Alex Sherer Qualifies For State Tennis

From the Capital-Journal

At long last, Alex Sherer was going to get his shot.

The Rossville senior is a tennis standout, has been for several years. The catch was, Rossville didn't have a tennis program.

But in the fall of 2019, the school worked out a co-op agreement with Hayden, allowing the Sherers a chance to compete as part of a high school team. Alex's younger sister Alivia got the first crack at it and made the most of it, qualifying for state in 2019 as a freshman.

Alex was ready to follow suit last spring, and he was chomping at the bit ready. Then the season was canceled by the Kansas State High School Activities Association due to COVID-19 concern and that opportunity was stripped away.

"A buddy of mind who graduated from Hayden last year (Ronan Boyle), we were hitting balls and getting ready for the season and they had just postponed school for another week," Sherer recalled. "Then it just happened. It was a little wild and a lot disappointing."

This spring, Sherer finally got his opportunity. And he's made the most of it. Not only has he joined his sister as a state qualifier — the first boy in Rossville history to accomplish that feat — he goes to this weekend's state tournament in Wichita as a serious contender for the Class 3-2-1A state singles title.

Sherer is 32-2 on the season with only Central Plains' Peyton Ryan (29-0) sporting a better overall record.

Unsure of exactly what to expect from his one and only high school season, Sherer said the only expectation he carried into it was to win as many matches as he could.

"It was just trying to enjoy it and me being me, I always want to win," said Sherer, who has been consistently ranked in the top 40 in the Missouri Valley Region during the summer. "Every time I step out on the court I'm trying to win, expecting to win because that's what you do. Ideally, going undefeated is what I wanted, but 32-2 isn't too bad so far."