Rademacher breaks Kearney boys tennis doubles wins record

KEARNEY, Neb. (KSNB) - Sam Rademacher has been a staple of Kearney High boys tennis since he was a freshman.

“It’s not that common for a freshman to make varsity,” Kearney boys tennis coach Troy Saulsbury said. “You have to be a very good tennis player ... He’s really kind of unique in that aspect. You have to be at an elite level to play varsity as a freshman.”

Now midway through his senior season, Rademacher is a record-holder.

“I had no idea and then after I got it, my mom came up to me and told me, so that was a cool feeling,” he said.

Rademacher has played No. 1 doubles since he became a bearcat. He now has a program-best 105 wins and counting.

“He’s done this with four different partners,” Saulsbury said. “It’s not like he’s had the same partner every year ... Those other guys that played with him are just as part of this record as well.”

“All my other partners have been great,” Rademacher added. “And every year I’ve had a new partner and got to play with someone new.”

And the bond with his longtime friend and current court-mate, Eli Bond, is as tight as ever.

“I think it’s pretty cool that we grew up and got to be together on this program,” Bond said. “I want to try and get the record as high as possible. Even though it’s not my record, I still think it’s pretty cool that I can be like, ‘yeah, he was my doubles partner.’”

Rademacher’s success is nothing new. He beat out his cousin for this record and is gunning for his brother’s single-season wins tally next.

“Doubles definitely runs in the family,” Saulsbury said.

“All my cousins are good at tennis, our whole family plays it, so it’s just good to be there,” Rademacher said. “I want to break my brother’s record too, going for that.”

With plenty of tennis left to play, Rademacher is setting himself up for a lasting legacy.

“This is something that’s going to be pretty tough for somebody else to come and top for a while,” Saulsbury said.

Copyright 2022 KSNB. All rights reserved.