Homework, group projects, clubs, and sports are all regular eighth-grade responsibilities. However, what happens when you add number one varsity tennis player to the list? That may be too much responsibility and stress for some students, but not for Tatiana Ziff. Ziff became the Buc’s number one tennis player earlier this year after she played a series of games against her fellow varsity teammates, all of whom are high schoolers.

“Tati is very very young, and her playing at the varsity level and at number one speaks [to] her talent,” said Varsity Tennis Coach Mrs. Dolores Colton. “She is very very focused, and is very competitive, and she really really wants to win.”

Ziff started playing tennis when she was very little, but only started playing competitively a few years ago. “I’m a super competitive person,” Ziff confirmed, “and the fact that tennis is an individual sport makes it easier for me to control how I play and compete. I also just really love the sport because there are so many different aspects to it.”

However, just because Ziff is the number one singles player on Benjamin’s varsity team doesn’t mean she’s resting on her laurels. “There is always going to be someone better than you,” she admitted, “which just gives you more drive to get better.”

So far, her competitive spirit has driven her to a 6-2 singles record on the tennis team. Not surprisingly, the varsity team’s overall record stands at 6-3. “That’s always the way,” said Colton. “The team is always a reflection of your best player.”

For some athletes, ceding rank to a younger player may be insulting, but not for the Bucs. According to her coach, there’s been no friction or resentment amongst Ziff’s high school teammates. “She has fit in beautifully,” said Colton.”Nobody ever would suspect she is in eighth grade because she handles herself in a much more mature manner, and she gets along beautifully with the rest of the team.”

Ziff says the fact that she was on the team last year has helped, along with the fact that the team itself is quite young – there’s only one junior on the team. “We work together and encourage one another to be our best in every match we play,” said Ziff.

Hopefully Tati and the Bucs can qualify for states, but Ziff is taking it one day at a time. When things get tough on the court, she looks to her role model and inspiration – 17-time grand slam champion Roger Federer. “I’m a huge fan of Roger Federer because he is a champion on and off the court,” she said. Federer became pro at eleven and never went to college, but Ziff is focused on a different path. “I hope to one day play tennis in college, which will take a lot of training and dedication.”

In leading this young Bucs team, she seems to be in good position to make that dream a reality.