Lucas Walburn of Columbia River named The Columbian's All-Region boys tennis player of the year

Calm, cool and collected.

Those three words could describe Columbia River senior Lucas Walburn's game on a tennis court.

Even though he entered the fall season as the Class 2A state singles champion, he said he felt less pressure with a title already in his tennis bag.

"I just felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders," he said. "I probably felt less pressure after winning last year. If I try my best and I know if it doesn't go my way, all I know is I did my best."

Sounds pretty cool, calm and collected, right?

Walburn didn't get to add another state title, but he did finish runner-up at this spring's 2A state tournament and was an easy choice as The Columbian's All-Region boys tennis player of the year.

Walburn won his fourth consecutive 2A district singles title back in October and then waited seven months to try and defend that 2025 state title.

"I played for so long now, so many tournaments, lessons ... I might as well go for it," he said as he approached his final high school season.

His mental game is strong (cool, calm and collected, remember?). It keeps him in the tougher and longer matches that can come at a state tournament. It's also about looking ahead and not dwelling on the most recent point.

"I just go back and think about the next point rather than what just happened," he said. "And if I make a bad shot, I usually just think it over and try not let my emotions get the best of me. It's like a mental reset, not having too much emotion on the court."

Where Walburn's mental game helped the most was his quarterfinal match at state, a three-setter against Harley Kaiser of Sehome. Kaiser won the first set 6-2 and then Walburn turned the match around to win the last two sets 6-4, 6-0.

"I guess it gives me a little more confidence," Walburn said of being mentally strong. "Mostly consistency-wise, if I see (opponents') emotions getting the best of them, I'll try to extend the points and make them force the errors.

"It definitely helped in my quarterfinal match. It was quite the mental battle between me and him. His emotions getting a little higher made winning points easier."

Walburn's semifinal was a routine 6-1, 6-2 victory. The final was a 21/2-hour two-setter won by Leo Kuhn of Bellingham 6-3, 6-4.

"Just trying to get through him was really tough," Walburn told The Columbian that day in Seattle. "I was able to do it toward the end, but I was too inconsistent. He just played better than me today."

Players can stay as cool, calm and collected during a match and still come out on the wrong end of the score.

Still, his approach to the game helped Walburn medal three of the four years he went to state and play in two state finals, winning one.

And that's pretty cool.

All-Region boys tennis team

Player of the year: Lucas Walburn, sr, Columbia River

REST OF THE ALL-REGION TEAM

Singles

Dylan Siems, Camas: Sophomore was the 4A GSHL player of the year won the district title in a three-set match, qualified for state.

Leo Zhao, Camas: Senior was first-team all-4A GSHL, district runner-up, qualified for state for a fourth time.

Doubles

Issac Patel and Anton Patel, Skyview: Sophomores were 4A GSHL doubles players of the year, placed third at bi-district to qualify for state.

Brody Wolski and Eli Miller, Ridgefield: Seniors placed sixth at state after reaching the semifinals, 2A GSHL doubles players of the year.

Tyler Stimmel and Ryan Wyle-Wilson, Columbia River: Juniors finished seventh at state after reaching quarterfinals.

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