Hickman tennis player lives life the way he wants

COLUMBIA — Hickman tennis player Alex Turner is a Kansas Jayhawks fan.

Turner has grown up in Columbia, but he has been a Jayhawks fan since his sister started rooting for them several years ago.

“Basketball is one of my favorite sports,” Turner said. “I love to play, and I love to watch it. KU basketball: I always love to watch it. I’m always going to be a Jayhawk.”

This isn’t surprising news about the Kewpies senior tennis player. Hickman coach Andy Materer said Turner is a “quirky” guy who is unlike anybody you’ll ever meet.

“He’s different,” Materer said. “He likes KU, listens to country music. He’s his own character. He does things his own way. He’s got good discipline, but he knows how to take care of his own business.”

Turner is also not your typical tennis player. Materer said Turner is one of the few tennis players who can dunk a basketball. He is tall, lanky and is one of the Kewpies’ best servers.

“When he first came out his sophomore year, he won a big match against Helias,” Materer said. “Even when he was a sophomore, he was winning big matches. I liked the way he competed even back as a sophomore. I told him then he had state potential.”

Last season, Turner almost made it to state. At last year's Class 2, District 5 tournament, he and his partner, now-graduated Sang Chung, were one victory away from a spot in the state doubles competition.

Turner kept up with his “quirky” reputation last season by having his own crazy hairstyle week. Turner had a different hairstyle every day at school the week before the district tournament and then cut his hair into a Mohawk for the tournament.

Materer said Turner always comes to compete, which surprises some people because he doesn’t talk very much. He won’t say much before the match, but he get the furrow in his brow, and you can tell he is ready.

“Those sort of things get him psyched up,” Materer said. “He had the Mohawk last year and made the semis at districts. He was the top competitor on that team.”

Turner will team up with fellow senior John Prost at this season's district tournament May 15 at Rock Bridge. Materer has paired them as his No.1 doubles team since the beginning of the season.