POCATELLO – Pocatello junior Jordon Michaelson must have forgotten the distance he has progressed.
To review, the Indians tennis player went from novice as a freshman, tp Poky’s No. 3 singles player as a sophomore before becoming the team’s No. 1 single as a junior with a 4-0 record entering Thursday.
That did not stop him from having nerves — voiced to his father — because he was facing Century’s Brian Zhu, the 2017 fourth-place finisher in the 4A state tournament.
“I just told him, ‘Relax and play your game,’” said Jordon’s father, Terry. “‘It doesn’t matter who you’re playing against. Just do what you do and don’t get frustrated with it. If you lose a few points, shake it off and go back and play your game.’”
While Zhu got the best of Michaelson with a 7-6, 6-4 win, the senior Diamondback had his hands full, as the margin indicates. Michaelson took the first game of each set before the players traded points throughout what was the showcase of the 4A District 5-6 match between crosstown rivals at Century High School.
“I think I did very well for my experience and for how long I’ve been playing,” Michaelson said. “I wasn’t expecting to win, but I was expecting to put up a fight.”
Century No. 1 boys single Brian Zhu beat Poky's Jordon Michaelson 7-5, 6-4 in what was the showcase of today's 4A D 5-6 matchup. #idpreps pic.twitter.com/Y2Yfmpe3eQ
— Jeff Papworth (@JeffPapworth) March 30, 2018
Neither player mounted a prolonged rhythm, but they have the full month of April to calibrate for the month that counts the most — May.
Each has their own end-of-season goals. Zhu said he hopes to at least match his fourth-place finish in his final prep season, if not earn a spot in the 4A state title match.
Michaelson aims to make a state tournament appearance, which was accomplished by one Indian, Kaden Nelson, in 2017. The Poky graduate provided a blueprint to success for Michaelson.
“He just applied himself a lot,” Michaelson said. “He put a lot of work into practices and different things like that;just had fun. So I think I learned a lot from him.”
Zhu already set a path to success last season, when he placed at state for the first time in his career. He just has to follow his own tracks, while also being a good example for his teammates, who voted him captain of the boys team this year. His first step was Thursday, which was his opening match of the season.
“It’s a good start, and it definitely gives a lot of room for improvement,” Zhu said. “The most important thing I accomplished today is basically playing a match and getting into it after such a long hiatus from tennis.”
Zhu missed Century’s opening matchup March 16 against Hillcrest because he had not attended enough practices, out with a week-long flu. He said he felt fatigue a couple games into Thursday match, but he welcomed the challenge of grinding through.
The Diamondback tried to deploy a more aggressive approach after playing rope-a-dope in the past, which entailed returning balls until his opponent made a mistake.
An area of required alteration for Michaelson is his mental game as he is too hard on himself during matches, according to Pocatello coach Aldo Cordova. But the tennis player has developed in many others areas after starting from scratch as a freshman who had never played the sport.
“His forehand is the best shot he’s got at this moment,” Cordova said. “It’s very controllable and he can put it anywhere he feels like.”
Michaelson, who’s had a lifelong love of soccer and is the Poky soccer team’s best player, has put that passion in the backseat as he has blossomed in tennis. Halfway through his prep career, he has his sights on the college level.
“I’ve just improved so much in the two and a half years I’ve played,” Michaelson said. “I can do so much better and go much further in tennis than I can in soccer.”
Century boys prevail 5-1, girls matchup ends in 3-3 tie
Zhu’s two-set win helped the Century boys (1-1, 1-0 4A District 5-6) defeat Pocatello 5-1 in the Diamondbacks’ first district matchup of the season.
Josh Halverson gave the Indians (2-1-2, 0-1 4A District 5-6) their lone victory in the No. 2 singles match, beating Century’s Kade Anderson 6-3, 6-0. Century boys winners included: No. 3 single Joe Murray, No. 1 doubles pair (Aidan Horrocks/Garrett Surmelis) and No. 2 doubles pair (Jackson Holmstead/Hunter Ordyna).
On the girls’ side, the Diamondbacks (0-1-1, 0-1 4A District 5-6) and Indians (0-3-2, 0-1 4A District 5-6) tied 3-3. Century’s No. 1 singles player, Ellie Surmelis, filling in for 4A state champion Adriene Pavek, defeated Poky’s Janessa England 6-3, 6-1. But Indians No. 2 and No. 3 singles players McKenzie Chatterton and Emma Horrocks both pulled off two-set victories.
Century’s Grace Owens and Grace Neilsen won the No. 1 doubles match, while Pocatello’s Olivia Johnson and Tayja Williams clinched the No. 2 doubles contest. Both of Century’s mixed doubles pairs, Roman Horrocks/Mairiana Leon and Yashar A. Habashi/Rachel Stein, came out victorious.
Pocatello hosts Skyline on Wednesday, while Century travels to play the Grizzlies on Friday.