by Elizabeth Stuart
LSU Sports Information
Most teams are close, but the LSU men’s tennis team is as close as the strings on their racquets. Just like each individual string, the players have different origins. Woven together, they form a tight bond, both with themselves, and the fans they play in front of at W.T. “Dub” Robinson Stadium. For three seniors, Jonathan Tragardh, James Cluskey and Michael Venus, April 18 will be the final time they take the courts on the LSU campus.
Tragardh has been with the team the longest, first suiting up for the Tigers in 2005. The 5-11 senior defeated Centenary’s Josh Pinto in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, to mark his first victory. Although Tragardh was new to the Dub, the Indian Hills, Calif. native was not new to the tennis world. Crediting his mother with starting him on the sport, Tragardh rose to No. 5 in the nation and won two national titles before making his debut at LSU.
Cluskey was added to the LSU roster in the fall of 2005. The 6-6 Dublin, Ireland native traveled across the Atlantic to arrive in Baton Rouge in time for the fall tournament season. The Rice Crowne Plaza Invitational was Cluskey’s first tournament and he proved to be a solid asset in doubles in the spring as he notched a 20-12 overall record, recording an 8-3 mark against Southeastern Conference competition.
Both Tragardh and Cluskey played side-by-side in the 2005-06 season, helping see the Tigers to 15-10 record and NCAA berth. That year LSU finished among the nation’s top 25 teams in the final Intercollegiate Tennis Association Poll, but the season was only a small precursor to the success LSU would see in 2007.
Although Tragardh sat out the 2006-07 season, Cluskey notched his best doubles record with a 25-13 overall mark, taking four wins against nationally-ranked opponents. In addition to a stellar doubles performance, Cluskey garnered 17 singles victories.
As the season got underway, LSU rolled with unstoppable momentum, taking down 13 of the top teams in the nation, including a victory over sixth-ranked Illinois. The victory was the highest of LSU’s season and Cluskey was the clincher in the 4-3 upset as tenth-ranked LSU won.
“Clinching the match against Illinois at home when they went on to make the finals of the NCAA tournament is one of my favorite memories of my time at LSU,” Cluskey grinned. “That year there were so many good memories. Hosting the SEC Tournament and being able to see our home fans here yelling for us was incredible.”
When the Tigers took to the courts the next season, the future class of 2009 would be complete as Venus entered the scene. The 6-3 Orlando, Fla. native arrived in his sophomore season, but had to sit in the stands through fall 2007.
“It was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do to sit in the stands,” Venus recalled. “I’d never had to do it before and I just wanted so badly to get down there and help my teammates.”
Venus began making an impact as soon as his shoes could skid on the hardcourts.
His junior year, Venus had a breakout season, gathering league acclaim with First-Team All-SEC honors and sweeping statewide awards as he took home the 2008 Louisiana Newcomer of the Year and Player of the Year awards.
Venus finished the season ranked No. 31 in the nation, and as part of a dynamic duo with Cluskey, posted at final ITA rank of No. 14 in doubles.
For each of the three, Tragardh, Cluskey and Venus, their junior seasons only foreshadowed the accomplishments they would achieve their senior year.
And my how things can change in a year.
Venus who spent the last fall in stands was now a mainstay on the courts for the Tigers and in fall of 2008, he rewrote the history books for LSU by becoming the first Tiger in the history of the tennis program to capture the All-American crown.
By taking down top-ranked Oklahoma State’s Oleksandr Nedovyesov in the final, Venus took the 2008 D’Novo All-American title and went on to claim a team-best 10-2 record in the fall.
Tragardh was a close second, posting nine wins and notching a pair of victories in both singles and doubles at the University of Central Florida Tournament.
With Venus and Tragardh’s solid contributions in singles, Cluskey shined at doubles, appearing at No. 5 in the preseason rankings with Venus and notched six solid wins during the fall.
The three seniors have led LSU throughout the dual season as well and their leadership extends well off the white lines of the courts.
Cluskey especially has led community outreach throughout Baton Rouge his senior year. Reading to children at Lanier Elementary, spearheading a toy drive for Christmas presents to present to a local boy and passing out medals at a Special Olympics bowling event are only a few of the numerous philanthropic endeavors the 6-6 gentle giant led in the local area.
Venus leads the team off the courts as well, but in a slightly different category.
“Every year we have a locker room game and this year, it’s called Solos,” Venus said. “The idea is to see how many times you can kick the ball without letting it touch the ground.”
Long before practice starts and sometimes after a match, crashes can be heard coming from the locker room as the members of the team try to keep up with Venus.
“I used to be one of the worst, but through hard work and practice, I’m one of the best now,” Venus laughed. “I mean, I’ve got the highest score at 256 kicks and Neal (Skupski) only has 230, so I’m pretty pleased with myself.”
The camaraderie between the team will extend long past the last time they play together in the Dub.
“We are closer than any team I know,” Tragardh said. “We are just like a family.”
And as the older “brothers” in the family graduate to go on, the memories of their time at LSU will always remain.
“I’ve worked hard over the past four years,” Cluskey said. “But I don’t look at it as work because I’ve loved being here so much and practicing as well as playing.”
As for life after college, all three have similar goals in wanting to continue their tennis careers after college in some capacity, whether it is coaching or the possibility of turning pro.
No matter where their paths take them, the trio will always have their time at LSU to remember. The team as closely strung as the racquet will have new senior strings next year, but now, it’s their chance to break out on their own.