Tennis is in Jack Oxler’s blood.

The game surrounded the SIUC sophomore as he was growing up in Wichita, Kan., and most of his family has ties to the sport. His father, Doug Oxler, played tennis for Kansas State. His mother Anne plays and brought him to tournaments as a child. Jude and Angie, Oxler’s older siblings, played high school tennis. Younger brothers George and Joe currently play tennis for Bishop Carroll High School in Wichita.

Oxler was introduced to tennis when he was 5 years old, and began playing in tournaments by the time he was 7. He said his dad helped him get involved in athletics and taught him many fundamentals of tennis.

Advertisement

My dad has been real big on my athletics growing up, Oxler said. But he is not real pushy about it.

Oxler said it took time to understand and adjust to his dad’s concern for his tennis game. As a player for Bishop Carroll High School, he did not know how to handle his father’s influence.

In high school I told him not to come to my games because he cared too much, Oxler said.

Oxler won the state singles tournament his junior and senior years at Bishop Carroll.

Oxler said now that he is in college, his father’s perspective is much clearer and he appreciates any advice his dad offers.

He comes to games now because I can handle it better, he said. I understand his perspective better.

His dad’s presence at tournaments has even helped lead Oxler to SIUC victories. This was the case last year, when the Dawgs faced Southwest Missouri State University.

Advertisement*

Oxler had lost the first set 6-1, and was down in the second set. His dad told him to relax and his play improved. His dad helped him again in the third set, and Oxler ended up winning the match.

He talked to me a couple of times during the match, Oxler said. If it wasn’t for him, I probably wouldn’t have won.

Oxler said his father knows a lot about the game of tennis.

If he wasn’t my dad, I’d listen to him all of the time, he said.

John McEnroe is also another of Oxler’s role models, but Oxler’s style of play does not include McEnroe’s on-court antics.

It has been fun to follow his success, Oxler’s mother Anne said. He has a good attitude on the court.

Teammate Brian Etzkin said Oxler is one of his favorite players to watch compete.

On the court, he’s pretty intense and a hard worker, he said. Jack is a great competitor.