Sherando High School 18-year-old senior
Sport: Tennis. Positions: No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles
Parents: Jeffrey and Stacy Jeran
Hometown: Winchester
What do you love about tennis?: I started my sophomore year, and one of my friends, Greyson [Foltz], who’s number one on the tennis team, he kind of recruited me onto the team. Since the first year, I’ve had a lot of friends there, and they’ve motivated me to continue and stick with it. I really love tennis, and I improved with everybody else and eventually got to number three in my senior year.
Most memorable moment in tennis: [In 2024], it was against Millbrook, and it was a tied match, 4-4, and it was me and Connor Dudley, who were playing number three doubles. We came out on top [8-6], and that was what won our match [5-4].
Most embarrassing moment in tennis: I’ve been hit [by the ball] a bunch of times. I’ve tripped. I’ve fallen in a match a few times, twisted my ankle.
Most difficult moment in tennis: Last year I [started at] number 4 singles, and there was a guy named Landon Dahlinger, it was his first year on the team, but he was really good. He beat me in a challenge match. That motivated me to become better, so then I could eventually come back and beat him. I never got the chance, but then this year I kind of reminded myself that I got better than I was last year by going up two spots [to No. 3 singles].
Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: This might be cliché, but I feel like I would pick Napoleon, Alexander the Great, and Caesar, just because of how much they accomplished at really young ages and what inspired them. I’d just ask them all about their experience and stuff like that.
Biggest athletic influence: Coach [Jason] Robertson. He’s really good at tennis himself. I play with him sometimes. He’s really personal with everybody on the team, and he wants to build a relationship with everybody, and he’s done that with me, too. I’m motivated by his ability and his coaching ability as well.
Favorite teacher: Mr. [John] Partington, who was my English ninth-grade teacher. He was my favorite teacher because he was funny. He talked to us a bunch and he was relatable. He just had a charisma about him that I haven’t found since.
Favorite athlete: Aaron Judge on the Yankees, because my family is a Yankees family and my grandfather [Joseph William Jeran] actually played for the Yankees [as a Minor Leaguer], too. (Joseph William Jeran played in the Yankees’ organization from 1963-68.)
Favorite team: New York Yankees
Favorite TV show: “Suits.”
Favorite music artist: Pearl Jam
Favorite food: Sushi
Worst thing you’ve eaten: Century eggs
Plans after high school: I’m going to go to [James Madison University] and study biology, and I’m planning to minor in pre-medicine. I want to eventually become a certified anesthesiologist assistant, and I’ll also do my master’s program to do that, so that’s after JMU. My dad is also in the medical field, so that’s a big influence. He works at the Valley Health Wellness Center and I just go there a lot. I see a bunch of doctors a lot, so I guess I’m influenced by my environment.
— Compiled by Joe Tuman