Kevin Patel '22 Recruiting Profile

Hi, My name is Kevin Patel. One of my main goals is to play tennis at a nice DIII college.  I have a strong aspiration to be the best player and teammate I can be, which is something that means a lot to me as a person. I studied martial arts for 4 years. Martial arts taught me that hard work plants the seeds for success. Martial arts has helped me have a strong mental game by not giving up. The belt system takes a very long time. It takes patience and dedication to the art to get to the next belt and proceed from there. This is what has helped me with tennis. I have learned that tennis is an incredibly hard sport that has its ups and downs. However, I chose to persevere through these challenges to become the best player I can be. I have worked hard for my spot on the varsity team at my high school. Gradually I was able to go from 3 doubles to 2 singles to 1 singles. This was like the belt system in karate. It takes time but with dedication, you can advance as a payoff from hard work. This mindset has pushed into my academic career. I work hard and have made honor roll every year. I consistently get work done on time and never miss an assignment. I have worked hard in my athletic career whilst balancing my academic career to make it to where I am now. I hope to be able to play for your school and help be the best teammate possible. Thank you!

Coach's Note: 

Kevin Patel is agile and fast (the speediest young man I have coached in 20 years’ time), innately athletic, intelligent, and highly coachable. In a mere three years on Dawson’s lauded varsity tennis team, he has risen from the #3 doubles position to #2 singles to #1 singles, qualifying for the State tournament each season and earning All-region honors each cycle. Included in this span is his sophomore-year run to the State semis, an explosive announcement of his arrival to the ranks of the top players in his division in Colorado. Along the way, Kevin has earned in-house honors of most improved and “Mustang”—an award that recognizes personal integrity, a fierce work ethic, and commitment to the team over self.

Such accomplishments and attributes are relevant to the pursuit of a DIII tennis career. However, Kevin possesses x-factors that make him even more appealing as a person and a teammate. I have known him and have worked with him since he was in 6^th grade, and he has always been a study in contrasts—and he blends them well. He is fierce and kind; intense and playful; competitive and relaxed; introspective and gregarious; super hardworking and chill. Kevin is immensely well regarded by his peers and has always been the beating heart of every team, from competitive middle school tennis onward. He has a certain charisma both on and off the court; he draws people in, enjoys the company of his teammates and opponents, and gets on readily with his coaches.  Kevin does it all with great joy and a killer-instinct on the court. He’ll make anyone’s tennis team better!