With rackets gripped tightly and balls pelted toward opposing players, both the girls’ and boys’ tennis teams present strength. But for a couple of the teams’ top five players, it has been nothing but tough decision making to get to where they are now.

Senior Dylan Schlesinger and junior Andrew Salazar have arranged their schedules in order to keep tennis their number one priority. Like many athletic students, they had to choose  to excel in one sport out of all the sports that they love on one sport and perform well in school. Tennis is the most important sport to them, and they will not give it up for anything.

Schlesinger played soccer for eight years, but at the beginning of her sophomore year, she gave it up for tennis. Schlesinger had been playing tennis since she was six years old, but did not start playing competitively until seventh grade.

“In soccer, you’re given your spot, but in tennis you have to beat people to get your spot,” Schlesinger said. “I missed my team and I missed soccer, but in the end, my sacrifices paid off.”

Palmetto’s tennis team requires the top five to seven players to play the people above and below them, and the turnout determines their future spot on the team. Schlesinger was number five on the girls’ tennis team when she quit soccer, but after focusing only on tennis, she rose up to number three.

“I decided that I could either be good at two sports or excellent at one sport to continue and play in college,” Schlesinger said.

Salazar’s situation is similar: he had been playing basketball since the fourth grade and made the junior varsity team. He was eligible for varsity after practicing with them at the end of his sophomore year, but he decided to quit the sport for tennis.

“I have more fun playing tennis,” Salazar said. “Basketball takes a lot of time, while the tennis schedule is more free.”

His dad played tennis in college and heavily influenced his decision.

“I appreciate my dad teaching me how to play tennis because it is not something he had to do, but it’s something that he chose to do,” Salazar said.

Salazar is number four on this year’s boys’ team.

“It feels great to be in the top five because it’s what I’ve been practicing for all my life,” Salazar said.

For bothSchlesinger and Salazar, tennis is all about dedication, priority and the future.

“I love tennis because it is where I can be with my friends and not worry about anything off the court,” Salazar said. “It provides me with exercise and a challenge and that’s a combination nobody can turn down. I’ll have it for the rest of my life.”