Ben McCall/Sun Photo
EYES ... Blue Valley North freshman Jack Sock has his eyes on the ball during the East Kansas League Tournament April 26 at the Indian Creek Recreation Center. Sock won both the EKL title and a regional championship in singles. BLue Valley west in an 8-0 route in the East Kansas League Tournament Saturday at Indian Creek Recreation Center.
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Sock it to 'em
Blue Valley North freshman is one of nation's best in prep tennis
Charles Redfield, Associate Sports Editor
credfield@sunpublcations.com
Jack Sock is enjoying high school tennis.
The Blue Valley North freshman is the eighth-ranked boys 16 singles player in the nation and won the boys 16 singles title at The Easter Bowl United States Tennis Association’s Spring National Championships April 6-13 in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
He has a 31-1 record in junior tennis in 2008.
At the Class 6A BV North Regional held Thursday at Harmon Park in Prairie Village, the freshman rolled to the regional crown.
He won all four matches in straight sets and only giving up five games.
Sock defeated Shawnee Mission North junior Kevin Moore, 6-2, 6-0, in the semifinals. Moore finished second at Class 6A state tournament last year and claimed second at the recent Sunflower League Tournament.
In the finals, he beat SM East junior Chris Fotopoulos. Fotopoulos placed fourth at state last year.
“I played my game,” Sock said. “I made my opponents play uncomfortable. I played a solid tournament all the way around.”
“He’s an outstanding tennis player,” Fotopoulos said. “He is naturally gifted and puts in a lot of work. He anticipates well. He knows where the next ball is coming. He has an all-court game and does not rely on one type of game.”
He easily won the singles title at the East Kansas League Tournament April 26 at the Indian Creek Recreation Center.
He beat BV Northwest sophomore Travis Neilson 6-2, 6-1 for the championship. Neilson placed fifth at the Class 6A state tournament last year in singles.
“He comes up with the best shots at the right time. He is one of the best with shot selection,” Neilson said.
“I did it for the school,” Sock said. “It is meaningful.”
Sock said that junior tennis is more competitive.
“High school tennis is more relaxing,” he said. “People can see me play and I can hang out with friends. And I can play against friends from other schools. I enjoy playing in front of my friends. It is nice they can see me play.”
Why did he decide to try high school tennis when he is a highly-ranked player nationally?
“My brother (Eric, 17 and a junior at BV North) played for two years,” he said. “He said it was fun.”
Eric teamed with senior Hank Lee to beat SM East’s P.J. Guignon and Jack Peterson 6-4, 6-3 for the regional doubles title.
Opposing coaches have been impressed with Jack Sock’s play.
“He is very consistent,” BV Northwest coach Ted Fabiano said. “It is hard to put him away.”
“He doesn’t make any errors,” SM East coach Sue Chipman said.
Sock will be playing in his first state tournament Friday and Saturday when the 6A state tournament unfolds in Goddard.
“I need to play my game,” he said.
Sock got his start in tennis at the age of 8.
“My mom (Pam) used to play,” he said. “She showed me a racquet and a ball. I started hitting (into) the garage door. Then I took some lessons.”
This all happened occurred in Lincoln, Neb.
Six years ago, he investigated the Mike Wolf Tennis Academy here in Overland Park.
“We came down on the weekends trying it out,” Sock said.
Back in his fifth-grade year, the family moved to Overland Park.
“The family decided to move here,” he said. “The decision was for tennis for Eric and me.”
Sock won four national singles titles in boys 12 and six in doubles. He won a doubles title in boys 14, but two stress fractures kept him out of tennis in 2006.
“I was out almost a year,” he said. “I really wanted to play tennis. I was on the couch and watching my brother play high school tennis. I definitely missed playing.”
He used 2007 to get back to 2005 form.
“I tried to work myself back,” he said. “Now, I feel really good about the game.”
The Mustangs freshman practices tennis often.
“I average three hours a day six days a week at the (Mike Wolf Tennis) Academy,” he said. “I like the academy and I like my school.”
