Coupeville Sports

Garrett Compton (Photo courtesy Compton)

   Compton looks for an opening during last spring’s soccer season. (John Fisken photo)

Garrett Compton is a master of cerebral tennis.

The Coupeville High School senior, who is pursuing a role as a single player this season after three years as a double ace, approaches the game much as he does his school work — with great intensity.

“I started because the sport of tennis itself has always seemed to baffle me; I never understood how people could hit a ball so hard but so accurate at the same time,” Compton said. “The only way to find out was to play!”

An avid longboarder and a varsity soccer player for the Wolves, he has learned to mesh his playing style on the court with a string of partners.

“My favorite part about tennis has to be the level of teamwork required,” Compton said. “For the last three years l have played doubles and with each partner I was able to be a “second half” of a single brain, so to speak.”

With Aaron Curtin and Kyle Bodamer having graduated, CHS was left with only one returning singles player in Sebastian Davis, who is moving up a slot to anchor the team as the top gun.

Compton is in the middle of a battle to earn one of the two remaining singles slots, and is hard at work trying to fine-tune his skills.

“My strengths would have to be my forehand. I get such great topspin and power behind the ball, that even I’m surprised,” he said. “On the other hand my level of focus is a little unstable.

“If I get out of focus I lose the accuracy and power on my shots, and I can’t have that!”

Away from the courts, he is almost constantly on the move — though he admits he often disappears, sucked in by a good book.

Compton is in the CHS drama troupe, competes with the school’s Science Olympiad club and picks math as his favorite subject.

“My favorite class would have to be any sort of math with Mr. (Kyle) Nelson,” Compton said. “He’s a serious teacher, but he also knows how to make learning fun.

“Also, I’m kinda biased because he is the soccer coach…”

Along with Nelson, Wolf tennis coach Ken Stange gets a shout-out, as well as Compton’s family.

“My parents have always been a big part of who I am,” he said. “They are the ones who pushed me to try new things like tennis!

“Although without Mr. Stange and my close friends who suffered my bad shots and endless questions, I wouldn’t be nearly as good as I am today.”