Ellensburg Tennis Ace Tops Determined Ullah

Richland senior tennis player Haroon Ullah has a relentless determination on and off the court.

Ullah entered the 49th Inland Empire Tennis Tournament this weekend as the top-seeded boys No. 1 singles player.

Even though Ullah was beaten 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 by second-seeded John Grueber of Ellensburg in Saturday’s title match at Central Valley, it certainly didn’t take anything away from the 17-year-old’s inner drive.

Mead, meanwhile, motored to the combined boys and girls title with 57 points.

University’s Leslie Whitten defeated Mead’s Amy Fong 7-6 (9-7), 7-5 for the girls singles title.

In doubles, Michael Cook and Cody Buehler of West Valley/Yakima defeated Jon Wrigley and Eric Donovan of Mead 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 for the boys title, while Tami Zielinski and Seana Parsons of Wenatchee beat Ferris’ Darcy Ruemping and K.C. Richards 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 for the girls championship.

Lewis and Clark’s duo of Dave Farley and Gretchen Davis beat Mead’s Brett Kaiser and Kelly Kaiser 7-5, 6-1 for the mixed-doubles crown.

Ullah battled Grueber to the end, but the Ellensburg sophomore was able to pull out more clutch shots.

Ullah has a 3.99 grade-point average - an A-minus in an advanced biology course a couple years back cost him a 4-point - and plans to attend Whitman College in the fall. Saturday, he gave credit to his parents, who were born in Lahore, Pakistan.

“I think my achievements have been a result of their hard work at raising me,” Ullah said.

Although he was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, moving to Richland in 1981, his parents have maintained many Pakistani customs.

“The difference between my family and the families of a lot of my other friends is amazing,” Ullah said. “My brothers and sisters, we respect our parents, my parents respect us - I don’t always see that with a lot of my friends.”

Ullah is also committed to earning a state berth in tennis. Despite of how well he has played in the past three seasons, he can’t seem to get out of the upcoming Big Nine District Tournament, a state qualifier.

“There are just a lot of good players in the league who on any given day can beat you,” Ullah said. “I’m just dedicated to going one match at a time and trying not to look too far down the road.”