What does he say about his game?
“I am an all-court player and when there is an opportunity I attack,” he said. “My strengths are movement and my forehand. I am working on my serves.”
Sock still has time to play in boys 16 with his 17th birthday in September 2009.
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e-mail this story
credfield@sunpublcations.com
Jack Sock is enjoying high school tennis.
The Blue Valley North freshman is the eighth-ranked boys 16 singles player in the nation and won the boys 16 singles title at The Easter Bowl United States Tennis Association’s Spring National Championships April 6-13 in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
He has a 31-1 record in junior tennis in 2008.
At the Class 6A BV North Regional held Thursday at Harmon Park in Prairie Village, the freshman rolled to the regional crown.
He won all four matches in straight sets and only giving up five games.
Sock defeated Shawnee Mission North junior Kevin Moore, 6-2, 6-0, in the semifinals. Moore finished second at Class 6A state tournament last year and claimed second at the recent Sunflower League Tournament.
In the finals, he beat SM East junior Chris Fotopoulos. Fotopoulos placed fourth at state last year.
“I played my game,” Sock said. “I made my opponents play uncomfortable. I played a solid tournament all the way around.”
“He’s an outstanding tennis player,” Fotopoulos said. “He is naturally gifted and puts in a lot of work. He anticipates well. He knows where the next ball is coming. He has an all-court game and does not rely on one type of game.”
He easily won the singles title at the East Kansas League Tournament April 26 at the Indian Creek Recreation Center.
He beat BV Northwest sophomore Travis Neilson 6-2, 6-1 for the championship. Neilson placed fifth at the Class 6A state tournament last year in singles.
“He comes up with the best shots at the right time. He is one of the best with shot selection,” Neilson said.
“I did it for the school,” Sock said. “It is meaningful.”
Sock said that junior tennis is more competitive.
“High school tennis is more relaxing,” he said. “People can see me play and I can hang out with friends. And I can play against friends from other schools. I enjoy playing in front of my friends. It is nice they can see me play.”
Why did he decide to try high school tennis when he is a highly-ranked player nationally?
“My brother (Eric, 17 and a junior at BV North) played for two years,” he said. “He said it was fun.”
Eric teamed with senior Hank Lee to beat SM East’s P.J. Guignon and Jack Peterson 6-4, 6-3 for the regional doubles title.
Opposing coaches have been impressed with Jack Sock’s play.
“He is very consistent,” BV Northwest coach Ted Fabiano said. “It is hard to put him away.”
“He doesn’t make any errors,” SM East coach Sue Chipman said.
Sock will be playing in his first state tournament Friday and Saturday when the 6A state tournament unfolds in Goddard.
“I need to play my game,” he said.
Sock got his start in tennis at the age of 8.
“My mom (Pam) used to play,” he said. “She showed me a racquet and a ball. I started hitting (into) the garage door. Then I took some lessons.”
This all happened occurred in Lincoln, Neb.
Six years ago, he investigated the Mike Wolf Tennis Academy here in Overland Park.
“We came down on the weekends trying it out,” Sock said.
Back in his fifth-grade year, the family moved to Overland Park.
“The family decided to move here,” he said. “The decision was for tennis for Eric and me.”
Sock won four national singles titles in boys 12 and six in doubles. He won a doubles title in boys 14, but two stress fractures kept him out of tennis in 2006.
“I was out almost a year,” he said. “I really wanted to play tennis. I was on the couch and watching my brother play high school tennis. I definitely missed playing.”
He used 2007 to get back to 2005 form.
“I tried to work myself back,” he said. “Now, I feel really good about the game.”
The Mustangs freshman practices tennis often.
“I average three hours a day six days a week at the (Mike Wolf Tennis) Academy,” he said. “I like the academy and I like my school.”
What does he say about his game?
“I am an all-court player and when there is an opportunity I attack,” he said. “My strengths are movement and my forehand. I am working on my serves.”
Sock still has time to play in boys 16 with his 17th birthday in September 2009.