BOYS TENNIS MVP PROFILE
According to sixth-year Nature Coast Technical Head Coach Tom Brown, few tennis players are ever ready for the rigors of playing at sport’s most coveted and demanding positions – No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles.
According to Hernando County’s five-time defending Coach of the Year Brown, an exemption can be made for Nature Coast Technical junior Zenon Kouts.
NICE SHADES – Sporting protective eyewear, Nature Coast junior Zenon Kouts keeps his eyes on the ball during a forehand return against Land O’ Lakes’ Erik Thielbar during this year’s 2A-III semifinal in Brooksville. Again, Kouts completed the season with 18 wins en route to being tabbed Hernando County’s Player of the Year.
Kouts: By the Numbers
Kouts is fresh from back-to-back 18-win seasons. He’s 36-3 across the past two net campaigns, capturing over 92 percent of his singles matches.
For his efforts, he returned home with a pair of first-blue ribbons from the last two 2A-5 Tournaments at Crystal River.
Before anyone believes Kouts is a one-dimensional player – think again. In doubles, the 5-foot-11, 167-pounder has captured 20-of-24 doubles matches (83 percent). That too has earned him two more first-place blue ribbons.
Is it a coincidence that in Kouts’ three varsity seasons (he went 6-0 as a frosh part-time player), NCT is 44-7 overall (winning 86 percent), featuring a perfect 19-0 run versus its county brethren?
Interestingly, NCT is a combined 1-17 in Class 2A State Finals matches. The lone win belongs to Kouts.
And in the by the way category, Hernando High’s three-time Player of the Year Chris Nyholm finished 39-8 lifetime (he did not compete during his junior season) in singles. By comparison, Kouts is 42-3 lifetime in singles.
Is it any wonder Kouts was voted as Hernando County’s Player of the Year?
“His overall record and his athleticism set him apart,” described Weeki Wachee Head Coach McCabe.
“He hasn’t played this game that long,” shrugged Coach Brown. “But Zenon’s progression is so fast; he’s a lot like Simon (Toftegaard) in that regard. Since his freshman year he’s improved dramatically on his backhand, and on his serve. Now, needs to be able to play three sets against some quality No. 1 guys to get to the next level.
“I have high expectations for him,” added Coach Brown. “He’s a guy who leads by example. But Zenon is probably as qualified as Simon was to become our next No. 1 (singles player).”
“Player of the Year belongs to my teammates,” said Kouts. “They’re the ones that push me in practice and help me get to where I want to be.
They’ve helped me compete. They’re the reasons for my improvement in this game.”
What fuels Kouts’ engine?
“He’s one of our hardest working players,” replied Coach Brown. “It takes that kind of dedication to win 18 matches for two years in a row. You don’t see that kind of dedication and effort very often.
“The beauty of our past couple teams has been our depth,” Brown said. “Players were interchangeable. I think Zenon could have played at No. 1 and won at districts. He’s as ready to be No. 1 as I’ve ever seen.”
Kouts 411
Zenon John Kouts is the younger of two boys to Michael Kouts. The Kouts have lived in Spring Hill since relocating from Canada.
Zenon, who was born in Winnipeg, Canada, originally enrolled at Bishop Larkin in New Port Richey for his seventh-and eighth-grade years.
After middle school, Kouts followed his brother to NCT. At the California Street campus, the brown-trussed and blue-eyed transplant from Manitoba focused on one sport – tennis.
Interestingly, before arriving at NCT, Kouts had never played competitive tennis for anyone.
“I was a soccer kid until we moved to Florida,” recalled Kouts. “But when I got here, it was way too hot to play. Tennis kinda forced me out of the house to lose weight.”
How’d it go?
“Over a couple of years I got decent. I got better watching “You Tube” videos on tennis,” recalled Kouts. “I’d watch the videos and then hit with my dad. I slowly started picking things up. I had originally just wanted to play tennis with my brother. But as I got better, he completely got out of it.”
Biggest development?
“From day one to now, I can’t believe how much my game has changed,” noted Kouts. “I have to thank my dad and Coach Brown for their advice.
Coach Brown was the one that really helped me with my backhand. My teammates used to make fun of my backhand, but not anymore.”
Where’s the next area of concentration?
“It’s got to be with my overall fitness,” answered Kouts. “I have a desire to be fit. I have to show my fitness when I play people on long rallies.”
Is Kouts comfortable with being ‘The Man’?
“When I’m out there, I don’t think about breaking records,” admitted Kouts. “When I got here, Simon (Toftegaard) and P.J. (Watterson) were the guys I looked up to. Seeing those guys play this game got me inspired to get better…I never expected to be in the position I am to end up passing those guys. To me, they will always be the guys I look up to.”
What was Toftegaard’s influence on Kouts?
“I knew him for such a short time. I saw how I could be,” recalls Kouts. “I’d play him and he’d destroy me every time. We had this friendly, “I’ll get you next year-type rivalry.'”
“As long as I’m here, Simon will be the guy who was the true champion,” added Kouts. “We will continue to devote our season to him. I have a prayer card I carry in my bag with me every day. I know he looks down on me every time I take the courts.”
What’s in the future?
According to Kouts, he’s waited for the torch to be passed to him to become the team leader.
“I’ve been waiting for it for so long,” said Kouts, who carries a 3.60 grade point average in the medical cluster at NCT. “I feel like I’m definitely ready. I want to be a good leader as a senior. I want to inspire the young guys on our team the way I was inspired. My goal is to really work hard prior to next season and come back with my game face on.”
To get to the top of his game Kouts says he needs, “maximum fitness, a heavier forehand, more spin on my drop shots, and better movement on my volleys.”
Can Kouts ultimately compete against the likes of 3A-6’s Land O’ Lakes senior Collin Roller?
“I’m glad there are guys like Roller that are around,” stressed Kouts. “With guys like him you try harder. My ultimate goal isn’t a certain number of wins, I just want our team to get to back to states.”
By the Numbers: Zenon Kouts
– Compiled by TONY CASTRO
Singles
YEAR W L .PCT
2009 6 0 1.000
2010+ 18* 1 .947
2011+ 18* 2 .900
TOTALS 42 3 .933
Doubles
YEAR W L .PCT
2009 1 3 .250
2010+ 12 2 .857
2011+ 8 2 .800
TOTALS 21 7 .750
* Denotes county leader
+ Denotes district champion
Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at 352-544-5288 or online at [email protected].
