Athlete Spotlight: Luke LeFevre

JAMESTOWN — When Luke LeFevre has a ball in his hand at the tennis baseline, opponents on the opposite side of the net know they best be ready.
The Jamestown standout has one of the hardest serves in the state. And that has certainly been a big weapon for the senior.
“I’ve spent countless hours on the court to get it (my serve) to its current level,’’ He said. “Once I got the basic form of my serve down in middle school, I was constantly at the courts getting reps and working on consistency and placement.”
Getting a first serve in play on a regular basis can indeed be a game changer. It puts the opponent on the defensive at the start of the point and can lead to quick games. 
Jamestown coach Isaac Mimong says Luke’s power game has emerged over the past two seasons. 
In addition, he’s learned to change up his serve, whether it is with speed or location to keep opponents off balance.
An introduction to the sport came at an early age for Luke. “I started playing when I was around five or six,’’ he recalls. “My dad was always a big tennis guy and got our family to the courts quite often.”
At first glance, tennis is a sport that may look simple enough. Hit the ball over the net. Yet there is so much that separates the best from the rest. It comes down to having good foot work, sound ground stroke mechanics, hand-eye coordination, quickness, and of course, mental toughness.
The fact it’s a sport that requires self reliance, is one of the key draws for LeFevre.
“Tennis has a good balance of being an individual sportwhile still having the team dynamic, which is why I love it,’’ he said.”
The path to the top spot in Jamestown’s boys’ varsity tennis lineup was slow, but steady for LeFevre. It began in eighth grade getting some varsity matches. He was often competing against players much older and with more experience. He moved to the No. 4 spot in the lineup as a freshman. Then climbed to No. 2 his sophomore season and has been the top Blue Jay player that past two seasons. 
The many hours practicing on his own and playing with older teammates in the offseason helped contribute to his progression. He would also participate in summer tournaments and camps to become a complete player. 
“When I look back at where I was a few years ago to now, I’ve found that I hit with a lot more spin and pace than I used to,’’ he said. “And that is just from growing up and getting more comfortable with the game.”
Maturity also comes with added years of play. Understanding when to adjust strategies and keep focus in the ebbs and flows of a hotly-contested match.
“When he gets into a rally, he knows what shots he needs to hit and where to hit them in order to put himself in good positions,’’ Mimong said.
The wins started to come on a regular basis and Luke has also been able to find success at the region and state levels. He has qualified for the state doubles tournament twice, including last season where he and teammate Braxton Burkett, earned all-WDA honors and reached the fifth place match at the state doubles tournament.  
The two have developed a lot of chemistry on the court. “When we are paired together we’re just in sync,’’ he said. “It’s gotten to the point where we thinking the exact same. Sometimes we’ll be talking during matches and trying to plan and we’ll just say the same thing at once and there’s not need for anything else.”
Being effective in doubles takes good communication during long and intense rallies to cover the court.
Whether Luke will play singles or doubles again in the postseason remains to be seen. He’s still working to get back to 100 percent from an early-season injury. A decision will come at the end of the regular season.
“He has always been a very coachable and understanding player, and this shows during practice,’’ Mimong said. “He leads by example for the younger players, showing them not only what it takes to be a good player, but a good teammate as well.”
In addition to tennis, Luke has been a standout golfer for the Blue Jays. Another individual sport where mental toughness is required. After graduation he’s looking ahead to college. “I will be going to the University of North Dakota to study aerospace engineering,’’ he said.
He gave some thought about pursuing tennis in college, but elected to focus on his college education plans.
‘I’m definitely going to miss it,’’ he said. “I’ve been playing (on the team) since seventh grade and loved every season. I will also miss the opportunity to play a lot of great guys. I’ve had so many memorable matches in my time on the team.”