Among Westwood tennis player Aayush Parikh's favorite things: rock climbing and Rubik's Cubes

Faces off the field gives a deep look into the thoughts and lives of high school student-athletes in the Austin area. Today we feature Westwood tennis player Aayush Parikh, who aspires to become an electrical engineer.

All about Aayush: Taekwondo black belt savored rock climbing in New Zealand

Tell something about you that most people don't know.

I have a black belt in taekwondo. I did it for about eight years before I couldn't continue.

Outside of sports, what's something you're really good at?

I'm pretty good at Rubik's Cubing. About two summers ago I got really bored and picked up a Rubik's Cube, and that started a phase. I would practice every day and even got my time down to 27 seconds.

What has been your favorite vacation?

My favorite vacation would have to be New Zealand. I went with my family and we spent 10 days hiking and rock climbing all over the South Island. It was a really unique experience since I got to compare the lifestyle in the U.S. and New Zealand. I found the food to be a lot cleaner and healthier as well as cheaper.

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If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

My mind immediately says India since most of my family lives there. We used to go every two years, but it has been almost three years since I last went. It is really hard to find time with all the extracurriculars. It would be amazing to go meet everyone in India again.

What will you do after you graduate?

My plan is to go to a college for electrical engineering, then pursue a master's degree. I am debating whether or not to go for a PhD, but I have time to figure it out. I would love to play college tennis, but even if I don't play for a team, I will find some time to get out on the court.

Winning one for the team a favorite memory

What is your favorite memory of Westwood tennis?

I have two really strong memories that stand out. The first one is team bonding during one of our overnight trips. It was my first overnight, and I was pretty nervous, but the team was super welcoming and pretty soon I was laughing and having a great time.

The second one is more of a tennis one. It was the district meet during the spring season last year. I was playing against one of my friends from McNeil. This match would have decided who went on to regionals. I lost the first set in a tiebreak; we were neck-and-neck when he finally pulled ahead. Coach (Travis) Dalrymple and coach (Dan) Veve were next to me the whole time, trying to motivate me. I managed to fight back and win the second set 6-4. By this point, everyone else was done, and both my team and his team were watching us. The last set was grueling, and both of us were exhausted. With the help of my coaches and my teammates cheering me on, I managed to get the final set 6-4. I will never forget that match point, that winner I hit at the net and my whole team jumping to their feet and celebrating.

What's the hardest tennis skill for you?

I would say returning lobs. It seems simple, but I always find a way to mess it up. Luckily for me, it's not a huge part of the game where it occurs frequently.

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What do you enjoy most about your school?

I love how competitive Westwood is. I know that for a lot of people, the competition can seem daunting and not enticing, but for me, I thrive. I love it when everyone around me is extremely smart and accomplished. It gives me motivation to push myself and come out stronger.

Dream dinner: International gathering takes lessons in math, physics

If you could have dinner with any four people in the history of the world, who would they be?

I would pick Roger Federer, (former captain of the Indian national cricket team) Virat Kohli, Archimedes and (late Indian mathematician) Srinivasa Ramanujan.

Why Virat Kohli?

I think Kohli is pretty weird. I chose him because he is my favorite cricketer ever. At my house, there is always either cricket or tennis on TV. I grew up watching him and he's kind of a legend in the cricketing world. So I would definitely pick him.

You're in charge of the menu. What would you serve?

I would serve a mushroom risotto. I was trying to think of a fancy dish that would be suitable for such famous guests. I also wanted something that I personally love. I love making mushroom risotto, and I make it whenever I have to make food for just myself.

— Rick Cantu