The Kent Reporter Athletes of the Week for Sept. 19 are from Kentwood High School; Avery Peterson (Sr.) golf and Zander Grenich (Sr.) Tennis.
What do you value in your sport or about your team?
Peterson: I strongly value being a part of a team, especially since golf is generally considered an individual sport. Being able to be on a team with no drama or ego, where everyone just uplifts each other, is extremely valuable to not just having a fun experience but performing well.
Grenich: I value the acceptance of my team the most. They have taken me in even though I don’t go to school at Kentwood. I have also watched them befriend multiple international exchange students throughout my time here.
What have you learned from your sport that you can take with you throughout your life/future?
Peterson: There is nothing you can do about the past; there’s nothing you can do to change mistakes so it’s important to learn from them and don’t dwell on them.
Grenich: I have learned resilience the most. Being able to push through even when I am tired or down in a match and to bring it back is the best skill i have learned and plan to keep applying to my life in the future.
What do you do when you aren’t motivated and what helps you stay motivated?
Peterson: Something I do when I’m not motivated, especially to practice, is to at least get myself to the practice facility because while I’m there, I might as well practice for a couple of minutes. And if I’m practicing for a couple of minutes, I might as well just practice for a half hour or an hour and so on.
Grenich: I remind myself why I am doing what I am doing. Why I am on this court, and why I am playing for this team. I also think of everything that I have done so far and those past experiences and trying times motivate me further.
Do you have a favorite pre-game meal?
Peterson: My favorite pre-game food is frozen grapes and a protein bar.
Grenich: A ham sandwich on a plain bagel is just what I have always eaten before a match.
What advice would you give to a teammate that is struggling?
Peterson: Every athlete has their off days for any sport. So just try to keep your head up and keep moving forward. It’ll get better eventually; you just have to trust yourself.
Grenich: I would tell them to keep with it. So what if they aren’t getting it right now. If they keep trying, they can push themselves further. They have the ability to do what they need to do and they just need to believe that they can and go push themselves to do it.
From the sidelines:
Peterson: Avery is a talented golfer, a tenacious competitor, a high academic achiever, and more importantly, a well-rounded quality individual. She is respectful, kind, and compassionate—qualities that have earned her the admiration of teammates, coaches, and competitors alike. Avery continues to foster a supportive and inclusive team culture, making her a role model both on and off the course. Most recently, she earned medalist honors at the 2025 Kent All City Championships, as well as medalist honors during the first two matches of the season.
Grenich: Zander is our leader on and off the court. He has worked extremely hard on his tennis and has improved greatly. Zander often stays after to help his teammates improve and they look to him as an example of it means to represent Kentwood Tennis.
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