Anthony Anderson

Roundtable

In his first season of high school tennis, Matt Morrison went 0-10 — on the junior varsity.

And yet, if he never had improved upon that freshman year, it still would've been considered a major achievement by almost anyone but Morrison himself.

Morrison was born with cerebral palsy, a disorder that can come in many forms.

In Morrison's case, the functioning of his right arm and right leg are considerably and visibly restricted.

What's had no restrictions, however, is Morrison's will to overcome what seems a mere annoyance when given the way he shrugs at it.

Last week, the Central senior finally got his first-ever varsity start.

Not only that, but he and freshman partner Alex Boyer went on to win that No. 3 doubles match 6-4, 7-5 against visiting Edwardsburg, helping the Blue Blazers take a 6-2 team victory over their Michigan neighbor.

“It felt great,” Morrison said. “I was nervous because it was something I wasn't experienced with, but mostly just because it's that long of a match (two of three sets instead of the single, eight-game sets that are typical in JV).”

Never mind that the Michigan format of more lineup positions helped afford Morrison his chance at a varsity slot.

He's been on the cusp of earning such a nod anyway, according to Central coach Dave Whittaker, and still might get another one before the season is over.

“He really is a remarkable young man,” Whittaker said of Morrison, “and so respected by everyone on his team.”

Morrison has won the JV Mental Attitude Award each of his first three years, an honor that is voted on by teammates.

But there's something else that he has increasingly won since that 0-10 frosh debut — matches.

In other words, Matt Morrison is no novelty out there anymore.

Rather, he's simply a tough opponent.

With a record built primarily at doubles, but with some singles mixed in as well, Morrison improved all the way to 5-12 his sophomore year. Then all the way to 9-5 his junior year. He headed into this past weekend at 7-3 this fall. Fellow senior Mikey Namisnak has been his most common partner over the years.

“I've just wanted to get better,” Morrison said the many hours he has poured into practice, both with the team and by himself.

It's by himself that he often works on his distinctly styled serve that has become a distinctly viable weapon.

Morrison, who took up tennis in seventh grade, used to toss the ball up with his left hand. Then while the ball was in the air, he'd have to transfer the racket to his left hand. It was choppy and prohibitive.

But during his freshman year, then-assistant Ben Williams helped Morrison develop the serve he uses now. Morrison rests the ball on the back side of his racket, then in virtually one motion, flips it up and serves it up.

“I am pretty proud,” the soft-spoken Morrison said, only when prodded, of what he's been able to accomplish in tennis.

Though that serve is impressive, Morrison says his strength is his crosscourt forehand.

As for his backhand, he must make do without the two-fisted option that nearly all other players have.

Of course, he also has to battle through a lack of foot speed while covering the court.

Morrison's cerebral palsy tightens the tendons in the right side of his body, limiting his range of motion.

“In kindergarten, I had an operation on my calf muscle, but that didn't do anything,” said Morrison, who is sponsored by Shriners Hospital of Chicago. “Then in fourth grade, they lengthened my Achilles tendon, and that has helped me walk a lot better.”

The son of Beth and Mark Morrison, with two older sisters in Kelly and Erin, Matt has better than a B-minus average in school. He is considering studying accounting or construction management in college, possibly at Ball State or Purdue.

In tennis, his favorite moments have included when a player from the other team sought him ought to commend him for his efforts, and when he and Namisnak partnered in a particularly long and grueling match last year.

“It didn't matter that we lost,” Morrison said. “We played the best we've ever played, we were dead tired and it was really close.”

Morrison has embraced the challenges of practicing and conditioning with that same attitude.

“Matt has never used his disability as an excuse,” Whittaker said. “Not once. He runs everything out. In conditioning, he always runs hard. He never pulls up, and he never says, 'I can't do this.'”

“I just feel like, why complain when you gotta do it anyway?” Morrison said. “You just have to have a drive to succeed.”

Anthony Anderson is The Elkhart Truth's assistant sports editor. Contact him at aanderson@etruth.com.