Ramona High 2012 Male Scholar Athlete: John Shupe

By BILL TAMBURRINO

Athletes who compete for the Ramona High School interscholastic sports teams are often referred to as student/athletes. To compete in athletics at Ramona High School, students must have at least a 2.0 grade point average, pass at least four classes and have exemplary conduct and citizenship. This year, RHS senior John Shupe has been recognized as Ramona High School’s 2012 Male Scholar Athlete.

Achieving a 4.6 grade point average, earning four varsity letters, and serving as team captain for the Ramona High varsity tennis team, has led John Shupe to be honored as the 2012 Male Scholar Athlete of the Year at Ramona High School.

Shupe started playing tennis at age 5 and plans to make it a lifetime endeavor. He has been selected as the Most Valuable Player and The Most Inspirational Player of the tennis team. He works hard and said that playing for Tennis Coach Doug Failla was “A lot of fun. He is a good guy and a great coach. He teaches much more than tennis.”

The scholar athlete said he is thankful for his mom, Susanne, and dad, Keith.

“They have always given me support and encouragement,” he noted.

Shupe feels that the best aspect of playing a sport at RHS was what he calls “teamship—learning to work as a member of a team.”

The most important lessons that he learned while playing tennis at RHS were “diligence and leadership.”

Shupe gave a funny observation. After losing a tough match in the Palomar League, he said he talked to the opponent that beat him.

“I asked him where he was going to school. He said that he had an academic scholarship to Stanford. That was weird. I don’t run into many guys that can beat me in tennis AND are smarter than me,” said Shupe with a chuckle.

He would advise his 12-year-old sister, Samantha, and any incoming freshman to “find a sport that you like and give it your best shot.”

Shupe will attend University of California, San Diego (UCSD) in the fall and will major in electrical engineering. He also plans on playing as much tennis as he can, adding “maybe club or intramural.” He would also like to coach young kids in tennis.