When Luke Borajkiewicz joined the Woodland boys tennis team his sophomore year, he wasn’t aware of how far it would take him. Borajkiewicz was determined to get better and ended up playing No. 1 doubles by the end of his first year. This wasn’t the end for him, however; Borajkiewicz wanted to climb to the top.

Some people have to work hard for what they want, while others are naturally talented. Borajkiewicz is a prime example of hard work getting the job done. Woodland boys tennis coach Christopher Sutton started coaching at the school the same year Borajkiewicz joined the team.

“When I first met Luke three years ago, he didn’t know the difference between a tennis ball and a pickleball,” Sutton said. “Now he is arguably the number one player in the NVL.”

Not knowing his way around the court wasn’t a problem for Borajkiewicz because he was a quick learner. He hit serves and forehands that would eventually land him a spot playing tennis for the University of Saint Joseph in Connecticut.

“Luke has progressed so fast due to his natural athleticism and willingness to improve,” Sutton said.

Borajkiewicz joined during his sophomore year because Ayden Wilson, a senior on the team at the time, convinced him to. Borajkiewicz said the hardest part of being a member of the team is balancing his schoolwork with his sport.

“I get my schoolwork done before I do any extracurriculars, except for practices and matches,” Borajkiewicz said.

Borajkiewicz said the key to success for him was consistency and throughout his entire high school tennis career, he missed fewer than five practices. Attendance isn’t the only consistency he is talking about, however; he also refers to his mindset during matches.

“Anytime I’m in a long match, I make sure I’m staying consistent and taking my time and not getting tense throughout the match,” Borajkiewicz said. “I make sure I’m relaxed and taking deep breaths at every point.”

By his senior year, all that consistency and mental toughness paid off. Luke’s high school career ended in a great postseason run, where his consistency helped him secure a top finish in the individual NVL tournament and lead his team to the final round of the team NVL tournament, proving just how far he had come from his first day on the court.

As he finished his final match on Woodlands courts, Borajkiewicz wasn’t just leaving behind a legacy of hard work and rapid improvement, he was looking forward to the next chapter. With his commitment to the University of Saint Joseph, Borajkiewicz is ready to take the same work ethic that turned him from a beginner into a champion and apply it to the college courts, proving that with enough dedication, there truly is no limit to how far you can go.