Being successful singles tennis players, Burroughs High’s Trevor Campbell and Robert Henry are used to doing things on their own.
Not having to rely on someone else on the court has taught them to be completely self-sufficient. The solitude of the singles game enables the two players to take charge and be in complete control of their own success.
Campbell, a junior, has enjoyed singles success since his freshman season, when he was named the All-Area Singles Player of the Year.
“I’ve just played a lot of singles since I began playing,” Campbell said. “I’m used to playing singles, especially at Burroughs.”
On the down side, playing by themselves doesn’t allow Campbell and Henry to enjoy the camaraderie and teamwork that doubles players often experience.
However, late this past season, the players were taken out of their singles element and tossed together to make a doubles team.
“I have played some doubles in the past, but not that much,” said Henry, a sophomore. “It’s just different when you play doubles, because you always have some one there to pick you up.
“I usually like doing things by myself, but I’ve also played soccer and I’m used to having to play as a team.”
In a Pacific League that was rife with singles talent, Burroughs Coach Roy Bernhardt paired Campbell and Henry in an attempt to give them a better chance to advance to postseason play.
The two quickly became a formidable doubles team, breezing to the Pacific League championship and advancing to the CIF Southern Section Individual Round of 16.
It is because of their success that Campbell and Henry have been named the 2009 All-Area Doubles Team of the Year by the editors and writers of the La Cañada Valley Sun, Glendale News-Press and Burbank Leader.
For the last two seasons, Campbell and Henry have been the Nos. 1-2 singles players for the Indians.
However, heading into the league tournament, Bernhardt knew it would be difficult for both players to make it to the singles final, and even more difficult for them to advance far in the postseason.
“I just asked them if they would be open to the idea of playing together as a doubles team,” the coach said. “They both thought it was a good idea and they were willing to give it a try.
“They are both very good players, and I thought that they would be able to do pretty well.”
Campbell said he jumped at the chance to play alongside Henry, someone he’s known since he was 7.
