Chef Gordon Ramsay. Chef Boyardee. Chef Curry. These are some names in food and sport commonly associated with the chef nickname.
Now, prepare to meet Chef Isaac Reynolds. He won’t be cooking food for another year at least, but he’s certainly cooking it up on the tennis court.
Reynolds, a senior for the Canyon High tennis team, will be heading to culinary school in southern France for college next year. He’s currently the No. 1 boys tennis player for the Eagles as well.
Being the No. 1 boys player for any team is impressive. Reynolds, however, is the No. 1 boys player for the top ranked team in possibly the top district in all of Class 4A. He’s 44-10 this season, including 24-0 in district with 12-0 marks in doubles and singles. He’s lost 37 games all season heading into the postseason.
And he cooks, too.
“His record even to the untrained tennis eye is pretty incredible,” head coach David De Leon said. “When we play 28 team matches and each kid typically plays a singles and a doubles. When you factor in his winning percentage is about 81% across some of the top teams in 4A and 5A in the state, it’s really impressive. When you say he’s 24-0 in district and only lost two sets all district in a district with Randall, Hereford and West Plains being our competition is incredible.”
Reynolds has been an impressive player the past three years, but this year he’s taken it to a whole new level. His offseason preparation helped get him there.
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“Last spring me and my doubles partner didn’t get out of the district tournament and I told myself that I wanted to be at the state tournament this upcoming year,” Reynolds said. “Last summer when a lot of kids do stuff on their own I rededicated myself to working hard and playing a lot of summer tournaments. I did a lot of group hitting with people from the surrounding area. I was also motivated by my teammates. The chemistry this year has been really strong.”
Reynolds has been playing tennis six years now after following in his older brother Caleb’s footsteps. De Leon said that with him having come to the game a bit later, he’s gotten interest from Division III and NAIA schools. However, Reynolds’ heart belongs to the kitchen. He’ll be attending Gastronomicom for culinary school instead.
“Maybe some day (I’ll own my own restaurant),” Reynolds said. “The goal is to just work in a restaurant hopefully in France.”
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Canyon advanced past West Plains in a regional quarterfinal match on Tuesday with Reynolds winning boys doubles 6-3, 6-3 and boys singles 6-4, 4-6, (10-7). The Eagles won 10-8 and now head to the regional tournament in Abilene this week starting Thursday. Win Thursday and Friday and the Eagles will be fulfilling Reynolds self promise to go to state.
After that, he’ll be taking part in the individual season this spring before leaving on a jet plane to France. For now, though, he’s focused on the week in front of him.
“The focus today just has to be on the next match,” Reyonlds said. “Then we’ll focus on the next and then hopefully meet Randall in the regional finals. The goal all season has been to be there and make it to state. Our goal as a team is to make it to Waco next week at state.”
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