DECEMBER 8 • 2022 | 35
A
lex Lewis had an
outstanding career
for the Birmingham
Seaholm High School boys
tennis team.
He won two state
championships. He went 71-13
in three seasons in the Maples’
lineup.
But those numbers don’t tell
the entire story.
“I don’t think there’s ever
been a player like Alex in
our program’s history,” said
Seaholm coach Nick Shaheen,
who has been the Maples’
coach since 2018 after two
years as an assistant coach.
Shaheen pointed to Lewis’
intelligence and athleticism on
the tennis court, the leadership
skills the senior exhibited this
fall as one of Seaholm’s three
captains, and Lewis’ diligence
in the classroom, where he has
a 3.991 grade-point average.
“As a coach, Alex is exactly
the kind of student-athlete you
want on your team,” Shaheen
said. “Great teammate. Great
leader.”
Lewis said he’ll remember
more than the state titles when
he looks back on his four
seasons on the Seaholm boys
tennis team.
“The team was inclusive
starting in my freshman
season,” he said. “It was a
brotherhood.”
Shaheen was glad to hear
that.
“It great to know being
on the team had that kind of
impact on him,” he said.
Lewis’ first two seasons
on the team weren’t exactly
memorable.
He didn’t crack the Maples’
perennially strong doubles
lineup as a freshman and
his sophomore season was
shortened and challenged by
the COVID-19 pandemic. He
went 15-6 at No. 4 doubles
with partner Alex George.
But Lewis went 26-3 as a
junior playing with George
at No. 3 doubles and won the
Division 2 state championship.
This season, Lewis was 30-4
with longtime friend Zane
Chutkow at No. 1 doubles and
won the Division 2 state title.
“You need trust and great
communication to be a
winning doubles team because
the match moves so quickly.
Alex and Zane had that trust
and communication,” Shaheen
said.
Lewis said Chutkow, also a
senior, was one of his closest
friends on the team. They’ve
been friends and tennis
practice partners since they
each attended Birmingham
Covington School.
“Zane and I were successful
this season because we knew
each other’s strengths and
weaknesses on the court and
when one of us was struggling,
the other was supportive,”
Lewis said.
“We didn’t have any issues.
And we brought energy to
every match. You need that
when you’re playing doubles
teams with the same tennis
skills that you have.”
Lewis and Chutkow beat
SPORTS
Alex Lewis was a dynamic doubles player and a
Alex Lewis was a dynamic doubles player and a
‘great leader’ for the Birmingham Seaholm High
‘great leader’ for the Birmingham Seaholm High
School boys tennis team.
School boys tennis team.
Two-Time State
Champion
STEVE STEIN
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
continued on page 36
KRISTIN SUPANCICH
Alex Lewis was a
leader on and off
the court this season
for the Birmingham
Seaholm High School
boys tennis team.