He was brand new to the game.
He was a late arrival to tryouts.
He was unnerved.
He was ranked 35th in a 35-person tennis program at Columbia River High School.
That was his freshman year.
As a junior, Chris Perez and his doubles partner finished seventh at the Class 3A state tournament.
The new Columbia River tennis coach said he is enjoying his job.
And while he one day wants the position permanently, he hopes his first chance as the head coach is only temporary.
“I love the responsibility, and I love the challenge,” John Heim said. “I’m very happy to be holding down the fort until Jim comes back.”
That would be longtime coach Jim Chapman, who took this fall season off after a medical procedure this summer.