WXXV Student Athlete of the Week: Ocean Spring’s Lucas Wrigley

If there is anyone here on the Gulf Coast who came out of the womb holding a tennis racket in hand, it would be this weeks WXXV Student Athlete of the Week. This Ocean Springs tennis player has not only made a name for himself on the courts of treasure at Oak Country Club, but on courts all across the nation. Get to know our WXXV Student Athlete of the Week, Lucas Wrigley.

“I’ve been pretty much playing tennis my whole life, but I probably picked up the racquet for the first time when I was 4 or 5-years-old, so I’ve been playing since a very young age,” Wrigley Said.

Ocean Springs junior Lucas Wrigley started playing tennis 14 years ago when he was literally the size of a racquet.

Growing up watching his parents and sisters live on the court – he too wanted to carry on that legacy no matter the cost or time that it took.

“Tennis isn’t just something you can become good at overnight,” Wrigley said. “It takes a lot of work and coordination, and a lot of practice and hard work. I think just sticking with tennis my whole entire life and always trying to improve day-by-day I think is one of the biggest things. Just seeing that little improvement year-by-year as I got older was huge for me.”

After the countless miles traveled, strings busted, and time spent practicing both before and after school, you might think Wrigley would have taken a break or two during his long tennis career – but his love for the game has him always wanting to come back for more.

“I just put a lot of time in it because I really enjoy it and it is something that I have always worked at,” he said. “I always enjoy being on the court no matter the circumstances or time and I just think it is something that I enjoy playing. I don’t really know how to put it, but every time I step on a tennis court I just have a fantastic time and always have fun.”

He enjoys every court he steps foot on, but one court this past summer took his breathe away.

“This summer I went to Kalamazoo, MI for nationals and it was just a surreal experience because it was just one of those places that I see on my phone of different types of videos of the best players in the country at the prestigious place,” he said. “It was really cool and sentimental thing for my game.”

Not everyone gets invited to USTA’s nats at the zoo.

The 16-year-old is currently No. 1 in the state for boys 16 and 18 age division. Wrigley makes it look easy to cover the entire court to say the least. But the pressure of doing it all on your own is definitely there.

“Tennis is a very lonely sport,” he said. “You are on your own, you have to do it yourself, and you do not have anyone else to rely on. At the same time it is a good thing.”

Wrigley is no stranger to success on his own.

He currently holds a 4.4 GPA, is a member of the Mayor’s youth council, is the treasurer of junior civitan club, and is a member of both the national honor society and beta club.

No matter where life or tennis takes Wrigley next, his hard work, determination, and talents will take him far.