Written by Jack Dempsey, Partnerships Specialist at Laurel Springs

At Laurel Springs School, we’re constantly inspired by our students’ journeys. Luis Utrilla, one of our standout alumni, is an awesome example of how passion, perseverance, and a flexible education can pave the way for success.

Now the founder of Athlete Zero, a mental coaching/sports psychology and nutrition company, Luis has navigated an incredible path from competitive tennis to entrepreneurship. His story inspires every department of Laurel Springs and is a reminder of how our school’s personalized approach allows students to pursue their dreams while getting a premier online private education.

From Competitive Tennis Courts to the Online Classroom

Luis’s academic journey started in Spain, where he attended a Catholic school for most of his childhood. Alongside his education, he pursued competitive tennis. As an early adolescent, his progress was already admirable: He won the championship of Spain, won tournaments with Carlos Alcaraz, and represented his national team. At age 17, he broke into the top 100 players in Spain, competed in professional tournaments, and reached the semi-finals of an international tournament.

Luis’s competitive tennis journey eventually led him to an American school tied to his tennis academy. This experience introduced him to the American education system, which he found to be more engaging and fulfilling. When the chance arose to return to his old tennis club to train, however, Luis couldn’t pass the opportunity up. “It was a ‘too good to say no’ situation,” he reflects. But, this meant he needed to discover his own alternative to traditional schooling because his club didn’t offer academics.

After researching options and asking around, Luis and his family discovered Laurel Springs School. “My mom was talking with different families, searching for the best option. Almost everyone pointed her toward Laurel Springs,” Luis shares.

Luis as an International Student

Luis thrived academically at Laurel Springs. He completed 10th through 12th grades with us, balancing his rigorous tennis training with his academic studies. He embraced our self-paced learning, finding it a perfect match for his disciplined nature. “I loved Laurel Springs for its flexibility,” Luis shares. He tailored his education to fit his interests and personal goals, and even found time to try out extracurriculars like the French Club.

Reflecting on his experience, Luis says Laurel Springs empowered him to take control of his education. “Laurel Springs is designed for the driven and disciplined student. You need to take initiative and get ahead, and I felt like Laurel Springs made me even stronger in these areas.”

Being able to study and play tennis simultaneously was incredibly valuable to Luis. This balance between academics and athletics played a crucial role in shaping his life and helped him to get accepted into the best school for entrepreneurship in the U.S., Babson College, where he continues to pursue his goals.

Nurturing an Entrepreneurial Spirit

Luis’s entrepreneurial journey began while he was still a student at Laurel Springs. During the pandemic, he took initiative and started a tutoring business to help kids struggling with online classes, all while juggling his fitness, tennis and academic commitments!

“While at Laurel Springs, I realized I wanted to be an entrepreneur, and I was in the perfect environment: flexible, self-paced, and supportive.” He pursued electives like microeconomics, macroeconomics, and entrepreneurship, which fueled his growing interest in business.

Launching Athlete Zero and Giving Back

Today, Luis is the founder of Athlete Zero, a company that helps student-athletes reach their full potential through mental coaching, sports psychology, and nutrition. Drawing from his own experiences as a competitive athlete and student, Luis created Athlete Zero to support young athletes balancing high-level sports with academics.

Luis’s dream of becoming the #1 tennis player in the world had shifted towards impacting as many lives as possible. He decided to create the center that he would have loved to have when he was young and empower as many young athletes as possible to achieve their dreams.

The partnership between Athlete Zero and Laurel Springs is particularly meaningful because Luis has walked the same path as many of the student-athletes he now mentors. His deep understanding of the challenges they face adds authenticity to the partnership.

He has been known to attend or pop-in to our live Virtual Open Houses – offering his advice and sharing about his online high school experience to prospective LSS families and students who are navigating the decision of choosing the right online private school. Families and students who choose Athlete Zero alongside their education at Laurel Springs benefit from a collaboration rooted in lived experience.

Currently, Luis is studying business at Babson College and plans on graduating in May 2026. We’re incredibly proud of Luis and all that he’s accomplished, enjoying each moment of collaboration with the Partnerships Team of LSS! To learn more about Luis Utrilla’s journey and his work with Athlete Zero, connect with him on LinkedIn or visit our co-branded partnership site, https://partner.laurelsprings.com/athlete-zero/. Other Laurel Springs Alumni can find Luis on our exclusive alumni networking platform, LSS Alumni Connect!

If you wish to learn more about how to partner with Laurel Springs School, please visit https://laurelsprings.com/about/partnerships or connect with me directly via email, jdempsey@laurelsprings.com!

About Laurel Springs School

Laurel Springs is a fully accredited, private online school for K-12 students. With a premier college-prep curriculum including AP® and Honors courses, an ever-expanding schedule of in-person and virtual events, and a global community spanning over 100 countries, we’re ranked as one of the best online private schools in the nation. Join us for a Virtual Open House to learn more and we’ll waive your $300 registration fee when you enroll. Also, see what our current families have to say on Niche!

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