles player, it is obvious he is no stranger to practice or hard work, but he also doesn’t stress himself over minor flaws or bumps in the road.

“I would tell others to take everything you do seriously, to try to succeed in everything you do,”

Christensen said. “But just have fun with it. Our time here is too short to not really enjoy it.”

His sense of calm helps him maintain composure and a willingness to learn in tennis. Playing in the

top spot is never an easy task, as it inevitably means playing the toughest player on every opposing team. But Christensen has taken the challenge head on, improving with each hardship that arises.

“He doesn’t really seem to easily get upset I would say,” Braithwaite said. “I’m sure he gets

frustrated like anybody, but he doesn’t manifest it in ways that are easy to recognize. So I think that lends itself to saying he has a good sense of discipline.”

His unique traits have made him an excellent team captain, but they extend beyond his tennis

circle. Relationships with friends and family take precedence on the list of importance for Christensen. As the youngest of five, he has had the chance to observe and take valuable lessons from his older siblings and parents.

Working on a turkey farm with his family has taught him work ethic, as well as given him the skills to

show up for them and others when they stand in need.

“When we need help at the farm he’s always there,” senior Kyson Taylor, Christensen's friend said.

“And pickleball, you need a partner, he’s there. He just comes through.”

Seeing any given situation through is a part of Christensen's character. With his future goals he

hopes to start a career in construction, where he can play a part in a project developing from the ground up.

Snow College is where Christensen plans to start studying construction management, and he

hopes his family farm will always be a part of his life and work in one way or another.

“Even when he was a freshman taking a class with me, he just shows up and gets the job done. He

just does it,” Braithwaite said.