sport
Table Tennis
I’ve been playing table tennis since I was 14, and I’ve fallen in love with the sport. In middle school in China, I was the only freshman on the varsity table tennis team with only 8 students on the team. After coming to the U.S., even without a high school league to compete in, I won the Deerfield Ping Pong Tournament two years in a row.
Awards
2022
APAC Boys Table Tennis Champion
2024
Deerfield Ping Pong tournament Champion *2
Waterpolo
I started waterpolo when I first came to Deerfield as a freshman, and I was honored by my team mate the title of captain of the season of 2026-2027. I first started as a hole set player then became the goalie. In the Spring i will be managing and scorekeeping the girls waterpolo team.
Awards
2025
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Season overall Win: 6, Loss: 10
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Denoted as the door of the week “Varsity goalie Yong Ding had an astonishing 18 blocks and held full command of his teammates. “
2024
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Denoted as the door of the week “In every game and in every practice, Yong brings his A-game. His energy, attentiveness, and desire to learn the sport have awarded him a newfound awareness of the game. ”
2023
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Denoted as the most determined player in the JV waterpolo team
Swimming
I started swimming at age eight, but I stopped for a while and didn’t return to the sport until I came to Deerfield. I’ve been a JV swimmer for two years and a varsity swimmer for two years. I enjoy long-distance events, and my favorite stroke is freestyle.
Awards
2025
Joined varsity team
2024
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Denoted as the door of the week
“Yong is a rock for the JV Swim team! His steadiness, good spirit, sense of humor, and strength in the pool make him a valued swimmer and teammate. Despite it being only his second year on the team (and at Deerfield), he subtly leads by example every day. “
2023
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Denoted as the door of the week“Yong has shown some serious power in the pool in these first few weeks, especially while swimming freestyle and backstroke. He has also been impressively present, patient, and hard-working during each practice.