Following in the footsteps of an older sibling can sometimes be difficult, but freshman tennis player Jake Norman is ready fill his brother Ryan’s shoes and carry on the Norman legacy at Creighton.
Ryan Norman graduated from Creighton last year after playing four years of tennis.
“It’s nice coming in knowing he created a legacy at Creighton,” Jake Norman said. “I enjoyed watching him play throughout the years. I always respected my brother, and I want to follow in his footsteps.”
Norman was a highly regarded recruit after a standout career at the Independent High school, during which Norman earned two class 3A singles state titles, but he said he is ready to take on a higher level of competition.
“[Division 1 is] a lot more competitive, much more physical, with an increased focus on weights and conditioning,” Norman said. “Bigger players have bigger games.”
Norman said he is excited that the season is underway and that he is ready to see what he can bring to the court for the Jays.
“This season I just want to get out there and go for it during every match,” Norman said. “In my career, I’d like to earn as many wins as possible.”
He is using all of his training to see what he can contribute to this Bluejay tennis team. Norman came to Creighton as part of a five-man class for a very young team with only one senior (Billy Paluch) and one junior (Elliot Baker) on the roster. Norman said he likes the team dynamic and praised the leadership of the team’s upperclassmen.
“Definitely Elliot as a junior, he’s the lone junior and Billy is the lone senior,” Norman said. “Billy does a great job as a leader, motivating the team.”
Head coach Tom Lilly said he enjoys having Norman on the team after previously coaching his brother.
“Personality wise, they are a little bit different,” Lilly said. “Ryan was a little more vocal on the court, when he would get mad at himself. Jake is a bit more laid back. They’re both great guys, hard workers and great students. I’ve gotten to know the family real well and that has been nice.”
Norman’s goals for himself focus more on the short term, while Lilly said he can see the long-term potential in Norman.
“Jake has the ability to be a No. 1 player for us and by the end of his career he can potentially be one of the better players ever to play at Creighton … He’s got the talent to be very good,” Lilly said.
Lilly anticipates the freshman class will keep moving up in the lineup and to continue improving the play of this tennis program.
“Three of them are already in the singles lineup; Harrison Lang was a four-star recruit and the best player out of Colorado,” Lilly said. “We anticipate him playing even higher than he is now … Aaron Chalstrom has been playing No. 6 singles so far this year, while Jake Glazer and Michael Koch have been working very hard to get into the lineup.”
As Norman and his fellow freshmen are adjusting to Division I play, Lilly is figuring out how to help his younger team make the leap.
“College tennis is definitely different than playing in high school or the juniors where a lot of it is focused on yourself,” Lilly said. “The format that we have in college tennis, you need to rely on your teammates and help your teammates out. Helping them get adjusted definitely keeps me on my toes a little bit more.”
Norman’s career is just getting under way, but expectations are high as he looks to carry on where his brother left off last season.