Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Jerry Enverso

Each week, Marple Newtown Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens, and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. This week, we highlight fifth grader Jerry Enverso, who placed second in St. Pius X School's First in Math program as just a fourth grader last year. He competed against eighth grade students.

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Jerry Enverso

Whiz Kid's Age: 10

Whiz Kid's School:

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Last year, Jerry competed with his school against other schools in the diocese as well as in the nation in the online math competition First in Math program, in which St. Pius X School came out on third. Jerry received second place out of his school and ranked among eighth graders at St. Pius X, who took the first and third places.

Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: "It felt great," reflected Jerry on receiving second place for the math program. "It felt like an accomplishment because in the beginning of the year I was aiming to get in the top three and I did it."

Although he admitted it felt great to place second in the math competition, Jerry said he simply just enjoyed learning through the program. Some of the problems that he encountered through the game were the first time he's ever seen them.

"It actually teaches me things that I never learned before," said Jerry. "It taught me how to add from fractions and how to multiply with integers. That was the first time I ever saw and learned them. I'm going to be learning about that stuff later in the year. I just wanted to learn more."

Perhaps it was his mother's influence, who is also apparently a math whiz herself, according to Jerry, but he believes he's always been interested in math.

"Math is my favorite subject," said Jerry, who is in honors math and hopes to continue to be in honors math through his time at St. Pius X. "I find it fun to do. That's why I like it. Actually, I think I always liked math."

Though Jerry enjoys learning math, he loves learning other subjects include English, social studies because "I like to learn about the past," and science because "I find it really cool...we get to use some chemicals."

If he isn't solving math problems, you can find Jerry practicing his other passions, which lie within his sports. Though he's started practicing Karate at the age of 6 and already holds a black belt, tennis could easily be his favorite sport, in which he started playing at the age of 6 as well.

Right now, he competes against 14- and 15-year-olds with his teams at the Llanerch Country Club or Springfield Country Club. As a younger player competing against older players his age, it can be intimidating but Jerry usually plays his game with a methodical strategy.

"This one kid I was playing, his weaknesses were fast and low shots so I did that once and he kept hitting it high and that's how I usually won the point," recalled Jerry. "Sometimes I feel pressure but my tennis coach always tells me to relax. So everytime I get nervous, I think about that and I say to myself, 'I'm okay.'"

Rafael Nadal is one of Jerry's favorite players to watch and a player who he admires.

"I like that he doesn't lose his temper when he loses a match because some players do that," said Jerry. "I look up to him. I want to be like him."

Jerry aspires to be a tennis pro some day and noted he would love to have a career like Nadal's one day.

Editor's note: Know a great kid who made Eagle Scout or did your local soccer team take the championship? They may be our next Patch Whiz Kid honoree. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Patch Whiz Kid.