Handley High School 18-year-old senior

Sport: Boys’ tennis. Position: No. 3 singles, No. 1 doubles

Parents: Barbara and Scott Bessette

Hometown: Bluemont, moved to Winchester in 2017

What do you love about tennis?: I think it’s the competition and the team camaraderie. Playing doubles is one of the best things you can do in sports because you get to have fun, but be competitive at the same time.

Most memorable moment in tennis: The region quarterfinals against Rock Ridge last year. I lost the first set 6-4, but I came back to win the second set 6-2. And then in a tiebreak on match point, there was a call that would have put the tiebreak at 9-9, but the line judge overruled it and said it was in and I lost 10-8.

Most embarrassing moment in tennis: I’ve probably hit my doubles partner with a serve a couple of times or definitely an overhead that I’ve hit into the net. It was an easy setup to win a point and then I’ve just thrown it away by hitting it into the net.

Most difficult moment in tennis: I’d say it is the mental aspect. You can go down and kind of get beaten up pretty bad in the first set. I know last year I went down 4-1 a couple of times in a match. You have to talk yourself out of thinking that you are out of it. You have to reset in the match and play like it’s a brand new match so that you have a better chance to win. As soon as you start thinking it’s over, it’s over.

Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: Roger Federer, I would like hearing some of his stories about tennis and how he’s played over the years and what he’s done. He seems like a good guy to have dinner with; My grandfather [George Riedel], he passed away in December. There are some things that I’d like to talk with him about that I never got the chance to; My sister [Ellie], it’s always fun having dinner with her. We’re always able to have a good time.

Who is your biggest athletic influence?: Either Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic. Watching them play tennis is pretty amazing. I’ve definitely seen some matches where Djokovic goes down a crazy amount and is able to battle his way back out of it, which is always an inspiration.

Favorite teacher: Mrs. [Angela] Cutshaw. She teaches physics. It’s never an easy topic to understand, but she always makes sure we get it and that’s very helpful.

Favorite athlete: Novak Djokovic

Favorite sports team: Washington Nationals

Favorite movie: “Top Gun”

Favorite TV show: “The Newsroom”

Favorite song: “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” by Brooks & Dunn

Favorite food: Either fried clams or swordfish steaks

Worst thing you’ve eaten: Salad, I hate salads.

Plans after high school: I’m going to go to Virginia Tech and study mechanical engineering. A lot of people in my family are engineers and I’ve always grown up playing with LEGOs and building things and designing things. It’s kind of a natural step. I did an internship with the Army Corps of Engineers and that kind of showed me what it is like to work in an office as an engineer and set me off on that track. [My dream job] is maybe designing airplanes or working for a defense contractor doing that. That would be pretty fun.