In the world of sports, winning back-to-back championships is a rare feat only a handful of athletes have accomplished. By the end of their careers, we often refer to these champions as the G.O.A.T.
Names like Michael Jordan. Tom Brady. Derek Jeter. Tiger. The Williams Sisters.
And Sofia Acuna.
If you’re unfamiliar with the name Sofia Acuna, you’re not alone. After all, she is just a junior at Classen SAS High School at Northeast. But after recently winning her second singles tennis state championship in as many years, it’s hard to argue that she’s not the G.O.A.T. of high school tennis.
If she manages to three-peat next year, we’re talking MJ-level transcendence. She wouldn’t just be the tennis G.O.A.T.; she’d be the G.O.A.T. of OKCPS Athletics. And that’s saying something because OKCPS has a long history of team and individual accomplishments. In fact, OKCPS claimed eight state championships just this past school year.
But the thing about high school athletes is that they’re students, too. Academics are just as big a part of their accomplishments as athletics.
Sofia is the G.O.A.T. there, too, putting pressure on herself to not just win another state championship but to graduate high school without receiving a grade below an A.
In our most recent OKCPS Athletics Student-Athlete Interview, we talked to Sofia about getting straight As, smashing aces, and the impact of sports on her life on the court, off the court, and in the classroom.
What is your name, what school do you go to, and what grade are you in?
My name is Sofia Acuna, and I just finished my junior year at Classen SAS High School at Northeast.
How long have you played sports?
Seven years.
You just won your second consecutive state championship in tennis. How does this second one compare to the first? Does one mean more to you than the other?
My first state championship probably means more to me than the second one. The second one just felt like a job that I needed to get done. I was relieved and excited after it, but the first one made me feel accomplished and made me feel like all my hard work paid off.
Do you currently play any sports other than tennis?
I do not.
What other sports have you played, and when did you decide to focus on tennis only?
I swam, ran cross country, played soccer and basketball, tumbled, and did triathlons. I decided to focus on tennis, probably in 5th grade.
What is your favorite thing about tennis?
My favorite thing about tennis is the adrenaline that you feel after you’ve just won a really hard match.
Why are sports important to you?
Sports are important to me because they let you experience failures and successes.
Tell us about your earliest sports memory.
My earliest sports memory is when I was in first place during a triathlon, and during the bike part, I got lost, which made me lose my position. Eventually, I found my way back to the start.
Tell us about your favorite sports memory.
My favorite sports memory is probably winning the 4A tennis state championship in 2022.
What was your biggest sports goal or dream when you were younger?
My biggest sports goal was winning a state championship and playing tennis in college.
Is that goal different now? If so, how?
The goal is the same. I’m still trying to complete the goal of playing at a high collegiate level.
What impact has playing sports had on your life?
It has had a tremendous impact on my life. Playing sports has helped me grow as a person more than anything else has.
How has it impacted the people around you?
It’s impacted the people that I’ve met along the journey. I never would’ve met some of my best friends if it weren’t for this sport. It also brings my parents and me closer together because I love to make them proud.
How have sports kept you more focused in the classroom or made you a better student?
Sports have made me better in the classroom because they’ve taught me what hard work is.
What are your biggest academic goals?
My biggest academic goal is to complete high school without ever getting below an A.
What academic achievement are you most proud of so far?
My biggest academic achievement so far is never having a B.
Do you think your focus on sports has helped you avoid trouble or bad choices? How?
I think my focus on sports has helped me avoid bad choices because you can’t let anything else get in the way, or all of your hard work won’t pay off in the end.
Tell us about a lesson you learned from playing sports that you can apply elsewhere in life.
I’ve learned that no matter what, you must always pick yourself back up and keep working hard.
For the most part, tennis is an individual sport, but can you give an example of how a team or teammate has positively influenced your life?
My boyfriend is my teammate and is the most hard-working person I know. That’s been a huge positive influence in my life.
Give an example of how you have helped your team or a teammate.
I’ve helped my teammates by always being there for their matches and always cheering them on no matter what.
Finish this sentence: A team is…
Family.
What role do you think a coach should play in a student-athlete’s life?
I think a coach should be a positive role model in your life and a mentor.
What attributes make a good coach?
A good coach should be hard-working, kind, determined, funny, confident, and a leader.
Can you provide an example or story about how a coach has positively influenced your life?
My current coach, Seth Moore, has been a positive influence in my life because he always helps me keep improving my game and picks me up whenever I’m down.
How does it feel knowing there are people all over Oklahoma City you’ve never met who are rooting for you and investing in your school and community?
It feels surreal. It makes me feel even more supported.
Where would you be today if you didn’t play sports?
I wouldn’t be as focused if I didn’t have tennis.
What is your biggest life/career goal or dream? (This does not have to be sports-related.)
My biggest life goal is to have a happy and enjoyable life. My biggest career goal is to become a pediatric surgeon.
Imagine it’s 10 or 20 years in the future; what words of advice or encouragement would you give a young student-athlete standing in the same shoes you are today?
I would tell them to keep working toward their goal, that it will all work out in the end, and that the journey is a rollercoaster.
Oklahoma City Public Schools is Oklahoma’s largest school district, serving approximately 34,000 multicultural students across 135.5 square-miles area in the Oklahoma City metro area. More than 91% of OKCPS students are economically disadvantaged. Fields & Futures was created in 2012 to support OKCPS in its effort to put students on a better path to graduation by growing student participation in sports.