By Murray Gleffe
Correspondent
Name: Michael Vivian
Parents: Tim and Lisa Vivian
Activity: Tennis
Twitter: @michaelvivian10
Michael Vivian is a senior tennis player from Southwest High School who helped the Trojans qualify for team state during his sophomore and junior seasons.
He will be attending UW-Madison for business.
He lists Leonardo DiCaprio as a person he’d like to be for one day.
You advanced to the second round of the WIAA Individual State tournament last year going 23-3. What is your expectation this year as a senior?
“Expectations are higher than they’ve ever been before. I felt like I improved a lot last year mentally and physically as a player but knew I could’ve gone farther at state. I’ve had an amazing support system my last few years. I told myself I have three goals left in my tennis career: Make it on the podium of state this June, get my 100th win of my career this season and help guide us back to team state for the third consecutive year.”
What makes the Fox River Classic Conference special, and what is the goal of the Trojans at team state if you qualify?
“The FRCC is special because of the history it has for producing great teams and players. This year we have at least two Division 1 players. No other conference in Wisconsin can say that, and the FRCC consistently has very skilled players in it.”
What is your most embarrassing moment ever in tennis?
“Definitely when I let teammate Lucas Stieber take a set off me one time. I didn’t hear the end of that one.”
What is your most memorable moment on the court?
“I’d say last year in the sectional final. It’s always an amazing feeling to beat Notre Dame, and last year I was in a spot where I controlled my own destiny to go to individual state. It was a heated match and it felt amazing to win and walk off the court with a large crowd above, knowing I’d clinched a trip to Madison.”
Talk about a teacher that has inspired you at Southwest.
“Three come to mind on this one. First off, my business teachers Mikki Volk and Josh Moreau. Lastly, our school’s health/gym teacher/basketball coach, John Polkowski.”
What’s the hardest part about performing in a tennis match?
“Tennis is a hard sport, which surprises a lot of people. Most people look at it and think they can do it, but when they get on the court, they look lost. Tennis takes an amazing amount of consistency, and you have to be able to weather the momentum swings.”
Talk about your parents and how they’ve shaped you through this high school tennis journey.
“My parents have done so much for me. Growing up, they’d drive me hours to USTA tournaments just so I could play a few matches. They’ve helped me find the right pros to work with and take my game to the next level. My mom has been especially incredible. The past two summers it could be 10:30 at night and if I wanted to work on things, we’d go fire up the lights at the courts and she’d feed me balls until I was happy with what I accomplished.”
What is one thing that other teammates or coaches don’t know about you?
“I’d say they don’t know that I’m an officer in DECA.”
What three words describe you?
“Procrastinator, funny, confident.”
Three tennis tournaments you’d love to attend if you could go anywhere in the World?
“Wimbledon, Australian Open and the French Open.”
Who is your favorite ATP tennis player and why?
“Federer is the greatest of all-time and loved by everyone, so I’ll say Dominic Thiem because I think I have similar strokes and play his style.”
Favorite shot in tennis?
“Inside-out forehand.”
What are two things you’re going to miss about attending Southwest?
“The teachers and going out to lunch with my friends every day during off-campus.”
Who is a celebrity crush?
“Selena Gomez.”
Antarctica or Africa?
“Africa.”
Fishing or laying out on a hammock?
“Fishing.”
Favorites
Household item: Pets
Car: Lamborghini
Movie: “Inception”
Sporting event: Packers game