Treadwell family legacy at Trinity tennis program: Brothers reflect on final doubles season
Wednesday the Montgomery Advertiser began the release of the annual All-Area teams for spring sports. James and Samuel Treadwell headlined the boys tennis list, as James was named the player of the year.
With 100 doubles victories together, the Treadwell’s are a household name at Trinity Presbyterian. And it’s not just because of their tennis success.
Kelly Treadwell, is the head coach for Trinity’s tennis team and also the mother of James and Samuel. Their father Tommy, serves as an assistant and helps out with the team making it a true family effort.
“I was a tennis player growing up and it’s kind of what my family did,” Tommy Treadwell said. “Around the age of 12 is when the boys started to exclusively focus on tennis. Our oldest set the tone for the younger two.”
Thomas Treadwell is the older brother to Samuel and James. He attended Trinity from 2018-2021 and won a singles state championship.
Samuel is the middle child and is 17 months apart from James. They have played doubles together since James was in the seventh grade. The 2024 season was their final season together with Samuel graduating.
“It’s pretty awesome how fast everything happened,” Samuel said. “I feel like it was just yesterday that I was just joining the team. To have won that that many matches together is crazy to think about.”
James added his thoughts on not playing with Samuel next season.
“Playing together for five years and not having him will be different for sure,” James said. “It will be a huge loss because Samuel normally carries me. I won’t have the same chemistry like what me and Samuel have with my next partner. It will be a new dynamic.”
Kelly Treadwell spoke about the impact Thomas and Samuel have on James. In 2020, all the brothers played on the varsity team at the same exact time. Now with James being the final sibling on the team, Kelly says it’s his time to step up and lead.
“They both really encourage James because he’s never been alone all his life having them home,” Kelly said. “He will be the only one at home and on the team for the first time ever next year. We will have to figure out as a team regarding his new doubles partner but it’s going to be his time to finish strong. He’s watched the role model his old brothers were for our team and he takes that seriously.”
Samuel finished 117-11 in doubles matches in his career. James is currently 102-9. This past season they only lost one match together. Since 2019 they won four doubles section championships.And finished as doubles state runner-up for the last three years.
Samuel finished his career as three-time singles section champion and a singles state runner up in 2021. He was also selected to play in the AHSAA All-Star game last season.
James is a four-time singles section champion and was selected for the 2024 AHSAA All-Star game. He is a two-time singles state champion winning in 2021 and 2024.
Despite James’ individual success, it still hurts him he couldn’t win a doubles state title with Samuel.
“This year my main focus was on doubles, James said. “When I won singles it was good and all but I was more focused on doubles. When we lost in the doubles championship it was tough because that’s what I really wanted and I didn’t get it.”
“For both of us we don’t find our identity in tennis so we’ve learned to embrace the losses. It’s easier to bounce back to that idea after our defeats.”
Samuel added his feelings on falling short of the doubles title again.
“We lost some really close matches in the finals,” Samuel said. “We always wanted to get it and have come one step short. Instead of regretting stuff and being ticked off about losing, I just remember it’s not life or death it’s just high school sports.”
Entering his senior season, James mantra is being a positive example for everyone on his team.
“Samuel has the leader for us this past year and now it’s my turn,” James said. “I want to be that great example for next year’s team and work hard knowing I have one more year to play my best.”
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Treadwell brothers on final tennis season together at Trinity: What’s next?
