WWAY Student Athlete of the Week: Augie Ballantine

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Our WWAY Student Athlete of the Week is excelling in the classroom and on the tennis court, and has a special connection with a recently deceased tennis icon.

18-year-old senior Augie Ballantine plays for New Hanover High School’s tennis team and is committed to playing tennis at UNCW next year. Augie’s favorite class is American history and he got a first-hand look at a piece of history over the last decade.

When he isn’t on the tennis court or in the classroom, Augie helps out at One Love Tennis The organization founded by the late Lenny Simpson. It’s a year-round program that provides tennis instruction and academic help to at-risk youth. Augie is glad he’s been a part of Simpson’s vision.

“I was so lucky to be a part of the program and I still go out there and help today and, he started a great organization for young tennis players, and people who wanted to get started into tennis,” Ballantine said.

Augie says he’s looking forward to his senior year and said it was an honor to be nominated for Student Athlete of the Week.