Senior Statement: Jonathon Yousey

Jonathon has been an amazing competitor and leader for our team through the years. When I think about Jonathon as a player, I am amazed at the versatility that he has shown. He’s played 33 matches of singles and 30 matches of doubles over his career, and he has a winning record in both. But the word I think of to describe Jonathon most is faithful.

In tennis, he’s been faithful to whatever is best for his teammates. He’s played singles and he’s played doubles, whatever will help the team win. He’s been a diligent worker during practice, making sure that his effort will help those he’s practicing with to get better. He’s been faithful to his own improvement, crossing the road regularly this summer to lead open courts or to work on his serve.

Even more admirable to me has been his devotion to spiritual topics, to looking deeper into his own life of following Jesus. He has been the first to participate in our spiritual conversations. He’s been quick to lead in discussions about following Jesus at tennis camp. He’s wanted to make sure that part of his legacy with this tennis team is the importance of Jesus Christ. I remember this summer at tennis camp, his passionate discussion of faith topics while pacing around in his bare feet, waiting for the shower. He is faithful.

This faithfulness has its rewards. He is the best player and the leader of our team this year. This faithfulness can have pressures. He is the best player and the leader of our team this year :-) And this season has seen he and these other seniors have to lead through ups and downs, through close losses, through injuries to many teammates, through the varying good and bad attitudes of teammates. And through it all, it is obvious that Jonathon remains focused. Each practice, he is going to give his best. Each practice, he will follow Jesus.

There was a spiritual activity that we participated in at the beginning of the year that I believe defines Jonathon. It’s one that I hope defines our team for years to come. In the activity we climbed up on a ladder, and then tossed a ball off the top of it. That represented the times that we are growing in faith and doubt or difficulty knocks us off. Then we hopped off the ladder, chased down the ball and got back to the ladder as quick as we could. That represented faith. Faith is holding on, and always coming back to Jesus, believing that he can help us grow into maturity. Jonathon sprinted back to that ladder harder than anyone else. What a legacy to leave!

Hebrews 10:22-24
Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings... Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love...