Jack Stevens is the most decorated player in Faith tennis history, he is the first and only player ever to reach 100 wins, and also holds the record for highest win percentage. Off the court, Jack is a relaxed, easy-going kid who loves hanging out with friends and visiting his beach house in Newport Beach. There is much more that goes into Jack Stevens then what meets the eye. I had the time to sit down with Jack and reflect with him on his career.

Michael Flangas(Reporter): Jack welcome, and thank you for joining me today to talk.

Jack Stevens: Of course, thank you for having me.

M: So your tennis season just ended a couple nights ago. It ended with a loss to a player from Virgin Valley in one of the most intense and entertaining tennis matches I have ever witnessed. The match lasted over two and a half hours, take us through it from your perspective.

J: I was pretty nervous from the start. The game took a while, and the points were very tense and the match itself just took a lot out of me. It was an overall hard fought match, but unfortunately I just didn’t have enough to pull it through. He beat me, and I accept that.

M: There were a couple points in the match where you seemed to be pretty emotional and upset. What was going through your mind?

J: This match was definitely intense, because had I won, it would have been just another step closer to state. But all my emotions were running high, I knew I had a great chance to beat this kid, but I just didn’t perform.

M: There were even a couple times where you went down with injuries during the match. You even ran into the back wall at one point. At any point did you think you wouldn’t be able to continue?

J: After I hit the back wall and fell to the ground the first time I thought for a second my tennis career was over. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to continue playing. But I knew I couldn’t let my career end with an injury. I was too determined to get back up and keep playing and win the match.

M: You have the most wins in crusader tennis history, the first player to one hundred. No one will dispute that you had a more than successful career. But when you look back on it, are you content with all you’ve accomplished or is there a sense of regret?

J: I am definitely content with the amount of wins I collected. But I would say if I could change anything it would be getting to play with the highest level of players in Vegas. Had I gone up a division I could have played the best, which would have posed a greater challenge. So I will always wonder how I could have faired with that group of guys. But I am definitely content with how things turned out.

M: What legacy do you leave behind with Faith tennis?

J: I really think I always kept a great attitude, and always went out every day and gave it my all. I just hope my teammates and my coaches saw it that way too.

M: Anyone that knows you personally knows that you’re a very quiet and kind kid. You don’t let your emotions get the best of you, and just usually you’re very calm. But if anyone saw you on the court they might think otherwise. Can you compare and contrast Jack Stevens ON the court and Jack Stevens OFF the court?

J: Like you said, off the court I’m very calm, relaxed, and I don’t let my emotions get the best of me. On the court, I use my emotions when I play, in the heat of the moment, I let it all out and become a completely different person out there on the court.

M: I watched your final match, and you play with a lot of emotion. Would you consider this a strength or a weakness of yours?

J: Definitely both. It’s a weakness when your opponent see’s you upset, and they can try to exploit that. But it’s a strength because I think it shows the passion I have and the drive to succeed.

M: What’s your greatest memory?

J: Probably sophomore year when we went to state as a team, and individually I played some kids from Truckee. I ended up going 3-0 on the day, even though our team eventually fell short.

M: Are you the best player in Faith tennis history?

J: Right now yes. But I do think there’s a kid on the team right now who will beat my records once he graduates. His name is Max Bloom.

M: But as of right now, you think you’re the best tennis player in Faith history?

J: Yes I do.

M: Final question. What would you tell your freshman tennis self if you could talk to him right now?

J: I would say, even though you think you are good, there’s always better. And you have to keep working and getting better so you can contend with the best of the best.