Tennis is a sport of precision and patience. There are no teammates to turn to between points, no clock to protect a lead. When the match tightens, the player standing across the net has only his preparation and composure to rely upon.

For Oakley Recktenwald, the opening of his sophomore season suggests he has plenty of both.
Recktenwald captured the singles championship at the Searcy Invitational Tournament in commanding fashion. He opened with an 8–1 victory over Conway, followed it with another 8–1 win over Texarkana, and then completed his championship run with an 8–2 victory over Texarkana in the finals.
Three matches, three convincing victories, and a tournament championship—a remarkable beginning for a sophomore whose best tennis may still be ahead of him.

The son of Clint and Sara Recktenwald, Oakley maintains a 4.0 GPA and is active in FCA, Track, HOSA, KEY, and SEAD, demonstrating the same discipline away from the court that has already served him so well on it.

Tennis rewards those who can remain steady while standing alone. At Searcy, Oakley Recktenwald did just that—and walked away a champion.

The Athlete of the Week is proudly sponsored by Mike and Susan Stockton of Ascend Wealth Management.