Minnetonka Boys' Tennis Wins State Title Led By A Familiar Name
MINNETONKA, Minn. (WCCO) -- Minnetonka looked like a lot of schools at the state tournament -- a competitive team with nervous parents.
"It can be nerve-wracking, but you know that they like to play and they like the competition and coming from behind is a big deal," said parent Michelle Smiley.
Tennis is one of those unique sports where it's a combination of team and solo.
"I think what's so unique about it is these individuals still play as a team, and then some of them get a chance to play as individuals," said Minnetonka assistant athletic director Paul Twenge. "To win a state championship as a team while being an individual, I don't know how to formulate that."
But at Minnetonka this season, it was mainly team. Without an individual qualifier, they won the title.
And they did it with a familiar name: Wheaton.
That's right. In 1984 David Wheaton -- just a freshman -- leapt onto the tennis stage by winning a state title before leaving for a specialized tennis school.
Now he's the proud uncle of two Skippers that helped them win it.
"Now I know what it's like for my parents and family to watch me play. It's a little nerve-wracking in the stands. It's a lot harder on the court though. As nerve-wracking as it is in the stands, it's much harder – it's easy to kind of dial up what they should do when you're sitting in the stands," said David Wheaton.
If you think that's difficult, try playing as the nephew to David Wheaton.
"It means a lot. Especially the expectations. I can't really live up to my uncle, but I can try my best to just work as hard as I can," said Ben Wheaton, David's nephew.
What David Wheaton mastered back in his day is still true today.
"I think the most important principle in all of sport, whatever sport you're in, is staying in the present," he said.
"If you're thinking about what could happen if I win or lose this point, or thinking ahead, 'What if I win this match?' or looking back and being down on yourself or maybe some bad play, that's not going to help you in the present, it's only going to hurt you."
"He tells me to play really aggressive and it's probably hard for him because he was so much better than me. But he tells me to play aggressive and serve big," said Ben Wheaton.
And what Uncle David observed at this state tournament is that it's pretty good tennis in Minnesota right now.
"It's very fun to watch. I was surprised. I come down here and immediately it kind of takes you back a little bit to getting into the heat of competition, so it's fun to see," he said.