For the love of the game
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/07/2022 (317 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Lukas Bladon is a 15-year-old student at Kelvin High School who is enjoying the summer as he prepares to start grade 10.
“Grade 9 was really good,” he said. “I really enjoyed Kelvin. Overall the teachers were great at helping us and educating us. They did a great job of helping to make the experience fun.”
Lukas is an athletic young man who has tried and enjoys a number of sports, but he does have one sport that stands out as his favourite.
“I have been playing tennis since I was eight years old. The way I got into it was that my mom had a Leisure Guide and we were looking through it. We saw Taylor Tennis and decided to give it a try.”
Eight years later Lukas plays the sport he loves almost every day.
“It’s nice being pretty good at it in all honesty,” he said. “That helps to make it more enjoyable. My coach is Roland Borrell, he is really, really good. I play out of the Winnipeg Lawn Tennis Club (and) I like playing other people. I enjoy being coached.”
Lukas also likes playing and beating his father, Pete.
“I love taking my dad to school on the court whenever I have the chance,” he said. “He begs me to not hit it to his backhand! I have lessons twice a week and my dad and I play almost every day outside of that.”
Lukas lives in River Heights with his dad Pete, stepmom Chiara, and sister Simone.
“I want to say thank you to my parents for motivating me and helping me to play,” he said. “I would say a very big thank you to them — not quite such big a thank you though that I will let my dad win the next match.”
I asked Lukas if he has any goals or dreams with the sport. His response was very pure and beautiful to hear from a young athlete: “I’m not really sure. I just want to play to enjoy it.”
Lukas has this to offer young athletes:
“Play sports to enjoy them and don’t get down on yourself if you fail. If you enjoy it, practice and be dedicated.”
Troy Westwood
Westwood's Sports Heroes
Former Winnipeg Blue Bombers kicker Troy Westwood writes about Winnipeg’s unsung sports heroes every other week in the Canstar Community News weeklies.