Athlete of the Week: Kyle Xia
After a long night of homework, you can find senior Kyle Xia jamming out in the Abbot Hall common room while offering food and advice to younger students. “We’ve been through lots of late nights working together, and he’s been there to motivate me when I need it most,” upper Franco Santolamazza said. His dormmates often look to him for inspiration, encouragement or simply an uplifting tune.
“Kyle’s love for music brings energy to the dorm when needed. It lightens the stressful mood and puts us in a good mood to continue working,” Santolamazza added.
Lower Charles Smith agreed with Santolamazza’s sentiments, saying, “Kyle is a great leader in the dorm, and his presence is really appreciated by the lowerclassmen.”
Xia’s dedication and spirit in the dorm translates onto the court everyday as he serves as co-captain of the boys’ volleyball team. “He’s always there for me as a friend, and I think that applies to him as a volleyball player too,” upper Rachel Luo said.
Xia has been playing volleyball since 8th grade. After hearing that the team had a few spots open, he decided to try it, and ended up thoroughly enjoying the sport. When the Exeter boy’s volleyball team formed in 2014, he was eager to join. “I love volleyball since it’s such a team oriented sport,” Xia explained. “No one person can carry a team to victory, it has to be a combined effort of everyone on the team.”
“He makes sure that everyone stays focused, and if anyone is getting down on themselves, he makes sure that they get picked up.”
Xia also commented on how volleyball has helped him build better connections and friendships and to deal with stress in his life. “I really had to learn to trust my teammates on and off the court. Not only that, but volleyball is such a mental sport, and it has taught me to keep calm and composed under pressure,” he said.
Xia identified the team’s affinity for one another as a contributor to their success. “What I love about this team is that we have stayed true to what we stand for since day one,” he said. “We push each other to get better every day and try to maintain a positive atmosphere on and off the court, ensuring that every person is confident in their own ability to play when it comes to game time.”
His strong belief in the team comes from a sense of equality. Xia explained that although he is the captain, he tried to emphasize to his teammates that they all had the opportunity to “take on a leadership role” on the team. “As captain, I’ve tried to stay true to the idea that we’re still a team, and that any victory can only be attributed to every single person on the team giving it their all,” Xia said.
Upper Graham Rutledge commented on Xia’s role as a captain. He said that Xia’s contributions to the team’s dynamic were positive and encouraging. “He makes sure that everyone stays focused, and if anyone is getting down on themselves, he makes sure that they get picked up,” Rutledge said. He also commented on Xia’s athletic abilities, stating, “Kyle is a great fundamental setter, and he brings a focus to his craft that is unparalleled.”
Upper Mitchell Kirsch credited Xia’s success as a captain to his ability to lead by example. “He shows up to practice and gives his full effort no matter what.” Kirsch also commented on Xia’s upbeat attitude. “He keeps everything positive, and is great at acknowledging all the positive things the team does,” Kirsch said.
Lower Noah Asch, who has been on the team since his prep year, said, “Kyle was the glue that kept the team together.” Asch added that Xia’s setting often rescued many passes gone amiss. “He saved [me] more times than I can remember,” Asch said. Xia’s understanding attitude made Asch feel at home on the team. “He was super nice and forgiving when I messed up,” Asch said.
Rutledge echoed Asch’s words, emphasizing Xia’s ability to encourage his teammates. “If anyone is getting down on themselves, he makes sure that they get picked up,” he said. “Kyle is a great captain, player and friend,” Rutledge added.
Luo reiterated Rutledge’s praise, saying, “He’s got this amazing energy on the court. Kyle’s constantly cheering everyone on and he gets so excited whenever his team scores.”
Xia concluded his four years on the volleyball team with a bittersweet goodbye. “It’s been an amazing experience being on this team,” he said. “I’ve only got great memories with these guys. I have this extraordinary of guys and Coach Shang to thank for that.”
Xia wished his teammates the best of luck. “Thanks for everything, go on to win many, many more championships, and keep pushing each other to get better.”