Senior tennis player keeps it interesting
Sean Barrett tries to score against a Columbia Falls opponent during a home match last month. Now a senior, Barrett has been on the BHS tennis team for four years. He had an 8-3 record during regular season play in his final year. Jordan Dawson/Bigfork Eagle
Bigfork High School's senior class has its share of talented kids, but few are as varied in their talents, or as modest about them, as Sean Barrett.
He is a member of the varsity tennis team, is active in the school's Cave Exploration and Conservation Club, participates in the Bigfork Leadership program and he plays the saxophone, keyboard, guitar and ukulele. He has also built an electric guitar and is currently restoring a hovercraft.
This season in tennis he played in the number three spot on the varsity team and lost just three of his 11 matches this year, and two of those were in doubles play.
Barrett said that his favorite match of the season is actually the only singles match he lost.
"I really liked my match against Corvallis," he said. "It challenged me and I saw what I needed to work on."
The skills he feels he has improved the most on during his years on the tennis team are his serves and his net game. During his four years on the school's team, Barrett mostly played singles, which he said he prefers, but has played some doubles when the coaches have asked him to, which he calls a nice change.
In fact, one of his doubles matches from the beginning of this season is another one of his favorites. He and Scott Taylor teamed up for a victory against Stevensville in Polson.
"It was a really fun match," Barrett said. "It was really fast paced."
Whether playing singles or doubles, Barrett is a valued player on the team.
"He's a contributor," said BHS Assistant Tennis Coach Matt Porrovecchio. "He contributes all season and at the divisional tournament with wins for our team. He is a solid player. He goes in and plays the best he can and doesn't get too worked up over wins and losses."
Barrett started playing tennis when he was 10 years old when his mom signed him up for lessons during the summer to give him something to do.
"I didn't really like it back then, but it grew on me and I really like playing now," Barrett said.
Each of the coaches and advisors that work with Barrett seem most impressed with the multitude of activities he excels in.
"He is a really great kid and he is involved in so many different things," Porrovecchio said.
One of those things is the school's cave club, which Barrett really enjoys being a part of, as well as many other outdoor activities.
His club advisor and science teacher Hans Bodenhamer said that he is an asset to the club and a high achiever in his classroom, but there is something else that intrigues him about Barrett.
"Sean impresses me most with his adventures in tinkering," Bodenhamer said. "He has made an electric guitar and he is currently restoring a hovercraft. He also is quite a musician."
Barrett's musical abilities even led him to performing a solo in the school's band concert earlier this month.
Despite his array of interests, his focus the next few days will be on tennis, as he plays in his final high school divisional tournament, but he is taking his usual laid back approach.
"I'm pretty excited," he said. "I'm going to play the best that I can and if someone beats me oh well."
Last year Barrett made it into the third round of the consolation bracket before losing out of the tournament.