Font ResizeHe wasn't running around the tennis court with his Trojans teammates as he was Thursday evening when he helped Suburban to a 6-1 win over Spring Grove.
Lee, a senior, missed nearly half the season last year as his lung collapsed before the tennis season was to begin.
"It was pretty crazy. I was really freaked out. I thought I was going to die," Lee said.
After he got off a treadmill at a local gym, Lee just didn't feel right.
"It hurt a lot to breathe," Lee said. "I went into the locker room and laid on a bench and called my mom. We went to the hospital and they told me my lung collapsed."
As if that wasn't enough, it happened again in July. For the second time in less than five months, Lee's lung collapsed.
"After the second time, I got surgery for it to make sure it doesn't happen again," Lee said. "It hasn't actually bothered me since the surgery."
Lee, who returned to playing after missing the first few weeks of last season, was the Trojans No. 5 singles player last season.
This season, he checks in at their No. 2 spot where Thursday he was a 6-2, 6-1 winner over Derrin Schrom.
"David plays well in practice and we've been waiting to see how he will contest on the court," Trojans head coach Mark O'Reilly said. "I felt like David picked up his game against Schrom. He was dictating pace from the backhand side. He was
Lee, who just recently became more comfortable with his backhand, enjoys showcasing it.
"I can hit a forehand, but my backhand is just second nature now," he said.
York Suburban (1-1) won at singles spots two through five.
Elliot Diehl won, 6-0, 6-2, at No. 3, and at No. 4, Nick McElhinny pulled out a 6-1, 6-0 victory. At No. 5, Ben Lam earned a 6-2, 6-2 win.
Spring Grove's No. 1 Chris Mathews improved to 3-0 on the season with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 win over Michael Hogg.
"Chris is mentally tough," Rockets head coach Holly Metzger said. "He can take a match, even if he's down, and turn it in his favor."
Mathews did just that, coming back from a 3-1 deficit in the first set. His coach applauded the senior's determination and leadership.
"Everybody likes Chris. They know his tennis talents. He has great manners and sportsmanship, and he's a great leader to have because people follow him," Metzger said.
Spring Grove, which is 0-3 on the season, will try to learn from its mistakes.
"We want to take the losses we have and improve upon them each game," Metzger said. "Sometimes during those first three matches, we've done the same things incorrectly and it's taking those things to practice and recognizing them and improving upon them for the next match."
at Spring Grove
Y. SUBURBAN 6, SPRING GROVE 1
Singles
Chris Mathews, SG, def. Michael Hogg, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2; David Lee, YS, def. Derrin Schrom, 6-2, 6-1; Elliot Diehl, YS, def. Jeremy Seitz-Brown, 6-0, 6-2; Nick McElhinny, YS, def. Elijah Robert, 6-1, 6-0; Ben Lam, YS, def. Matt Sheehan, 6-2, 6-2.
Doubles
Atkinson-Lam, YS, def. Roberts-Schrom, 8-4; Lee-McElhinny, YS, def. Mathews-Seitz-Brown, 6-5 (1).
