Valparaiso sophomore Evan Cecchini is among the best tennis players in the Region.
Too bad his parents don’t get the chance to watch him plays as often as they would like.
You see, his parents are Valparaiso University football coach Dave Cecchini, and VU women’s tennis coach Tammy Cecchini.
“Them not being there doesn’t really affect me much,” Evan Cecchini said. “I want them to come see me, but I understand because of their jobs, they can’t.”
Dave and Tammy Cecchini saw him play twice last year and have seen him only once this season.
“He’s very understanding, and that makes it a lot easier on us as parents,” Dave Cecchini said. “It’s frustrating. I wish (boys) tennis was in the spring because I really enjoy watching him play.”
Dave and Tammy Cecchini both said their best time to watch Evan play is in the summer on the USTA circuit.
“I try to get to those matches, but not when I’m on the recruiting trail,” Dave Cecchini said.
Since she can’t be there often, Tammy Cecchini counts on receiving texts from her son after matches.
“I like to hear his summary about the match,” she said. “He tells me how he did, why he won or lost and what he needs to work on most.”
While she confirmed she sometimes offers advice, there have been moments — particularly when Evan Cecchini was younger — when that feedback didn’t go over so well.
“There were times where we’d yell at each other a lot,” Tammy Cecchini said. “If I told him something I noticed he was doing in a match or saw on videotape regarding technique, he’d roll his eyes. He still rolls his eyes sometimes.
“I’ve learned to step away at times. It makes me happier and lowers my blood pressure.”
Evan Cecchini has a 7-1 record at No. 1 singles this season. After last year ended, he worked hard, often putting in four or five hours a day in the summer.
He works on Sundays with personal coach Auggie Guimaraes at Lakeland Tennis Academy in Niles, Mich.
“He’s definitely helped me work on my weaknesses,” said Cecchini, who carries a 4.0 GPA and loves to travel. “Auggie’s helped me change my whole serve and worked with me on volleys and a drop shot.
“I used to hate approaching the net, but I like to serve and volley now. It’s made me a more versatile player, instead of me just standing back at the baseline the whole time.”
Vikings coach Tim Shideler has noticed a big difference in Evan Cecchini’s game.
“He’s improved immensely from last year,” Shideler said. “He just plays the game better. He’s also playing with more patience. He’s still a good shot-maker, but waits for the right time to make the shot.
“He’s always hit the ball with lots of pace, and he’s getting better and better all the time.”
On a roll: Senior Justin Jackson is 7-0 at No. 1 singles for Merrillville, but he will find out more in the next 10 days.
Jackson, an all-conference player in the Duneland Athletic, has matches against Lake Central’s Andrew Walsh, Valparaiso’s Evan Cecchini and Crown Point’s Layton Noerenberg.
“He’s playing well,” Merrillville coach Lonnie Wooden said of Jackson. “His tennis IQ and understanding of the game is good. His game has improved. He’s more patient constructing points. He’s not just hitting the ball.”
Measuring up: Munster came up big at last weekend’s Culver Academies Invitational, beating Culver Academies, West Lafayette and Penn.
Munster’s win over Culver Academies was pivotal because the teams will likely meet in the semistate next month.
“I thought, overall, we played very well,” Mustangs coach Pat Spohr said.
John O’Malley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
