Tennis takeover

They stand in the normal starting position for doubles — La Grange 12-year-old Paul Reynolds in the backcourt with his brother Brent Reynolds, 9, at the net.

Jason Stamm/The Oldham Era

Brothers Brent Reynolds (left) and Paul Reynolds received No. 1 state rankings in their age groups.

Their private instructor at the Louisville Tennis Club, Simon Childs, rockets a serve that Paul deftly returns with a forehand.

Childs then returns with a drop shot that Brent quickly slides right for and fires back towards Childs, who hits the ball into the net.

The boys are part of a growing interest in tennis in Oldham County.

The Reynolds brothers are two of four young tennis players from Oldham County to receive a No. 1 ranking in their age group by the United States Tennis Association. The USTA ranks boys and girls from ages 10 to 18 according to points accumulated from playing in tournaments throughout the year.

Paul, the top ranked player in the state at the 12 and under level, went 61-27 in 2011. Brent is the top-ranked 12-and-under level player in the futures category, a beginner’s level.

“I like the competitiveness, during tournaments especially,” Paul said. “It’s just the feeling, especially in the big tournaments with all the good players.”

Paul and Brent have played tennis for four years after both tried basketball.

The boys now take private lessons at the Louisville Tennis Club for two hours, three days a week and participate in a group lesson two days a week.

“People just don’t know about tennis,” their mother, Yelena Reynolds said. “You see it on TV, but it’s different actually playing it.”

On the girls’ side, Prospect 12-year old Lauren Lemonds, who attends St. Mary Academy is ranked as the top 12-and-under level player in the state. Goshen Elementary School fifth-grader Erin Biddle, 11,  is the top-ranked 12-and-under level player in the futures category.

Lemonds went 69-35 in 2011 and won the 12 and under division of the Winter Southern Closed Championships in December at the Tennis Club at Springhurst.

Lemonds also practices at the tennis club three or four days a week. Her parents also recently began playing to help Lemonds practice.

“Tennis is my main focus, but it’s my decision,” Lemonds said. “My parents said if I didn’t want to play I didn’t have to. But I just love it and I’ve always wanted to be a No. 1.”

Former South Oldham High School tennis star Eric Quigley, a senior at the University of Kentucky, is the No. 3-ranked NCAA Division I singles player according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

Quigley developed an affinity for tennis when his mother, Cathy Quigley, worked as a receptionist at Louisville Indoor Racquet Club. He said tennis became the cool thing to do to he and his friends, who from kindergarten to third grade, would go across the street to LIRC from Mother of Good Counsel School, across the street.

As Quigley developed into a dominant player, recruitment came from Trinity and St. Xavier High Schools. But Quigley made the surprise decision to stay at SOHS.

 “I kind of thought for me to fulfill my dreams of wining state, I had to go to St. X or Trinity,” Quigley said. “I kinda of thought I had to go to a school like Trinity or St. X to be around the great players. But that’s not true at all.”

Quigley’s decision could be a major reason why tennis has gained momentum in Oldham County, SOHS coach Wood McGraw said.

But McGraw said that tennis has also gained popularity because Oldham County has one of the highest average incomes in the state.

“There’s a lot of moms and dads that play tennis,” he said. “When you’re young it’s a pretty expensive sport if you want to be good. But with Oldham County’s income being high, you’ll usually find some tennis players.”

Paul and Brent said they both hope to be at Quigley’s level one day and their top rankings are just the beginning.

“I’m just trying to keep them going,” said Childs, who played tennis at the University of Louisville until graduating last year. “They’ve really got talent. Both of them can go a long way in this game if they dedicate and put themselves through it.”

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