By BUTCH HARMON
The next time you think something is difficult and can’t be done, consider the case of Lansing Eastern senior Lioyikane Mavoungou.
The No. 1 singles player for the Lansing Eastern tennis team, Mavoungou is proof that a lot can be accomplished in a short period of time, no matter the circumstances.
In the summer of 2008, Mavoungou and his family emigrated to the United States from the nation of Gabon in west central Africa. Growing up, he was a soccer player who had never tried tennis. He also spoke French, and when he arrived in Lansing and enrolled at Eastern in late August of 2008, he knew no English.
Starting from scratch, Mavoungou applied himself to learning English. Eventually he found his way onto the soccer team.
Three years ago, with some encouragement from a friend, Mavoungou decided to try hitting a tennis ball.
“My friend was on the soccer team and the tennis team,” Mavoungou said. “He asked me one day if I wanted to try playing tennis. I started playing with him and liked it. He beat me all the time at first, but I started to win some points, and then some games, and I finally beat him.”
Mavoungou spent hours practicing the game. Along with playing against his friend, he hit ball after ball against a wall to develop his stroke.
He eventually decided to try out for the Quaker tennis team. It did not take long for him to move his way up the ranks under coach Brian Grew. During his first two years of tennis, he earned all-state honors.
This season, Mavoungou won his first eight matches playing at No. 1 singles for the Quakers.
“He is a prodigy,” Grew said. “He is just a natural. He is probably the fastest kid I’ve seen on the tennis court, and he works so hard at his game. I’ve given him lessons, and he has taken lessons at Court One.”
Mavoungou has received lessons from tennis pros at Court One. In exchange for lessons, Mavoungou works at the club doing a variety of jobs.
“He has a great work ethic,” Grew said. “He works so hard at his game. That is why he has developed into the player he is.”
Which is one of the top high school tennis players in mid-Michigan.
“He’s played in major tournaments during the summer,” Grew said. “He’s even defeated players from Michigan State in tournaments.”
Mavoungou’s work ethic has carried over into his studies as well. He is now fluent in English, and talking to him, one would never know that he began speaking the language just three years ago.
Mavoungou has already begun attracting the attention of college tennis programs. Grand Valley State University is recruiting him heavily, and he has made unofficial visits to the school’s Allendale campus.
Mavoungou would be even more heavily recruited, but by not playing in many of the summer tournaments, he has flown under the radar of college recruiters.
“The thing with tennis is that you have to go to these summer tournaments,” Grew said. “Lioyikane’s mother works two jobs and has never even seen him play tennis because of her work. These tournaments cost $75 to enter. Not only that, but the family does not have a car to get to them if he had the money.”
This puts him at a disadvantage compared to many other tennis players who began playing the game at a young age and who had the benefit of tennis lessons while growing up.
Despite the roadblocks, Mavoungou has developed into one of the premier tennis players in mid-Michigan. With the tennis season coming to a head, Mavoungou is looking to finish strong and to qualify for the state tournament.
“This is my last year of high school tennis, and my goal is to play good this year,” Mavoungou said. “I want to become a better player and hopefully make it to the state meet. So far it’s been a great season. Everything about tennis has been positive, and it’s been a lot of fun. I really like the game, and the biggest thing is to go out and have fun.”
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