By Tess Whitet
Executive Sports Editor
German foreign exchange student and junior Marlene Luths serves aces on the Mira Costa tennis team.
Luths moved on August 14 from Wilhelmshaven, Germany to Manhattan Beach where she now plays for the Mustangs on the junior varsity tennis team.
“I like [being here] so much,” Luths said. “I love Manhattan Beach and I love the weather. I like playing on the team and I like spending time with them. I like the school way more than in Germany.”
Luths moved to Manhattan Beach through an organization called Aspect Foundation, which coordinated her flight, family and any other necessities she needed for her stay. Luths will stay with the Haim family until she moves back to Germany at the end of this school year.
“It’s interesting and educational for the whole family to learn about the differences between Germany and the United States, with school, food and teenagers,” host mother Heidi Haim said.
Luths has been family friends with the Haim family for a long time, both hosting and visiting their family in the past. Heidi Haim hosted Luths’s father when he was 17 years old and she was 16 years old, leading the two families to become very close over the years.
“My dad did the same when he was as old as me and he always told me [about] the year he spent here and how great it was, so I wanted to do the same,” Luths said.
Luth played tennis in Germany when she was young, but stopped about four years ago when she received the lead role in her school play. She began playing again when she came to America and joined the Costa team. She decided to join the team because she thought the tennis team would be a good way to meet people and get back on the court, Luths said.
“I personally feel that exposing students to different cultures can never be a bad thing,” tennis coach Joe Ciasulli said. “It gives her a built-in group of friends to help with her transition to life here. I think it’s a win-win.”
German schools don’t have any sports teams, but do have different clubs that have lessons about once or twice a week. The Costa team differs from this as it is much more demanding, with harder and more serious practices, according to Luths.
“Even though it’s exhausting and it takes a lot of time, I like that we have practice everyday because you spend a lot of time with your team and you can really improve your playing,” Luths said.
Luths plans to continue playing tennis in Germany next year on a tennis club called Wilhelmshaver Tennis und Hockey Club (WTHC). According to Luths, playing tennis is just for fun and she does not have any future plans of playing tennis.
“I did not think I would like it so much, but I think that when I get home I want to continue playing,” Luths said.
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