Student-athlete de 'Lux'e

Senior tennis player star on, off courts

Dave Kim / senior photographer Senior tennis player Andrew Lux hits a shot against a Flame opponent in JMU's match against Liberty University April 10. Lux is nationally ranked in both singles and doubles.

Interviewing Andrew Lux is a lot like facing him on the court. He strolls in casually late (you come to find out that promptness is not one of his strengths), plops his bag on the floor, warmly introduces hwimself and even offers to buy you a drink to make up for his tardiness.

"Nice guy," you think to yourself. Very relaxed, at six feet not an imposing figure, well mannered, seems easy going. You begin to think you're the one in control. This must surely be how his opponents feel right before matches. But then he becomes focused. And just like he consumes everything during a match — the opponent, the crowd, the coaches — he immediately takes in the scene that surrounds him now. The interviewer's notebook, the UREC employees, the climbing wall, the cute girls walking around — especially the girls.

"He lets nothing and no one go unnoticed," teammate junior Mike Hendricksen said. "He talks a little too much to everybody, but that is just Andrew."

So now the verbal volley begins. On the court Lux is precise, calculating and quick to react. Nothing is different here. He rattles off responses to questions just as smoothly as he strokes a forehand winner. The volley takes time, goes back and forth for a while, until finally the Andrew Lux story unfolds itself.

As a five year old growing up in Germany, Lux first was exposed to tennis when his parents used to drag him along to their daily matches. Once Lux put down the soccer ball, his first love, and began hitting balls against the wall, a career began.

By age six he was dominating summer camps. By eight he was taking his first private lessons. Nearly a decade later, coach Steve Secord met Lux while at a friends' wedding and convinced the young star to give JMU a try. Lux admits that it was a bit naïve to essentially hop on a plane and come to college in the United States, but one can't argue with the results.

As a sophomore he was named team captain and played as the No. 2 seed all year.

Lux continued to work and improve his game before finally taking over the No. 1 spot during his junior year. Still a captain, Lux won 32 singles and doubles matches during his junior campaign, relying heavily on his consistent play and intelligence to wear down opponents.

"He doesn't have an overwhelming weapon, but he's got no glaring weaknesses," Secord said. "He just wears you down and makes you earn every point."
Lux said, "My tennis is messed up. I'm a lefty, and everyone hates playing lefties. I think I beat a lot of guys who walk off the court saying, ‘how did I lose to that guy?'"

Lux's success has carried over to his senior year in full force. He won 30 matches already this year, with the conference championships coming this weekend. He was a 2001 selection to the All-CAA Singles First Team and earned All-CAA Second Team honors for doubles.

In the fall Lux and his partner, Troy Stone (‘01), were ranked 44th nationally in ITA doubles, while Lux himself was ranked 137th. This achievement marked the first time in Secord's coaching tenor that a player was ranked nationally in both singles and doubles at the same time. Game.

And still he sits across from you, still concentrating, taking in the entire scene. He's loosened you up with friendly conversation now, just like he breaks in opponents with those slicing backhands. Three or four people have stopped by the table just to say hello and wish him well, and you are starting to see that personality is what makes this athlete truly gifted.

The three-year captain has such a flawless leadership and academic record, it would make former Duke University basketball standout Shane Battier blush.
Lux is the chairman and founder of the JMU Student-Athlete Advisory Council, an especially tense job considering last years' budget cuts.

He is the Vice-President of Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society and served as JMU representative at both the NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference as well as the Beta Gamma Sigma National Leadership Conference. The list goes on, but Lux's application of these leadership skills is what stands out in the minds of his teammates.

"Andrew is a true leader," teammate sophomore Colin Malcolm said. "He is a guy who picks you up when you are down. He is very organized, focused on his tasks and has the true spirit of a champion." Game, Set.

Lux is smiling more now, because he knows he's got you. The southpaw serve and topspin forehands have worn you down. His athletic record is terrific, leadership skills beyond reproach.

This May, Andrew Lux will graduate at the top of his class with a 4.0 cumulative GPA in the College of Business. He is the Outstanding JMU Marketing Student for 2002, has been on every President's Honoree List this century and was awarded the Scholarship Key Award by both Alpha Kappa Psi and Delta Sigma Pi.

"Andrew has set a prime example of what any person should be like, athlete or not," teammate sophomore Matthew Chenault said. "He is the epitome of scholar-athlete."

More than a few organizations have agreed with Chenault's eloquent assessment of Lux's talents. "Americans like to give awards," Lux said, and he of all people would know. Lux is a Verizon Academic All-American, a two-time CAA Scholar-Athlete and most importantly, a two-time recipient of the JMU Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award.

Lux is most proud of this last award, because it honors both athleticism and achievement in the classroom. Although Lux enjoys a great social life, his scholastic record has come at somewhat of a price.

"Andrew gave up a lot in his earlier years [to achieve a 4.0]," Hendricksen said.

"There were times when we would joke with him about how much he studied and the things he would miss when he wasn't around, but I began to understand why he did it.

"He was so focused not for one year or two years, but for his entire career here at JMU. This hard work has paid off for Andrew, not only in the classroom but also in practice. He is always there trying his hardest no matter what. That is admirable."

Always getting the last word in, the loquacious Lux smiles and insists that his social life quickly is catching up to all the work he's put in over the years, and that a European vacation is in the making. After all he has done, no one deserves it more than he does.

Game, Set, Match.