Connor Lange’s 6’3 frame provides him with all the makings of a basketball standout. And during the spring and summer months, the Moses Lake, WA native can indeed be found most days and nights at the local courts. Though instead of the basketball courts working on jump shots and free throw shooting, the Moses Lake High School senior and member of the Wenatchee-based Wracaroochies is on the tennis courts working to perfect his serve and volley and his ground strokes.
“I picked up a racquet for the first time in the 4th grade and fell in love with tennis right there and then,” said Lange, 17 on Saturday as his team prepared for their second day of competition at the at the 2009 USTA Jr. Team Tennis 18 and Under Intermediate National Championships, held at the Mobile (AL.) Tennis Center. “I did play basketball until the 9th grade and enjoyed it, but then decided to focus solely on tennis all-year round.”
Lange and his Wracaroochies teammates almost didn’t make the field of 16 this weekend, though it was not because of a lack of wins or talent.
“Our flight from Seattle to Memphis was delayed an hour-and-a-half and we found ourselves running through Memphis airport trying to catch our connecting flight to Mobile. My dad (Greg Lange) single-handedly stalled the plane so we all could make it,” Lange chuckled. “Otherwise, we don’t make it to Mobile until Friday morning since that was the last flight of the night.”
Success for Lange in the sport does not come easy. Living in the rural community of Moses Lake, the town does not feature a racquet club, no indoor facility and not even a covered facility. Twice a week, he drives 90 minutes to Wenatchee to practice with his teammates. Despite living 70 miles away, Lange does not see himself as a outsider trying to fit in with the team.
“Our high schools play against each other, so I had gotten to know the other members of the roster even before we teamed up,” said Lange. “Sometimes the constant driving frustrates me a little bit, but it’s for something I really enjoy doing, so it works out in the end.”
While Lange looks to be the No.1 single players on his team this spring, he knows what he has to overcome.
“I’m not the most athletically-gifted player, so I’ve had to push myself more so than others. I put in the time in the offseason and fortunately the results have paid off so far. Nobody can take that away from me”
Not even a delayed airline flight.
