Jeff Tully
Trevor Campbell still remembers what if felt like when he first stepped onto the tennis court to play.
Although he was only 6, Campbell recalls the initial allure of the sport that would not only captivate him, but would eventually become a vital part of his life.
"I remember when I first went out and played, that was it," said Campbell, who just finished his freshman year at Burroughs High. "I knew that was the sport I wanted to play, and I wanted to play it a lot."
Campbell's interest in tennis has grown over the years, and he was able to make a splash for the Indians in his first season in the Pacific League. He advanced to the league's singles championship and went 27-3 in league play.
Campbell also qualified for the CIF Southern Section Individual Tournament, advancing two rounds in the event.
It is because of his accomplishments that Campbell has been named the All-Area Singles Player of the Year by the sports writers and editors of the Burbank Leader, Glendale News-Press and La Cañada Valley Sun.
Campbell's initiation in tennis at a young age came about by accident. His older brother, Taylor, was taking part in an instructional tennis class through the Burbank Park, Recreation and Community Services Department, and young Trevor would often tag along.
During breaks in play, young Trevor would venture onto the court to take his hacks.
"Once he got on the court, we really couldn't get him off," said Trevor's father, Michael. "He wanted to play all the time and he really seemed to enjoy it."
Michael said he really had no choice but to help facilitate his son's interest in the sport. But his father made a conscious decision not to get Trevor involved in competitive age-group tournaments too early. Instead, he let Trevor enjoy the game at a more leisurely pace.
"At first, I just wanted to be able to hit the ball over the net when I started," Campbell said. "But then I started to serve better and I was able to hit the ball better.
"It was great for me when I really started to play like a tennis player and make my shots."
Campbell began playing a lot, and his game improved tremendously. By the time he was 10, his father thought it would be all right for his son to get involved in tournament play.
"I remember the first tournament that Trevor played in was in San Marino," Michael said. "And he won it. Then, he won the second tournament that he played in.
