By Joanna Chadwick
Sophomore Pedro Trevizo and his brother, Jose, a freshman, were out riding on their skateboards four years ago when they met West tennis coach Tom Wilcox.
“I asked them, ‘how about you try this?” Wilcox said. “They just kept coming back.”
The brothers are part of a West team that finished the City League with a 5-3 record, which ties the school record.
Winning is something West tennis has gotten used to under Wilcox, who started as a co-coach in 2008. He took over in 2010 as the head coach, and since 2012, West has 31 wins.
After going winless in the City League in 2011, West was 5-3 in 2012 and 2013. That’s impressive for any school, but especially for the Pioneers, who had a 21-year winless streak.
Pedro Trevizo is 7-4 in singles and has a win over Bishop Carroll’s Jack Samway, which prompted a celebratory team dinner at Cici’s Pizza.
“I like playing singles because it gives me less stress, I can focus on myself and see what kind of mistakes I make and how I can improve,” Trevizo said. “I like playing more defense than offense. I usually stay back, wait for that one little mistake that they make. I’ll know their weakness then and push them on.”
Trevizo is so poised, that Wilcox can see him becoming a tennis instructor.
“He lends support in a real positive, adult manner,” Wilcox said. “… He’s really good at reading the other player and noticing if he has troubles with his backhand, for instance. In doubles, he’s able to read and tell the style of the players immediately, so he can exploit weaknesses that he sees.”
David Lopez is 6-2 at No. 2 singles, while Jose Trevizo and Juan Gonzalez have a 5-3 doubles record. Pedro Garcia, in his first season playing tennis, is 5-3 in singles and 7-6 in doubles. David Mancia is 8-6 in doubles. .
“This team is close,” Wilcox said. “They’re kind of like a family. “…. They’re punctual; they’re at the courts waiting on me. They have a real passion for tennis, and I’m happy I can provide an outlet.”
The City League meet is Saturday at Wichita State.
