Henry Paiste was just seven years old the first time he picked up a tennis racquet. The rest, as they say, is history.

Paiste is now headed to the University of Alabama Birmingham on a Division 1 tennis scholarship. Every athlete, especially the elite athletes, usually have interesting stories about how they got started playing their respective sport.

Paiste is certainly no exception to that.

"My parents wanted to become more active, so they picked up tennis and with me being around them so much I started to play as well," said Paiste. "I was about seven or eight when I started and I picked it up pretty quickly. It was just a way to stay active and it was another way for our family to spend time together."

As the years progressed, Paiste improved and at 12 years old he entered his first competitive tournament.

"This is kind of a funny story, because when I entered my first tennis tournament I didn't really have any official tennis apparel," said Paiste. "I just wanted to play. I didn't think I had anything special at the time. I just wanted to share my passion for the game by competing with others. So, we ordered one shirt and I played the whole tournament, how ever many days it was with just one shirt. Now, I can't even tell you how many tennis shirts I have."

After Paiste started competing he began to realize his potential and as he got older he decided this was something he wanted to train for on a full time basis. His results were extremely impressive. Paiste won four consecutive District 11 Class AA singles championships and attained a Division 1 scholarship.

So, what does it take to become a Division 1 tennis player? A lot of hard work and a ton of discipline.

"On nontournament weeks I play everyday and I workout three days a week," Piste said. "Then on tournament weeks I play Monday through Thursday and rest Friday and then play in the tournament throughout the weekend. It's different for everybody, it's all about finding the right balance for yourself. But you have to really dedicate yourself if you want to reach your full potential."

Paiste's college choices came down to UAB and Elon University, which is another Division 1 school located in North Carolina. At the end of the day, and after visiting both campuses, he felt UAB was the better fit.

"Both teams are similar in skill, so it didn't have much to do with that," he said. "I just felt more comfortable at UAB.

"I've always wanted to go down South and I felt like UAB was the place where I could reach my full potential. Playing a Division 1 sport is basically like having a full time job, so you have to be comfortable wherever you are."

Lastly, Paiste expressed gratitude for the opportunity to to compete at such a high level and noted how he wouldn't be in his current position without the guidance and support from his family.

"I could never thank my parents enough for what they've done for me over the past 10 years," said Paiste. "It certainly wouldn't have been possible without them and I hope to continue to make them proud as I continue on this journey."