MUSKEGON TOWNSHIP – Jaxson Whitaker and Travis Ambrose like to be challenged, and that clearly was not happening on Wednesday.

Reeths-Puffer tennis coach Ryan Hankinson shifted his lineup around a bit and moved Whitaker and Ambrose, who are doubles partners, from No. 2 doubles to No. 3.

That proved to be too easy for the boys, who beat a team from Grand Rapids Union 6-0, 6-0, then beat a team from Whitehall 6-1, 6-1.

Next week they will play a challenge match against their teammates who played No. 2 on Wednesday, and they hope to win and reclaim their spot.

“We would like to play 2 doubles,” Ambrose said. “We don’t think we belong in 3.”

“We would rather play against better people,” Whitaker added.

That sounds like normal talk for high school tennis players, but consider that, until about a month ago, neither Whitaker nor Ambrose had ever played tennis before.

If their names ring a bell, it’s because they are Reeths-Puffer’s top varsity basketball players and legitimate Division 1 college prospects.

Last season, as sophomores, Whitaker averaged 15.9 points and 4.2 assists per game while Ambrose averaged 15.2 points and 10.9 rebounds.

In 2021 they spent the fall playing varsity football, but neither enjoyed it very much. This year they planned to spend the first few months of school focusing exclusively on their basketball workouts – then they ran into Hankinson.

Hankinson, who will be coaching the R-P boys freshman basketball team this year, met all the varsity players at workouts this summer.

“Nate Aardema (the boys varsity basketball coach) told the guys they should consider playing tennis, and I said the same thing,” Hankinson said. “Travis turned to Jaxson and said, ‘We should play!’ Then it got down to the wire this season and they both said, ‘We’re in, Coach!’”

Whitaker and Ambrose both looked a little awkward on the court during early practices, but it didn’t take them long to catch on.

There are four flights of doubles in high school tennis, and the fact that they moved right into the No. 2 spot was pretty impressive.

“They just kind of picked it up right off the bat,” Hankinson said. “They came and worked on their game and that’s where they slid into the lineup.

“They are going to be successful no matter what they do. I don’t know anything that Jaxson can’t compete in and be successful at, and Travis just has fun whatever he’s doing.”

After their two wins on Wednesday, Whitaker and Ambrose are 5-7 on the season, which isn’t bad for two guys who had never picked up a racket before.

Both admit that the game is more challenging than they ever imagined.

“We’re athletic enough to play, but serving is the hardest part,” Ambrose said. “I thought it would be easier than it is.”

“When we play more skilled players it’s more difficult,” Whitaker added.

Joining the tennis team has given Ambrose and Whitaker the opportunity to meet a group of fellow R-P athletes they didn’t really know, and now they call them teammates.

“The coolest thing is how well they’ve acclimated with the other players,” Hankinson said. “They’ve gotten to know every single kid on the team.”

“Me and Jaxson were used to hanging out with the basketball and football kids,” Ambrose said. “I didn’t know any of these guys. It’s fun getting to know more people.”

Having more time in the fall, while playing a less demanding sport than football, has also allowed Whitaker and Ambrose to be regular students and do the types of things other kids do.

Last Thursday they were leading the cheers in the student section at the varsity football game, and on Tuesday they did the same at a home volleyball match.

“We had never been in a high school student section before Thursday – it was fun,” Ambrose said.

“All sports deserve the love,” Whitaker added. “When we go to support our teams that don’t usually have student sections, it kind of builds up that Reeths-Puffer spirit.”