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05/21/2015 12:01 AMEvan Powell has used a focus that’s as sharp as his serve to put together a decorated career thus far with Guilford boys’ tennis and now he’s determined to exceed those standards in the latter half of his tenure.
The junior No. 1 singles player compiled a 23-3 record in his rookie campaign en route to reaching the semifinal round of the Class M State Tournament for All-State honors with the runner-up Indians. After repeating his state semifinal bid and All-State accolade in helping Guilford capture a Class M crown for his sophomore slate, Evan is right in line for another prominent postseason push with his mark of 11-3 for the Indians.
“It meant a lot to do so well in states both years and I had some big wins that I didn’t expect, plus I was so happy that we won states last year,” says Evan, who was named Team MVP as a freshman. “On that [state tournament] stage, it meant a lot and I wasn’t too nervous because I had big victories over some guys during the regular season. Yet there are a lot of nerves in those tournaments. I tried to just stay focused, keep calm, and do what worked for me.”
In terms of his athlete’s in-match emotions, Head Coach Andy Raucci praises Evan for being a smooth operator and someone who takes to the court with a systematic approach.
“Evan is one of the greatest competitors I’ve ever coached. He does everything with an unparalleled work ethic and is always challenging himself to improve. He is also a great student of the game [as] he studies his opponent well and formulates the most effective game-plan to give himself the best chance to win points,” says Raucci. “But probably the most meaningful thing I can share about Evan is his love and respect he has for the game, his teammates, and our program. He competes with integrity and takes ownership of everything he does and he does it with a quiet and humble confidence.”
Playing tennis requires one to endure some lengthy matches, although Evan counters any sort of mental or physical fatigue by staying within himself while also scouting his opponents’ tendencies.
“I just go point by point out there, plus I stay focused and keep an eye on my own game. I see what works or doesn’t work for me and I go for every ball,” says Evan, who also plays ice hockey for Guilford. “I’m always trying to see what works for the opponent and rooting out their strengths and weaknesses. I play a lot of sports and a lot of sports are trying to figure out how to work your opponents.”
As a singles player, Evan enjoys the fact that the outcomes of his contests hinge on his hands alone. Still, he does appreciate the support of his coach and teammates while chasing every ball that’s up for grabs.
“It’s not too bad being out there by you because I have some experience and also the team cheering me on,” says Evan, who also competes at Guilford Racquet Club. “I like the aspect that all of what goes on out there is controlled by you.”
Evan loved being a part of the Indians’ road to state title redemption when they beat that same Avon squad which had edged them out for the championship in 2013. Evan expresses that with Guilford taking the same workhorse mentality to its preparation, more postseason success could be in the cards for the team this spring.
“Winning the state title was really big because I felt we should’ve won it my freshman year. There was some pressure going into last year as a favorite to win it all, but we got the monkey off our backs,” says Evan, who thanks his parents, Brad and Lorraine, along with Coach Raucci. “We play a lot of good teams during the season, so every match is tough. We just try to work the hardest of every team, including doing sprints and running drills, so that all works toward our confidence. If we keep doing all that, we will give teams a run for their money and I think that’ll all happen.”