By Carole King
When Chanute High School’s Boys Tennis Coach Jeff Smith was asked who the Spring team’s unsung hero might be, he knew immediately: junior Ayden Cummings. Here’s why.
“Ayden is one of the hardest working players I have ever had,” Smith says. “He earned a varsity spot as a freshman in 2023 playing singles. As a sophomore, he was able to finish 8th in doubles last year paired with Burnett.
Ayden is paired again with the team’s MVP, Ethan Burnett, for doubles in Spring 2025.
“Ayden’s partner, Ethan gets a lot of attention due to being arguably the best doubles player in the SEK,” Smith said. “But Ayden has really improved his game and is a huge key to our success as a program. I look forward to seeing his hard work pay off this year!!
Ayden is grateful for the support he receives from his family and friends and says he wouldn’t be where he is today without them.
“I would like to shout out my mom for supporting me every step of the way,” Ayden says. “I would like to shout out my coaches for pushing me to work hard and be the best I can. Finally, I want to shout out my friends for helping me practice, coming to watch my games, and pushing me to start tennis in middle school! I wouldn’t be here today without them!”
Chanute High School junior Ayden Cummings spoke to VYPE SPORTS in a recent interview.
VYPE SPORTS: What are your personal goals for the year?
– My personal goals for this year are to win SEK, win our regionals, and place top five at state.
VYPE SPORTS: What is your favorite memory about your association with this team?
– My favorite memory was playing in regionals last year and having all my friends and family watching.
VYPE SPORTS: What teammate has left the biggest impression on you and why?
– The teammate that left the biggest impression on me was Parker Henson during my freshman year. Watching him play was always fun, because he seemed to have fun each time he stepped onto the court! He was not only a great player but a great person too. When I was having a tough time, he gave me advice that helped a lot.
VYPE SPORTS: What is your favorite part of being a part of this team?
– My favorite part of being on is the people I get to play with. Every day there is something new with them! I never know what to expect!
VYPE SPORTS: What clubs, community groups, or campus groups are you involved with and why?
– I am part of the tennis team, National Honors Society, Foreign Language Club, StuGo, and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. Being involved with these organizations gives me a chance to be more involved with my friends and the school.
VYPE SPORTS: What accolades (Both any sport and any non-athletic activity) are you most proud of?
– I am most proud of placing 8th at state last year.
VYPE SPORTS: What has this sport taught you that you use in your daily life?
– Tennis taught me to focus more on the present and do what I can in the moment, rather than focusing on the past and future.
VYPE SPORTS: What is the best advice that anyone has given you?
– The best advice anyone has given me is “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
VYPE SPORTS: Who inspires you and why?
– My coaches, Smith and Schoenberger, inspire me the most. I know the type of player I want to become, and they are right there every step of the way, which gets me to work even harder, so I can make them proud.
Congratulations Ayden for being the Unsung Hero 2025 of the Chanute High School Boys Tennis Team!
