Tennis players Jason Searl, Renton Williams put the student in student-athlete
Neither Andover Central senior Renton Williams nor Kapaun Mount Carmel senior Jason Searl contemplated playing college tennis.
Once the postseason is finished — each hopes for a state berth in mid May — Williams will be off to Baylor, where, as a National Merit finalist, his tuition is covered. And Searl, the top-ranked student in his class, is off to West Point.
Yet Searl, who is taking three AP classes, and Williams, who is taking four, have chosen to balance the high demands of their academics-first life with playing sports.
Neither regrets the decision.
“While there’s definitely easier options and paths where I’d have more fun, this is the best way for me to give back and to use my talents,” Searl said. “… My dad has given me the advice to pursue the hardest path to get the most out of high school. So I knew I wanted to try and play a varsity sport.”
Williams added: “Athletics are an important part of most students’ lives.… Sports really makes sure you’re more involved with the school, and that’s important.”
Williams, like Searl, played varsity tennis all four years, and he also was a four-year varsity soccer player, a sport he started playing at age 5. He’s a passionate, driven athlete.
But his future in athletics will be relegated to trying out for Baylor’s club soccer team.
“For most athletes, the possibility of making a career out of it isn’t there,” Williams said. “The athletes that can do well academically as well as athletically, they have more of a chance at future success.”
Williams and Searl faced each other twice in 2015. The second match was in the Class 5A regionals with a trip to the state tournament on the line. Searl won the first set 6-2, but then cramps overwhelmed him to the point that, after hitting a leaping overhead shot, he crashed to the court in pain.
Searl could have quit. He didn’t.
Neither has the gorgeous ground strokes of the elite tennis players, but both are deeply competitive.
“Jason plays smart,” Kapaun coach Chip Reed said. “He finds a player’s weaknesses and he’ll attack that. He analyzes the situation and does the right thing.”
Williams often frustrates opponents because of his unending endurance that allows him to get to every ball for a return, all the while patiently waiting for his opponent to make a mistake.
He’s one of the most competitive and self-driven players I’ve ever coached, as well as the highest academic achieving player I’ve coached. You’d never know it because he is a man of few words.
Andover Central coach Mark Fleske
“It’s sort of my way to success,” Williams said. “I can’t beat you with my strokes, so it’s hitting back in play every time until they miss. It’s not very fun to play or play against, but it gets the job done.”
On that Saturday in regionals, Searl didn’t want to default due to injury.
“I’m not someone to give up on something,” said Searl, who is president of the national honor society and vice president of the student body. “… I had to prove to myself that I could stay in the fight. It’s loving that battle that makes it all worthwhile.
“Next year at West Point, they’ll throw a lot of stuff at me, and it’s going to be hard to balance everything. It’s good practice.”
Williams won the match in three sets for his second straight trip to state.
Both are accustomed to difficult situations. Searl, who has been on Kapaun’s most rigorous academic path, hasn’t played in as many matches this season because his AP Physics class meets for two hours on Monday and Wednesday nights.
I definitely make sure I have fun. Freshman year I was a little bit too focused on making sure I was getting everything done school-wise. I’ve learned to balance family and friends. It has made it worth it.
Jason Searl
Williams has given up the chance to play the trombone in the school play because another night of practices would make getting homework done difficult.
“It’s really about sacrificing your free time,” Williams said. “It’s definitely manageable as long as you stay active with the time that you have.”
Searl agreed.
“As a senior I’ve learned to look for the small opportunities — if you’re at home with 30 minutes in between running from school to a meeting to physics, you have to spend it hitting the books. Because if I don’t, I fall behind,” he said.
Williams is considering a career in mechanical engineering, while Searl is thinking of a military leadership role or in medicine, also possibly in the military.
“So often kids who achieve like Renton (and Searl) have academically, they don’t make the front page,” Andover Central coach Mark Fleske said. “… I love any attention we can give to kids who are humble and hard-working and intelligent, even though they aren’t a state champion.”
Joanna Chadwick: 316-268-6270, @joannachadwick
This story was originally published April 22, 2016 at 9:57 AM with the headline "Tennis players Jason Searl, Renton Williams put the student in student-athlete."