Photograph: OCS Vikings Jacob Vazquez for the OCS (Photograph by Mike Curley)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
Jacob Vazquez appears to approach tennis the way he does opposing linebackers.
An all-district and all-parish center on the Opelousas Catholic School football team, Vazquez is also a No.1 seeded Vikings’ tennis player who doesn’t mind challenging an opponent with punishing volleys.
“I like to get up close and play the ball at the net. I guess the way I play (tennis) does come from football. You get that mentality playing football, that you want to win,” said Vazquez, who won a 6-0 singles match Thursday against Avoyelles Public Charter at South City Park.
Admittedly Vazquez said he prefers using a power-style tennis game, perhaps something that became endemic as he prepared to handle blocking schemes for an OCS offense which liked to run the football.
The first serve delivered by Vazquez usually intends to overpower the other player. Then if a second serve is necessary, Vazquez hits that one a bit softer, ordinarily followed by his charging pursuit towards the net.
OCS tennis coach Chuck Soileau said Vazquez has polished his tennis game physically and mentally over the past two years and has a good chance for a repeat performance at the state tournament in Alexandria.
“Right now I would say that (Vazquez) has everything it takes to get back to the tournament. He’s a longtime player who has taken lessons and has a chance to do well at state,” Soileau said.
Vazquez played football last season weighing about 190 pounds. For tennis Vazquez said he normally prefers to play at about 10 pounds lighter.
The two sports, which might seem somewhat incongruous, have actually provided combined beneficial qualities,Vazquez added.
“I think with the conditioning and the footwork that I have developed in tennis actually helped me with my footwork as a football player, although you would think the body types you need for each sport are actually very different,” said Vazquez.
College athletics at this point don’t seem to be part of his future, said Vascquez.
His high school grade point average and test scores Vazquez said, have given him a chance to attend numerous colleges. Currently, Vazquez considers his top choices as Alabama, LSU and perhaps one of several Ivy League schools.
“Alabama is offering to pay out of state fees, everything. I qualify for what is called a Hispanic Heritage scholarship,” Vazquez added.
Although he enjoyed high school football, Vazquez said he perhaps likes tennis equally.
“I really love both. Tennis is a life sport, something you can do later in life. I don’t have a Division 1 body (for football). Tennis is something you can do for a long time in order to stay in shape,” said Vazquez.
His involvement in tennis Vazquez said, is also a family matter, as two other family members are involved in the OCS sport.
Sister Molly Vazquez is an eighth-grade OCS tennis player and Betsy, a sixth-grader, plays tennis for the Vikings.
