Colin Roller’s odd journey to tennis
By Kyle LoJacono
Often the best athletes first pick up their respective game because an older sibling, parent or other relative also played.
Not so with Land O’ Lakes High senior Colin Roller.
“My parents actually did not have much of a background in tennis,” Colin said. “My mom played basketball and my dad played football, hockey and lacrosse his whole life. My mom actually got into it when I started at 7 years old. We didn’t really have any prior tennis experience.”
Colin’s first encounter with tennis happened almost by complete chance. The Rollers were members of a country club in Roanoke, Va. He and his mom, Felicia Roller, decided to give tennis a try one random afternoon.
“I was a big swimmer when I was younger and the pool was right by the tennis courts,” Colin said. “One day we just saw the tennis courts and decided to go out and play a little bit.”
Bob Roller, Colin’s dad, said his son also played travel baseball and basketball growing up.
“Then he found tennis,” said Bob, who is a volunteer assistant for the Gators. “We asked him around age 12 what sport he wanted to focus on, and he picked tennis. That surprised me a little bit, but it’s what he wanted and it’s worked for him.”
Colin, now 6-foot-4, said the individual nature of tennis is a big reason he has stuck with it.
“I played a lot of other sports, and it was fun being on a team like that, but there’s something nice about being out there all by yourself,” Colin said. “Sometimes it’s nice to rely on someone else to make a shot or get a hit, but I really enjoy being able to decide my own fate on a tennis court.”
Colin puts in about 20 hours a week between practice, working out and playing tennis.
“I’ve mostly been working on my backhand,” Colin said. “Basically I’ve been working on my backhand for four years, and it’s progressing. It’s gotten much better since freshman year. When I’m not working on my backhand I’m just working on putting everything all together and winning points. I’ve got the shots down, but I’m working on finishing points.”
He is also working on a new style to throw opponents off balance
“I’m mainly a serve and volleyer,” Colin said. “I return it as quick as possible and finish points at the net. I’ve been trying to progress my game more at the baseline.”
Colin has helped Land O’ Lakes reach new heights during his four years at the central Pasco County school. During his sophomore year in 2010 the Gators went undefeated as a team through regionals, becoming the first squad in program history to make states.
Colin has also made states the last three years, making it individually as a freshman and junior. His best finish was last year when he reached the Class 2A individual state semifinals, dropping a three-set match to the eventual state champion.
The Gators No. 1 has 48-1 singles record in the regular season, with his only loss coming last year to Wiregrass Ranch’s Courage Okungbowa.
“We can always count on Colin to win his points, but the other players look up to him too,” said Land O’ Lakes coach Jasalyn Gerazounis. “He’s always cheering them on during matches. He’s a great player and a great teammate.”
Colin has done almost everything possible individually with high school tennis, so his biggest remaining goal is a team one.
“We were the first Land O’ Lakes boys tennis team to ever get to states, and unfortunately it didn’t go very well for us,” Colin said. “We didn’t win one point at states. As a team our goal is to win districts and then regionals so we can win a point at states, but first we have to get there.”
Colin recently committed to East Carolina University, a Division I program. He said playing in college was a major goal of his.
Colin gets a chance to avenge his only high school loss when Okungbowa and Wiregrass Ranch play at Land O’ Lakes on Thursday, March 15 at 3:15 p.m.
