On Friday, April 13, 2018, North Penn senior Frank Yanni was recognized for committing to continue his tennis career at Millersville University. To view photos of the event, please visit the Photo Gallery.
Frank Yanni – Millersville University (Tennis)
Major: Special Education
Final list of colleges: Millersville, Niagara, Ursinus
Reasons for choosing Millersville: “I chose Millersville because of the team. That was the only team I got a chance to hit with, and I just knew the courts were perfect for me, and the team was a great fit.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in tennis at the collegiate level? “I always wanted to play a sport in college, and I wasn’t sure if it was going to be baseball or tennis. I chose tennis. My dad’s a baseball coach, and he wasn’t really the biggest fan of tennis, so it was it was rough in that aspect. I realized when I started training heavy – there was no point in training hard if I didn’t want to achieve my dream.”
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from playing sports? “I think what I learned most (is) that you just have to work hard for everything. You go through ups and downs, and even in the downs, you still have to work as hard as when you’re up high and you are achieving success.”
Coach Toby Watton says: “Frank played number two for me as a ninth grader, and he’s been our number one man on the team for the last three years. He’s probably one of the best 12 or 13 number one men I’ve had in almost 50 years here at the school. He’s a good athlete, he’s a gentleman, and he’s a good student. The other thing I like about Frank – and I don’t ask him to do this, but when he’s done with his match, he encourages the other kids that are still on the court, and when they finish a set or a split – and I don’t ask him to do this either, it’s spontaneous – he’ll come with me, and I’ll be talking to the young man, and he’ll be adding some things that maybe I missed or what he sees. He just does a great job overall. I’m a graduate of Millersville, and that’s where Frank is going. I’m happy to see him going there, and I think he’ll be very successful.”
About Frank:
Favorite food: Smoothies
Favorite movie: Get Smart
Favorite music: Frank Ocean
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