DECEMBER 8 • 2022 | 35

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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.

