Name: Sam Neijenhuizen
Born: Sep. 18, 2006
Sport: Men’s Tennis
University: Whittier College
Placed: Fall 2024
The Hague tennis player Sam Neijenhuizen is set to make his mark in college tennis in the United States. In the fall of 2024, he left for California to study and play sports at Whittier College. Sam has been training at OLTC for many years and is known for his strong forehand, quick footwork and tactical insight. He combines his technical game with a hefty dose of perseverance and that has taken him far.
Qualities on the job
Sam is a smart and agile player who reads matches like no other. His forehand is his main weapon: hard, controlled and often unstoppable. He also has a solid backhand and a service that keeps getting better. He works daily on his physical strength and explosiveness to be able to make the difference in longer rallies. Although he mainly played at the regional level, his ambition was clear: to develop as a player while enjoying the adventure in America.
From VWO to college tennis
After graduating from high school, Sam immediately decided to make the move to the United States. His goals as a student-athlete were clear: secure an athletic scholarship, combine tennis with academic growth, and gain international experience. The road to the right university was not one without challenges. The academic requirements were high and choosing from multiple options made it difficult. But Sam proceeded with precision and acted quickly, which earned him several great scholarship offers.
The Role of Slamstox
Slamstox played a central role in Sam’s journey. Together they searched for a college with good weather, strong facilities and a challenging training program. Whittier College in Los Angeles proved to be the perfect match. Counseling focused not only on the athletic and academic aspects, but also on Sam’s well-being and finding a place where he could feel at home. The personal contact, scholarship advice and Slamstox experience were invaluable.
Dream start in California
The transition to America went remarkably smoothly for Sam. He immediately felt at home in the team and showed what he could do in training and in matches. He now gets a lot of playing minutes, achieves sporting success and has already made great strides in his game. The combination of a tennis and academic scholarship allows Sam to optimally focus on both goals.
“The first months are really pleasing, even better than I expected. I feel like I’m playing really well and am very confident with this team!” – Sam Neijenhuizen
A bright future ahead
With his sharp attitude, clear goals and athletic growth, Sam is poised to continue building his tennis career and academic development in the coming years. Whittier College offers him the perfect stage for that, in the middle of sunny California.
Like Sam, do you want to play tennis and study in America? Then schedule a free introductory meeting now!
