• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

  • Home
  • About
    • Support Us
  • News
    • Podcast
  • Hawks
    • Boys’ Soccer
      • Roster
      • Schedule
    • Girls’ Soccer
      • Roster
      • Schedule
    • Baseball
      • Roster
      • Schedule
    • Softball
      • Roster
      • Schedule
  • Jaguars
    • Girls’ Soccer
      • Roster
      • Schedule
    • Baseball
      • Roster
      • Schedule
    • Softball
      • Roster
      • Schedule
You are here: Home / Jaguars / Spring / Boys' Tennis / Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Will Blevins, Ankeny Centennial boys’ tennis

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Will Blevins, Ankeny Centennial boys’ tennis

April 12, 2021 by Dan Holm

Ankeny Centennial’s Will Blevins hits a backhand return during Thursday’s dual meet against visiting Fort Dodge. He posted a 6-0, 6-0 win in the No. 1 singles match to help the Jaguars to a 7-0 victory in a rain-shortened meet. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

Senior Will Blevins is a two-time state placewinner for the Ankeny Centennial boys’ tennis team. He took fifth in the Class 2A singles tournament as a freshman in 2018, then placed fourth as a sophomore.

Blevins boasts a career record of 39-10 in singles, including a 3-0 mark this season. He was named the captain of Ankeny Fanatic’s all-time Ankeny boys’ tennis team last summer.

Here is some inside info on Blevins:

How is the season going thus far?

The season is going well. Individually, I have done very well. And for a mostly inexperienced team, we have fought well and learned a lot within these past two weeks.

Your team opened the season with a 10-1 victory over Norwalk before dropping a 7-4 decision to Valley. Do you feel like your team learned some things in the loss to the Tigers?

Yes, I feel our team learned a lot during the loss. I think our lower guys got a little tight since they were playing kids that were more experienced. We also learned a lot about where our doubles game is and how we need to improve that going forward.

Have you been pleased with your play thus far?

Yes, I have been pleased with my game so far. I’ve felt great every match I’ve been in.

You’ve had to deal with very windy conditions at some of your meets this season. Do you have to change the way that you play in those conditions?

Yes, the wind does cause me to change my strategy in matches. Often I like to attack and go for winners. But with the wind, I’ve had to tone down my game and be more consistent and let my opponent make the error.

Coach Lewton told me that she thinks you’ve taken your game to another level since you were a sophomore, primarily because you’ve added some muscle in the last two years. Do you feel like you are considerably stronger?

Yeah, I think I have gotten stronger over the last two years. I’ve put a lot of work also into my agility and footwork, which has helped me win long and tough matches.

I know it’s your goal to win a state title this year. Who do you feel will be the biggest competition for you?

Daniel Lu (of Dowling Catholic) and Will Ecklund (of Waukee).

Sophomore Caleb Peterson is now playing at the No. 2 spot for the Jaguars, and coach Lewton told me that she thinks both of you can benefit from being able to practice against each other. What are the strengths of his game?

Caleb is a really solid all-around player. His forehand is huge, and he can hit a winner with it wherever he is on the court. He also has a great serve which is very helpful in critical situations.

I know your primary focus is on singles, but do you think you and Caleb could form a pretty formidable doubles team?

Yes, I think Caleb and I could make one of the best doubles teams in the state.

Ankeny Centennial’s Will Blevins prepares to serve the ball during a dual meet against visiting Norwalk on March 30. (Photo by Dan Holm)

You have signed a letter of intent to compete for Drake next year. What adjustments do you think you’ll have to make to succeed on the collegiate level?

One area that I will need to improve is my serve. It’s often not a weapon for me, and it will need to be as I head to Drake next year.

You told me that your private coach, Aaron Forsberg, is also a volunteer coach for the Bulldogs. How long have you been working with him, and how has he helped your game the most?

I have been working with Aaron for about two years now since my old coach left. I think he has helped my game improve to a level where I can compete with anyone.

I don’t know if you’re a basketball fan or not, but did you happen to watch Drake’s run in the NCAA Tournament?

Yes, I did watch Drake’s run in the NCAA Tournament. I was on spring break in Gulf Shores, Ala., and watched their epic comeback against Wichita State with some of my friends. 

Filed Under: Boys' Tennis, Jaguars Tagged With: Featured, Will Blevins

Primary Sidebar

Support Ankeny Fanatic

Recent Posts

  • Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Cal Wahlberg, Ankeny boys’ soccer
  • ‘It was the perfect way to end our careers’: Ankeny star goes out in style with father
  • Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 307
  • ‘We’re incredibly proud of her’: Peterson earns 8th-place finish at state tourney
  • Jaguars toss back-to-back no-hitters in doubleheader sweep over Lincoln girls

Find Us on Facebook

Ankeny Fanatic

Archives

  • June 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017

Categories

  • Hawks
    • Fall
      • Boys’ Cross Country
      • Boys’ Golf
      • Football
      • Girls’ Cross Country
      • Girls’ Swimming
      • Volleyball
    • Spring
      • Boys’ Soccer
      • Boys’ Tennis
      • Boys’ Track
      • Girls’ Golf
      • Girls’ Soccer
      • Girls’ Tennis
      • Girls’ Track
    • Summer
      • Baseball
      • Softball
        • Roster
    • Winter
      • Boys’ Basketball
      • Boys’ Bowling
      • Boys’ Swimming
      • Girls’ Basketball
      • Girls’ Bowling
      • Boys’ Wrestling
  • Jaguars
    • Fall
      • Boys’ Cross Country
      • Boys’ Golf
      • Football
      • Girls’ Cross Country
      • Girls’ Swimming
      • Volleyball
    • Spring
      • Boys’ Soccer
      • Boys’ Tennis
      • Boys’ Track
      • Girls’ Golf
      • Girls’ Soccer
      • Girls’ Tennis
      • Girls’ Track
    • Summer
      • Baseball
      • Softball
    • Winter
      • Boys’ Basketball
      • Girls’ Basketball
      • Wrestling
  • Top Sports Stories
    • Football
    • Volleyball
  • Baseball
  • Softball

© 2025 Ankeny Fanatic. All rights reserved.