Boys' tennis athlete of the year: Aidan Reid, Lewis-Palmer

By most standards, Aidan Reid had a phenomenal season. But the Lewis-Palmer Ranger wanted more.

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A runner-up finish in No. 1 singles at the Class 4A tennis tournament wasn’t satisfying to Reid, even though he — at 16 years, 6 months — was almost certainly the youngest senior in the field.

“He had a great year,” coach Paul Kardell said. “I’m sure he wanted to win the whole thing, but he still played great.”

Reid, reached by cell phone last month at a California tournament, said it took a few weeks after losing in the state final to appreciate the success of his season.

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“I certainly could’ve done better, but I realize it was a good year,” he said.

A native of Australia who has met fellow countrymen and tennis legends Rod Laver and Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Reid plans to continue his tennis career with a mixture of junior and men’s tournaments while deciding whether to attend college next season or sit out a year.

“I definitely want to play for the best Division I program I can,” he said. “I just want to get my mind and my body right before I go off to college.”

Reid was hampered by an ailing back during the state tournament and said it was a factor in his event in California, where he went 2-2. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound player is focused on improving his conditioning.

“He’s a great person, a great kid,” Kardell said. “He’s a lot of fun to work with and takes coaching well. He’s a work in progress and, at this point, I wouldn’t put a ceiling on him.”

The Rangers coach noticed significant growth in all areas of Reid’s game this season. Reid spent his junior year in Australia after being an exchange student at Lewis-Palmer as a sophomore.

Reid’s tennis dream isn’t to play pro tennis but to represent his country.

“My ultimate goal,” he said, “would be to play Davis Cup.”