Get To Know: Jens Ourada
Q: What sports do you compete in?
A: I’ve been competing in tennis for five years. I also competed in volleyball this past winter, playing for the Pack Attack. I compete in CrossFit on a daily basis and have completed several competitions.
Q: How did you originally get into tennis?
A: My mom had me do a summer program back in seventh grade. From there, I ended up falling in love with the sport.
Q: What’s your favorite sports memory?
A: Probably last year at the section tournament when Josh Brehmer and I took down the Rochester John Marshall No. 1 doubles team. We then played Century’s Nick [Aney] and Varun [Lyer] who ended up winning the state title.
Q: What have you learned from tennis?
A: Although much of what I play is singles, It’s all about the team. I’ve learned to never blame anyone for a loss and to always encourage people to think about what they can do better next time. Feeling like you’re the victim in any situation doesn’t do you any good.
Q: What is the hardest part about tennis?
A: The hardest part about tennis is by far mentality. I’ve dealt with this all the years I’ve played and it still is the greatest thing to overcome. Even if you are the superior player in a match, the way you’re mentally analyzing the situation decides the outcome.
Q: Who is your biggest sports role model and why?
A: Rich Froning. He’s a four-time fittest on earth and arguably the fittest in history. Before he began his four-year dynasty, he lost by falling off the rope in the final event. He had said that if he had won that first year instead of fallen, the next four years would’ve been different. The lesson here was that you need to experience a tragedy to begin rebuilding stronger and know the next time, you won’t make that same mistake.
Q: What is your favorite movie or TV show?
A: My favorite TV show is The 100.
Q: What is your favorite subject in school?
A: Probably physics.
Q: What is your dream job?
A: To work for Space X as an engineer.
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Chicken and rice.
Q: What are your plans after high school?
A: I’m going to Iowa State to study Aerospace Engineering. From there I’d like to do an internship or co-op with Space X.
Q: What’s a fun fact about you or hobby you enjoy most people don’t know about?
A: I enjoy watching video game streamers almost as much as video games.
Q: What are your top three pump songs before a big game?
A: “Till I Die” by Machine Gun Kelly, “I Am the Greatest” by Logic, “Under Pressure” by Logic.
Q: What are your top three guilty pleasure songs?
A: Anything by Lumineers, Vance Joy, or Coldplay.