Senior spotlight: Neena Rios

School: La Feria
Sport: Tennis

When did you start playing tennis?
I first started playing tennis in 7th grade.

What do you like most about tennis?
What I like the most about tennis is that it’s a very slept on sport and it’s harder than most people think. You need to always be thinking about the next shot and if it’s a good shot to where you will get the point.

Do you play any other sports?
I do not play any other sports but I am in the LFHS colorguard band.

What’s the strongest part of your game?
My strongest part of my game is being consistent as well sometimes my net game.

What are you currently doing to stay active?
Watching different kinds of workouts on TikTok that have to do with your abs and building muscle. Also our coach (Noe Moraida IV) has been sending out workouts to do to keep in shape.

Who is your favorite professional athlete?
My favorite professional athlete has to be Rafael Nadal. He’s just a very good left-handed tennis player and his hits are pretty awesome.

What is your favorite food?
That would have to be barbecue, especially fajitas.

What is your favorite movie?
I don’t really have any favorite movie; I will sorta watch anything.

What is your favorite color?
My favorite color would have to be light blue and pink, as well as black.

What is your favorite animal?
A red panda or just a panda, or a monkey.

If you could live in any city in the world, where would that be?
I wouldn’t really mind or care what city, or where I would live as long as I have a roof over my head and I’m well off.

If you could have dinner with a famous person, past or present, who would that be?
I would have dinner with Jesus. I would do anything to sit down with him and just talk to him about anything and everything.

What is something most people don’t know about you?
What some people mostly say is that I am actually a mean person; it’s in my voice where it sounds demanding when I’m really trying not to be.

Do you plan on going to college?
I’m playing on staying here locally, not too far from home but still somewhat close at UTRGV.

What do you want to major in?
I want to major in kinesiology.

What would you like to do in the future?
What I would like to do in the future is to work at a hospital with little kids and just play with them, but of course working at the same time.

Talk a little bit about what it’s been like having to endure this break.
Mainly this whole break has me feeling super lazy and not doing much. My sister is the one who motivates me to get out of bed or off the couch and to go outside with her and exercise. I have also been watching “Grey’s Anatomy” on Netflix. It’s a really good show but is 15 seasons long, so it’s taking me a while (to watch).

IF the entire season is forced to be cancelled, how would that make you feel?
I would feel like I haven’t accomplished something; like I have worked so hard to be the best and ready for district. I have always wanted to go to regionals and just win. Not having district would leave a big mark that would be a big regret not doing.

Have you learned anything from having to deal with this unprecedented experience?
It really ruined my senior year and the expectations that I had in store of what to do with the last moments that I did have with my friends and family.