THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 27, 1996 TAG: 9603270579
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Few things frustrate a top tennis player more than having to perform on an extremely windy day or going against someone who hits with an assortment of spins.
That is, unless they have to deal with both.
That's why three of the four No. 1 singles players never really had a chance Saturday during the Big Chief Tennis Classic. For while the 20-mph winds cutting through the high-40s temperature had them virtually shivering in their ready positions, Cox's Nathan Shanks was slicing, dicing and loving every minute of it.
``It's all about knowing how to play in the wind,'' said Shanks, who transferred last fall from West Potomac High. ``You have to know how to slice and mix it up. They call me `Touch.' ''
Saturday, ``Touch'' touched up Maury's Ross Hoffman and Norfolk Academy's Alan Johnson in straight sets to claim the tournament title, earn The Virginian-Pilot's male Athlete of the Week award and symbolically announce his arrival as a major player on the South Hampton Roads tennis scene.
``It's a nice confidence-booster,'' Shanks said. ``People had sort of heard the word about me. It's nice to be able to back it up a little.''
Shanks' credentials include a top-10 ranking in the state and a top-20 standing in the Mid-Atlantic Region. And while his touch and finesse make him an excellent bad-weather player, Shanks also has a big serve and won't hesitate to come to the net.
But while these tools served him well on the tournament circuit, they weren't enough to lift West Potomac out of also-ran status in the Northern Region's National District.
But Shanks' high school tennis luck changed when his parents moved to Virginia Beach and he landed at Cox. Suddenly, he's with a perennial district champion. His doubles partner is a 6-3 jumping bean named Latane Meade.
``Nobody can lob over him,'' Shanks said.
So strong are the Falcons that Shanks, who would almost certainly be No. 1 on any other public school team in South Hampton Roads, plays No. 2 behind Ryan Davidson, a transfer from South Carolina.
But you won't hear Shanks complain.
``Actually, having Ryan around is to my benefit,'' he said. ``It's good to have someone to hit with that has about the same ability. Everybody wants to be No. 1, but I don't mind stepping down for someone like him.'' by CNB