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SPRINGFIELD — The only thing faster than a Jason Nayar 100-mile per hour serve – his senior year.
“It’s been the quickest season yet,” Nayar said.
Nayar’s been swinging his racket for Catholic’s varsity team since his freshman year. And all four years, Nayar’s qualified for state as a single’s player.
“I’m getting older taller and stronger,” Nayar said of his success, “each shot it getting easier.”
“Jason is our true leader,” head coach Justin Fravel said, “(he’s) our lone senior; leads by example.”
Over the past two years, Nayar’s a combined 53-and-8 as an individual on the court. The senior’s put in strength training after battling through a shoulder injury earlier in his career.
“(He) put in the hours and trained when no one is training,” Fravel said.
In fact, the only thing that can slow Nayar down these days, would be a chain link fence. During a doubles match at Bolivar, Jason faded back on a lob shot and got his foot stuck under the fencing.
“It was four or five seconds while the point was going on,” Fravel said while Jason’s teammate Luke Steiner was running around the court.
Nayar admits, it crosses his mind when he leaves the baseline for the lob.
As a grade schooler, Jason would see how far he could hit a tennis ball tossed by his grandpa.
This week, it’s all about how far his swing can take him in the state tournament.
“I’m just happy to make it all four years,” Nayar said, “play as long as I can.”
“(He’s) not a real talker on the court,” Fravel said. “He let’s his play do the talking, I hope the guys to learn from him.”
