Racer Burrow grew up in a tennis family. Having a brother who played high school tennis and several cousins who went on to play in college, it was natural for Racer to take up the sport. Now a senior at Altus High School, he started playing tennis in seventh grade. “I thought it was fun and wanted to get good, so I started going out to the courts and hitting with my cousin Tristan Gregg all the time. I started to get really good at it,” he said.
Tennis has taught him mental toughness. “Anything I do, I do 100 percent, and I just love competing and playing,” says Racer, “I love being part of a team that represents Altus well. I feel like I am a leader on the team. I have younger Bulldogs looking up to me, I hope to make them proud.”
Competing and enjoying the sport with his teammates is the best part of being on a team. Working with teammates has made Racer a better player. “Tristan Gregg has taught me a lot about tennis. Tristan always wants to go hit at the courts no matter how late it is or what day it is. He is always pushing me to get better,” Racer says.
Racer remembers many good times traveling to tournaments. However, the best memory was a learning experience. “I was playing doubles at Shawnee. Me and Kale were losing to a team we should have been beating. Coach Dabelstein pulled us over to the fence after we lost the first set and yelled at us. I have never seen him that mad before,” says Racer, “the football coach in him really came out that day.”
While not fun in the moment Racer knows that one day he will look back and be glad to have wonderful memories with amazing people. Coach Dabelstein is Racer’s favorite teacher. “He has always believed in me no matter what and is one of the best role models in my life and is just an amazing person and teacher,” he said.
Racer thanks his coaches, Mr. Dabelstein, Mrs. Robinson, and Miss Vineyard for believing in him over the years. He is also thankful to his teammates for pushing him to get better each day.
He was once told that if you put in the time and effort and work hard enough you can do whatever you want. Following this advice, Racer is determined to use his skill on and off the tennis court to build a successful future.
