Lower Gwynedd Native Thriving on the Court

Hunter Callahan is focused on tennis. His focus has also given him an early start in college.

Callahan is a junior tennis player, and the Lower Gwynedd native wrapped up his high school studies six months early last January.  Two months later, he was off to Ohio State, where he will soon be playing tennis on the college level.

The quick transition has allowed Callahan more time to sharpen his skills on the court.

“It was actually a relief that I could focus on tennis,” said Callahan. “I didn’t have to worry about going to tennis then right to school. I could train as much as I want and work out as much as I needed to.”

Callahan is building up an impressive resume on the USTA 18-and-under circuit. The local product has put together several impressive tournament runs over the past year. Last November, Callahan captured the title in the Evert ITF Tournament. He advanced to the semifinals of the Clay Court Championships last month and has compiled an overall record of 29-11.

Callahan credits his success with keeping his focus on his opponents as opposed to the prize at end of the tournament.

“I go into each match and think about exactly what I have to do against each player,” Callahan said. “After the match is when I realized what I’ve done, and it kind of sinks in. It’s a really nice feeling.”

Callahan spent much of his time in Lower Gwynedd learning from home through the services of Agora, an online school Callahan began working with when he was in seventh grade.

“It’s basically the same thing as far as subject matter,” Callahan said.  “But the textbooks are online. I’d log into school and do what the teacher tells me to do that day.”

While Callahan is keeping busy with tennis, he has also had to make the leap from an online school to Ohio State University, which is obviously quite a contrast for Callahan.

"That was a transition,” Callahan said. “It meant going from an online school for the past six years to a real school. It was a really tough thing, but I play in tournaments, and I love competing.”

Callahan is looking forward to playing tennis for the Buckeyes. He is also looking forward to working with a coaching staff offering the same discipline as his previous coach.

“My coach is very strict,” said Callahan. “He’s very passionate. The coaches here are the same way. They don’t like it when you fool around. Plus, the players here are really good.”

Callahan spent part of his youth in Thailand, where he first began to gain a passion for tennis with the help of his parents.

“I was about 7 at the time,” Callahan said. “My parents got me into it.  My dad picked up tennis while he was in college. He was really into athletics. He also played football, but he looked at me and didn’t want me to play football, so I took up tennis. When we were back in Lower Gwynedd when I was 12, that’s when I decided I wanted to focus on tennis.”

Like many young tennis stars, Callahan has dreams of one day standing on center court at Wimbledon. He would also like to make his mark for his country in an age in which American tennis stars are harder to come by than in the days of John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors.

“That would be an awesome honor to lead the country in a sport,” said Callahan. “That’s why I work hard every day.”