Skyview tennis player Kent Andreasen made a significant change this year, shifting from a two-handed backhand to a one-handed stroke. One thing, however, did not change — his results.
For the third time in his high school career, Andreasen won the district tennis championship. The senior also finished second in the regional and state finals, making him The Columbian’s All-Region boys tennis player of the year for a second consecutive year.
“I struggled. I wasn’t very consistent with my two-hander,” Andreasen said. “I think the one-handed backhand worked out pretty well.”
Andreasen lost just two singles matches all year — both to Federal Way’s Mitch Stewart in the aforementioned finals. His prowess was impressive enough to earn him a scholarship to the University of Portland, where he will attend next fall.
All in all, it was quite a year for Skyview tennis, as Storm freshman Sammi Hampton captured the girls state championship in the midst of an undefeated season, although Andreasen never felt that he was in competition with her.
He does, however, get competitive playing video games such as Call of Duty or NBA 2K12, and is keeping a keen eye on the NBA Finals — where he is rooting for Kevin Durant and the Thunder.
Andreasen also is planning to play some junior tennis over the summer, although he and his folks are going to squeeze in a two-week trip to London as well.
Is he going to the Olympics?
“No,” he said, “we’re going on a cruise.”
Season highlights
• Won the Class 4A district championship for the third time in his high school career.
• Advanced to the bi-district and state championship matches
• Lost just twice this season — each time in the aforementioned championship matches against Mitch Stewart of Federal Way.
• Andreasen advanced to state all four years at Skyview, placing second twice and fourth once.
More about Kent
• Family travels all the time — most often to Japan. But considering his father is a pilot, getting from Point A to Point B isn’t much of an issue.
• Andreasen is a big basketball fan who claims the Trail Blazers’ LaMarcus Aldridge as his favorite player.
• His basketball fandom carries over to video games, as he often plays NBA 2K12, but dabbles in Call of Duty as well.
Next year and beyond
• Has a tennis scholarship to the University of Portland, and is hoping to be ranked internationally one day.
“I wasn’t very consistent with my two-hander. I think the one-handed backhand worked out pretty well.”
Kent Andreasen
on changing his backhand stroke this year
Rest of All-Region team
- Mark Bright, sr., Union: Placed second at state with Connor Horne in 4A doubles.
- Connor Horne, sr., Union: Only dropped one set with Bright at state before losing in the finals.
- Ian Jones, sr., Columbia River: Placed third at 3A bi-district tournament in doubles.
- Zac Jones, sr., Columbia River: Reached consolation semifinals in doubles at 3A state.
- Trevor Jones, sr., Mountain View: Class 3A bi-district runner-up in singles.
- Alex Wallace, sr., Union: Reached semifinals in singles in Class 4A state tournament.
