Coupeville Sports

   Nile Lockwood fires up a serve Wednesday afternoon during practice. (Ken Stange photo)

Nile Lockwood has made a fast impression.

“He’s a wild one, but he’s also very kind and funny,” said Coupeville High School tennis coach Ken Stange.

“And sometimes inappropriate,” he added with a huge laugh.

Since Stange is an easy-going free spirit with a wild sense of humor himself, it’s a player/coach match made to order.

Lockwood, a Wolf freshman who started playing tennis six month ago, made his regular-season debut Monday in Sequim, teaming with Aiden Crimmins to play doubles.

It’s just the start of a journey Lockwood hopes will go on for some time.

“I started because it was a lot of fun to play and everyone was super friendly,” Lockwood said. “My goal is to have a great season and win most of my games and make varsity next year.”

Like most younger players, he’s beginning to learn what parts of his game are already set, and what needs to be tweaked.

“One of my strengths is my power,” Lockwood said. “I would like to work on my backhands, because they’re not as strong as my forehand.”

Away from the court he has hopes to “get through high school with good grades and go to college” and he has come to deeply appreciate the help offered by family, his coach and some of the Wolf veterans.

“The people that have helped me out the most are (fellow Wolf player) John McClarin, Ken Stange and my mom for getting me to all the practices and lessons I’ve taken,” Lockwood said. “And just about everyone on the team.”