Senior tennis star Jeremy Albright wraps up dream season.
Tennis Sensation Jeremy Albright practices for the TJ Tennis team. Photo by Ryan Woods
Jeremy Albright has a passion for tennis, a trait that is evident every time he steps onto the court. The payoff for his hard work: success. In his final year, Albright went undefeated in the regular season. This high level of play earned him a spot in the Class 4A Regional Competition on Wednesday October 4, 2012.
Even with these exceptional achievements, Albright manages to stay humble. He credits Coach Tim Cueva with teaching him valuable skills and elevating the status of the tennis program at Thomas Jefferson. When asked who he looks up to in the tennis community, Albright eagerly responded, “hands down Tim Cueva. He has done so much for the tennis program, and has always pushed me to do my best.”
Albright’s history with the sport of tennis goes way back, even before his days at TJ. “Both my parents played tennis so when I was about six years old, and I started to get some time in at the Gates Tennis Center, and I’ve been hooked ever since.” At Gates, Albright turned his raw, natural talent into a more perfected final product. He learned the intricacies of the game, from strategy to technique; he felt his development at Gates has done wonders for him as a player. When Albright arrived at TJ, he already had the skills needed to succeed. He began his career as a Spartan on Varsity doubles. As a young freshman, he learned from his predecessors like TJ alum Tom Gengler, Scott Bruskin, and Dominic Murray. By his Junior year, Albright was carrying a great load for the team, playing in the Varsity singles spot.
This season, Albright was able succeed his heroes by taking on the role of team captain. “Being the team captain is a great honor. It means a lot to be recognized as a leader on the squad,” said Albright, who feels he leads by example as he easily qualified for the district tournament after putting in a stellar undefeated performance in the regular season.
The competition took place on October 4th and 5th in bitter cold temperatures and, after fighting for every point, Albright placed 4th overall, missing the cut by just one place. “While it would have been nice to qualify for state, I’m proud of my performance and I had a lot of fun in competition, so I have no regrets,” said Albright. This competition marks the last time the tennis star will compete as a member of the Thomas Jefferson team, but he hopes to continue his career by playing in college. Regardless of any uncertainties after high school, it is clear that Albright’s legacy at TJ will continue to live on.
