Ike Davidson. Photo by Carol Toler.
Lutheran High School senior Ike Davidson earned his second consecutive TAPPS 3A state tennis championship earlier this month. Ike is the son of The Ticket’s Corby Davidson and his wife, Julie.
Ike defeated Cairo Sterns of Waco Live Oak 6-0, 6-0 in the finals. The tournament was held at the Waco Regional Tennis Center.
“I’m left-handed and my biggest strength is my forehand,” Ike said, explaining the key to his victory. “Plus, no one can hit my serves. My serve isn’t exceptional, but I can place it well. It isn’t the fastest, but I can put a lot of spin on it.”
Ike said he’s a “finesse” guy, who doesn’t try to scout his opponent or get into the head of the guy across the court.
“I focus on myself,” he told me. “I don’t hit the ball the hardest, but I have clean, fluid strokes.”
Ike is the only member of Lutheran’s tennis team, so competing has been a solitary endeavor on his campus. Each year at the tournament, though, he connected with top players from around the state. He made it to the state semifinals as a sophomore and won championships as a junior and senior.
Ike is hoping there’ll be freshmen coming along behind him to join the team next year, and if there are, he’s got a few tips.
“Just have fun,” he advises. “Don’t get mad if you lose — it’s pretty fun just to be out there.”
He’ll be headed off to the University of Kansas in a few months, so Ike’s days of competitive tennis are coming to an end. The life lessons, though, are just beginning.
“Tennis has taught me how to lose and how not to get angry,” he said. “And I’ve learned how to figure things out for myself.”
The best thing about competing in the state championship, he said, was earning the chance to play on Waco’s high-profile Stadium Court, which holds a couple hundred spectators.
“I was pretty nervous at first,” he admitted, “but I settled in after the first couple of games.”
Performing with ease in front of watchful eyes? Indeed, he is his father’s son.
