Luke Louchheim ’22 is a three-year Senior from Sagaponack, N.Y., and a co-captain of the Boys Varsity Tennis team.
Fellow Co-Captain Keith Matanachai ’22 praised Louchheim’s attitude. “Before matches and on the bus to away games, he makes sure to keep everyone relaxed and excited to play the game,” said Matanachai. “During matches, he exhibits a calm but serious attitude, which I believe a lot of the younger players admire him for.”
What are you most proud of the team for this season?
I’m most proud of the team for keeping a really positive attitude. We’re down three of our seniors from last year that kept the team together, but we’ve really persevered. I also believe that we kept a really great atmosphere within the team.
What have you learned from being a part of the Varsity Tennis team during your time at the school?
I’ve learned to cherish my time here. My brother Jack Louchheim ’20 was supposed to be the captain of the Varsity Tennis team his senior year, but that got cut short because of Covid. He told me that I should really cherish my time here because it’s going to go by very fast. I’ve also learned to fi nd a way to always love the team.
What challenges have you faced playing tennis at the school, and what helped you overcome them?
Playing tennis here was a really big step up from my old school. I had been on varsity since 7th grade because the team was not very good. Coming here was a huge adjustment because now I’m playing with people who were recruited to be on the team. So, I had to work a lot harder in practices and make the extra effort to carve a spot for yourself.
How have you taken the role of being a captain on the team and what does that mean to you?
I think it means bringing everybody together a lot more. It also means leaving a bond that’s going to last for a while on the team, even after Keith Matanachai ’22 and I are gone. Sharing our passion for tennis with everybody else is another thing that I value.
Do you have a favorite memory as a member of the tennis team?
It’s a bittersweet memory, but our New England’s match last weekend was a great one. The score was 3-3 against Choate, and it came down to my match in a super tiebreak. Unfortunately I lost, but nobody was upset and everybody was still cheering me on. The team was high-fiving me and hugging me after, and I felt extremely supported.
