A swing and a miss has nothing on Chris Owens. He started out by saying, “Hi, my name is Chris Owens. I am a seventeen-year-old junior at Kearsley High School. I was born in Grand Blanc, Michigan, on September 7, 2007.” He is well known for his joyful energy and strong heart and he is widely recognized for his captivating red curls. Owens stands at a towering 5’11” with bright green eyes. He is one of the friendliest people you could ever meet and never fails to make someone smile. Owens has many interests, including being on the varsity tennis team, working in the retail applications class, and participating in Kearsley’s new Project Bike Tech class. He is also admired for his willingness to help others regardless of the circumstances or consequences.
Owens is a well-rounded student who always puts effort into his work. He is currently enrolled in an Advanced Placement English Language and Composition class, which challenges him to excel in his studies. Owens stated, “I took this class because I didn’t want to go through school just taking the easy route. I wanted to expand my knowledge, and I enjoy that it’s less chaotic because the class is smaller.” In an interview, Owens was asked how he would describe himself using only three words, and he responded, “caring, tall, and respectful.”
While Owens is a hardworking student, outside of school he enjoys participating in other activities. “Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my friends, whether it’s just driving around, playing tennis, going bowling, or simply just hanging out. I also like going home after school and working on my bikes because it’s something I’m really passionate about,” Owens explained. Owens has been playing tennis for three seasons and has progressed from doubles to singles, which is a significant accomplishment in tennis. Owens continued, “I’ve always had a passion for tennis ever since I was young. My dad played tennis in high school, and I really looked up to him, which sparked my interest in the sport. I didn’t actually start getting into and playing tennis until I was going into high school. My dad would have my sister and me practice together since she was already on the tennis team.”
Owens’ tennis coach, Coach Jerrod Berkey, has nothing but positive things to say about all of his players, but Owens has certainly made more of an impact. Coach Berkey stated, “Chris has been with me since the beginning of my coaching career. As a freshman, Chris was new to the sport and started out playing doubles. In his second season, he improved enough to earn the #1 singles spot on varsity, where he remains today. Chris loves the sport of tennis, and it shows. The Flint Metro League has some heavy hitters at #1 singles, so Chris competes against some of the best tennis players in Genesee County. Both of his parents played in high school, and they are a big part of his success as a tennis player. Chris puts in the court time needed to compete at this level, and I look forward to coaching him in his senior year at KHS.”
Being such a friendly guy, Owens has lots of friends both in and outside of school. His friend, Senior Jacob Hager, was asked about a favorite memory with Chris, and he shared, “One time at practice we got really mad at each other over something small, and it ended up being super funny because it wasn’t a big deal. It really brought us closer together.” Chris is Extremely grateful for all of the opportunities he has been given and hopes to continue to succeed in and outside of the classroom.
