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By Erica Granados

Rob Washo, playing in the number one spot on IVCC’s men’s tennis team, was originally a reluctant competitor.

During Washo’s freshman year at Princeton High School, his uncle asked him to join the high school team.

"I was camping, and my uncle asked me to play out there," Washo said. "I said ‘No way,’ and he said ‘just hit with me’ and I said, ‘okay, fine.’ He told my mom I was pretty good. My mom made me play. It was Princeton against Oakland and I won it. So I guess it was a calling."

Washo, who graduated from Princeton in 2000, went on to play for Princeton for four years, going to state competition and being named Area Tennis Player of the Year.

Washo, who is on a tuition waiver for IVCC, began playing for the IVCC team in fall 2000. He was10 - 3 in singles and 10 - 2 in doubles and also was undefeated in the singles and doubles in IVCC’s region, last year. This season he’s at 3 – 4, and he’s serving as the team’s co-captain.

Coach Eric Perez described Washo as "talented at tennis, a good leader, and an outgoing guy. I wouldn’t have picked him if he wasn’t a good leader. He has good attitude and backhand. For some people their backhand is usually there weakness but for him it’s his strength. He is also always willing to learn."

Perez believes that "without him we would be an average team."

Washo feels this year’s team is much stronger than last year’s.

"When we have somebody as good as Tim McGeorge at No. 6, we are not going to lose many matches," Washo said. "We’re extremely deep this year. Last season we were weaker, but we are now a solid team with a good coach."

Washo enjoys playing for IVCC and gets along very well with his fellow teammates. But he may have to miss some matches because of an injury he suffered at the Waubonsee match on April 10. Coach Perez said he hoped the injury was not serious so Washo can continue to play the rest of the season.

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