Our Team
Benjamin Liu - Founder and President
Benjamin Liu, a senior at Henry M. Gunn High School, enjoys a diverse range of activities including running, playing basketball, coding, and playing the piano in his spare time. His journey with sports began at a young age when he first joined a local basketball team and later played for an AAU club. This early experience with athletics led him to become a dedicated member of the varsity cross country and track field team in high school, where he is a team captain. As the founder and president of PYSA, he is deeply committed to providing affordable sports opportunities for Bay Area youth. He is driven by a vision of a world where all barriers to sports are dismanteled, and children in local communities are able to cultivate a love for sports. Through PYSA, Benjamin hopes to create a meaningful impact on the lives of young individuals, promoting both physical activity and community engagement.
Wentao Wu - Vice President
Wentao Wu is a current junior at Henry M. Gunn High School. He has loved sports since childhood. He began playing basketball in third grade, where he developed a strong passion for the sport. In fifth grade, Wentao joined his local NJB team and the Midnight Basketball Club, participating in numerous basketball competitions throughout the Bay Area. He recognizes that sports have brought him immense joy and many enriching experiences. Now, as Vice President of PYSA, he actively contributes to the organization's mission and continues to spread his love for basketball to younger children. He strives to promote awareness of sports within the community and ensure that children from low-income families have access to sports training. Drawing from his experience of participating on both school and AAU teams, he has come to believe that the true beauty of sports isn’t whether you win or lose, but whether you enjoy the moment and learn from your mistakes. In his spare time, Wentao also enjoys playing badminton, participates in national chess tournaments, and has a great passion for studying history.
Rayla Chen - Secretary
Tingrun (Rayla) Chen is a current junior at Henry M. Gunn High School. Over the course of her life, she has dedicated herself to many different sports and activities, the highlights of which include club basketball, soccer, and being a competitive swimmer for seven years at Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics. She has been active in athletics since her first swim lessons at the age of three, before joining a non-competitive team in elementary school and later getting promoted to the first team at the age of eight. Her early experiences of being a young athlete made her understand the joy and importance of playing sports and staying active, which led her to take on the role as secretary at the Peninsula Youth Sports Access; committed to building bridges between communities and assisting the board while helping young children achieve their dreams of playing sports. Outside of athletics, you can find Rayla attending theatrical performances put on by local theaters, or ice skating at the local rink as it is one of her favorite pastime hobbies.
Yunru Su - Treasurer
Sara Su, a sophomore at Gunn High School, possesses a remarkable journey in the realm of dance. With a passion ignited at the age of 6, she has garnered a plethora of awards, showcasing her strength in both Chinese traditional and contemporary dance forms. Beyond her individual accomplishments, Sara has taken on leadership roles, serving as a dance captain and currently holding the position of freshman vice president in the student council. Her dedication extends beyond the dance floor, as she played a pivotal role in leading her team to a championship triumph last year. Sara's leadership skills and commitment shine not only in the realm of arts but also in her academic and extracurricular pursuits. With a string of personal dance recognitions under her belt, Sara Su stands as a testament to the fusion of talent, leadership, and dedication, making a lasting impact within Gunn High School's vibrant community.
Isaac Fredericson - Program Director
Isaac Fredericson is a dedicated sophomore at Gunn High School, where he plays on both the varsity basketball and baseball teams. He has been playing basketball since a very young age, competing with numerous AAU teams locally and nationally, learning from a variety of outstanding coaches who have shaped his approach to the game and deepened his understanding of teamwork, discipline, and leadership. Beyond his athletic pursuits, Isaac is passionate about promoting health and wellness among his peers. This passion led him to establish the Gunn Lifestyle Medicine Club, where students actively share and promote the best practices for physical and mental health. Isaac believes that health education is a key element in empowering the youth to make better decisions and build habits that last. As Program Director for PYSA, Isaac has taken his experiences and packaged them into a unique approach to coaching. His goal is to teach the game of basketball in a way that is both fun and engaging, helping to motivate young athletes while also mentoring them. He is particularly passionate about using coaching as a platform for empowering other teens with leadership experience, teaching them how to model and promote a healthy lifestyle through their own coaching practices.