Zachary Shaff and Naomi Li were named District XI tennis scholar-athlete winners at the 17th annual banquet held on June 1 at the Best Western in Bethlehem.

“It feels great. This is such a great award,” said Shaff, Moravian Academy’s number one singles player. “I never had an opportunity to win a tennis award without playing.”

Li, Southern Lehigh’s number three singles player, was also very pleased.

“I am really, really honored, and shocked, and surprised,” she said.

Li was chosen among 18 female nominees, and Shaff was chosen among 17 male nominees.

“That was the hard thing,” said Neil Curtis, Master of Ceremonies and District Tennis Tournament Chairman, “making a decision among all those scholar-athletes.”

Shaff and Li were chosen based on a criteria of 40 percent academics, 40 percent tennis, and 20 percent extracurricular activities.

Shaff often struggled to find the proper balance between academics and tennis, and found it only by trial and error.

“In my family, academics are more important, so how much do you value tennis? You have to get good grades to play tennis,” Shaff said.

There was even a time when Shaff thought about dropping tennis in order to get good grades.

“It was difficult in the beginning to get in the rhythm, but it will continue to be in my life in college,” he said.

Shaff said that his most valuable memories from his high school tennis career are the toughest.

“Losing in the district final, missing prom junior year ... but that’s what you learn the most from,” said Shaff. “I’m happy with how everything played out.”

Shaff’s coach is Tom Schoeninger.

“Even when I’d make the slightest grammatical mistake, my coach will call me out,” Shaff said.

Li also struggled to find balance.

“It took lots of scheduling, lots of discipline, and lots of really late nights,” she said.

Li values the team bond that grew over the years.

“Our team song is Party in the USA, and good or bad, we sang it after every match,” said Li, “and I’d like to say we can eat more than the soccer team and junior varsity combined.”

Li’s coach is Andraea Drabenstott.

“She is the perfect balance between being firm and gentle,” Li said. “Because she believes in the best of us, it motivates us.”

At third singles, Li’s record is 21-1.

Shaff’s overall record at one singles is 69-5. He has been a District XI champion in singles and doubles and a PIAA State champion in doubles.

“Tennis is a lifetime sport,” said Curtis. “These kids will be playing forever.”

The District XI tennis scholar-athlete committee includes Walt Cole, Glenn Rossetti, Heather Piperato, George Harmanos, Jeff Biro, Dawn Ketterman Benner, Mike Hingston, Drabenstott, and Curtis.