Blue Devil Athlete Spotlight: Tuan Nguyen (Volleyball)

 

Leominster High School senior Tuan Nguyen’s volleyball journey has been one defined by perseverance, growth, and dedication. His connection to the sport began in eighth grade through an unlikely source: gym class.

“In my eighth grade gym class, we would regularly play volleyball with an oversized beach ball which captivated my interest in the sport,” Nguyen said. “For whatever reason, we never played with an actual volleyball. But, it still inspired me to try out for volleyball in high school.”

Nguyen attended boys volleyball tryouts during the spring of his freshman year but did not make the team. While that experience may have discouraged others, Nguyen remained committed to improving. During the fall of his sophomore year, friends on the girls volleyball team invited him to practice with them, which eventually introduced him to the possibility of becoming a team manager.

“This was the first time I heard about managing a sports team,” Nguyen said. “While I didn’t officially manage the girls volleyball program until my junior year, I was accepted as a frequent supporter of the team.”

The experience helped rebuild Nguyen’s confidence in both himself and the sport. He later earned a spot on the boys JV volleyball team, officially became manager of the girls volleyball program the following fall, and eventually transitioned into a managerial role for boys volleyball as well.

“Tuan has been a key participant for the girl's volleyball program for the past couple of years,” said girls varsity head coach Samantha Comeau. “He is so dedicated to our program that many nights he'll spend over four hours in the gym, going from varsity to JV1 and JV2 practices to assist players and coaches. He is always willing to do anything needed to help the program succeed. He can be found keeping track of stats, running the scorer's table, getting equipment for practice, and jumping in drills. Most importantly, he is a calming presence for athletes and coaches alike.”

Nguyen also became a trusted presence at the scorer’s table, a responsibility boys volleyball head coach John Antonetti says he mastered quickly.

“When he became the manager for the girls team, he was asked to keep score for the first game,” Antonetti said. “So, I taught him how to keep score for that afternoon match, and he hasn't looked back. He's very well respected with the officials who call the game trusting him with his scoring. Tuan is very well organized, has all the paperwork ready before game time, rosters, score sheets, stats we're ready to go. He's made the last three years very easy for control of the scoring desk.”

Nguyen says the unpredictable nature of volleyball is what keeps him invested in the sport.

“Volleyball keeps you on your feet at all times on the court because you can never anticipate what will happen next,” Nguyen said. “It’s the type of sport where you absolutely cannot think: You must react. The referee’s calls will surprise you as well. It’s also the same as watching from the sidelines. There were numerous times during the girls and boys season where I felt as if my heart would beat out of my chest.”

What has meant the most to Nguyen over the past three years has been the sense of belonging within both volleyball programs.

“What I like the most about being part of the girls and boys volleyball teams is the inclusivity,” Nguyen said. “Even though I’m only a team manager and not a player, both programs have made me feel like I belonged and welcomed me with open arms. I also value the family-like environment that both Coach Antonetti and Coach Comeau foster amongst the players. They have grown to become like a second family to me.”

After graduation, Nguyen plans to attend WPI to study mechanical engineering, with the possibility of double majoring in aerospace engineering. He hopes to eventually work in the aerospace industry. While he does not plan to play volleyball for a college or club team, he hopes to continue playing recreationally with friends.

Outside of volleyball, Nguyen serves as a student representative for Student Council, a class representative for Student Government, and is a member of both the National Honor Society and Chess Club. He also volunteered at Sky View Middle School as an afterschool tutor.

His favorite class at LHS was Honors Electronics, taught by his favorite teacher, Mr. Antonetti.

“Having Mr. Antonetti as both a teacher and a coach is a very unique experience,” Nguyen said. “I would see overlaps in the way he teaches the class and coaches the volleyball team. As a teacher, he keeps me on my feet at all times. He would challenge my knowledge of electronics by asking me questions that force me to think critically. As an honors class, Mr. Antonetti expects the best academic performance from us that is common for an honors class. In return, we get the best from Mr. Antonetti which encourages us to always strive to put in the work to outperform Mr. Antonetti’s expectations. As a coach, he continues to keep me on my feet. The following morning after a game, we would always debrief about what worked and what didn’t during the game the night before and how we can adjust our strategy at practice to prepare for the next game. During our little debriefs, I would also learn many aspects of how to coach a team.”

Nguyen turned a difficult beginning into years of memories and meaningful contributions to both volleyball programs. His dedication and positivity have left a lasting impact on everyone around him.

“Tuan will leave a hole that I'm not sure anyone will truly be able to replace,” Comeau said. “He helps both with the organizational systems of running the program, fundraising, and athlete development, and I am so thankful to have had him in our program.”

“Tuan truly has been a huge help and will be hard to replace the passion he has for the programs,” Antonetti said.