Hello, I’m Josh. Before coming to UGA, I had the privilege and opportunity to lead the ballkids at Intennse Tennis.

Intennse Tennis is a new tennis league in Atlanta Georgia that aims to change the atmosphere of tennis to a new generation of tennis fans and players. My role is to be on court, directing the 6 ballkids to effectively and silently move the game-ready balls from one side of the court to the other depending on the situation.

In 2019, I finally became old enough to become a ballboy for the Atlanta Open, and I jumped at the opportunity. I quickly learned the technique and the routine through practice and effort. And with it I started to make friends and connections in the tennis world. When the Atlanta Open ceased operations in 2024, I thought my ballkid journey ended, but months later a new league called Intennse Tennis formed in my backyard. With my experience on the court, I now use my knowledge of the game and the unique role to teach the new generation of ballkids in Atlanta.

For roughly 30 hours a week for the past two summers, I put all my effort into this new experience. However, I had to not only perform myself, but I also had to teach. The biggest challenge of teaching young ballkids is being able to get them to focus. You plan your next action before the point begins. Swift decision-making is critical to becoming a good ballkid and that’s often the hardest thing to get preteen-kids to do. Young minds wonder, either confused or tired of the match itself after hours in the hot Atlanta sun. Nevertheless, I wholeheartedly believe I made a grand contribution back to my community, allowing these kids to have the same smiles on their faces that I had years ago and still have to this day.

I don't plan on leaving it all behind. When the league is calling again next summer, I will be the first person to take the call. This experience honestly changed my life and the way I interact with the sport I love. The league has defined my character and everything about me, so if you need to understand who I am, this experience is what you should glance toward.