James Cluskey Season 2024-25
2009 SEC Community Service Team
2008 First-Team All-Louisiana
2008 SEC Honor Roll
CAREER (2005-09)
Cluskey was a dominant force in doubles each of his four years with the Tigers, earning a national ranking three of four years and peaking at No. 3 with partner Ken Skupski in 2007. The Dublin native tallied an incredible 82 doubles victories during his time at LSU and also compiled an impressive 57 singles wins. Not only a standout on the court, Cluskey’s passion for philanthropy in the community earned him a spot on the 10-member SEC Community Service Team in 2009.
SENIOR SEASON (2008-09)
Named to the SEC Community Service Team … Clinched four doubles points for the Tigers during the dual season … Defeated then 29th-ranked Devin Britton, the eventual NCAA Singles Champion 5-7, 7-6 (1), 7-5 in the Tigers’ regular season matchup with Ole Miss … Upset 58th-ranked Bryant Salcedo and Nich Cromydas of Vanderbilt 8-5 with Tragardh … Appeared at No. 53 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Rankings with Gauthier … Listed at No. 5 with Venus in the ITA preseason rankings … Posted a 5-5 singles record and a 6-4 doubles mark in fall competition … Overcame No. 99 David Simon of Miami in a three-set victory 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 at the ITA Fall Southeast Regional… Earned fourth varsity letter.
JUNIOR SEASON (2007-08)
Earned first-team All-Louisiana honors … Named to the SEC Honor Roll … Compiled 16 wins, including 13 in straight sets … Had the best conference winning percentage on the team at 83.3 percent … Led the team in doubles wins with 22 … He and partner Michael Venus finished the season ranked No. 14 as a duo and earned a bid to the NCAA Doubles Tournament … Cluskey and Venus compiled a team-best 16 doubles wins including going 10-0 at home … Listed at No. 9, with partner Colt Gaston, in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association preseason rankings … Slowed for most of the fall with a wrist injury but still finished with an unblemished 4-0 singles record and a 4-1 doubles record … Earned third varsity letter.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2006-07)
Finished the season ranked No. 24 in doubles with Ken Skupski … Reached the NCAA round of 16 in doubles with Skupski … The Irishman clinched the St. Patrick’s Day match against Texas A&M by defeating Brett Joelson, 7-6, 4-6, 6-2 … Clinched LSU’s upset victory over No. 6 Illinois by defeating Brandon Davis, 6-2, 2-6, 7-5, on March 20 … Named LSU Male Athlete of the Week for the week of March 12-19 … Ranked No. 28 in the preseason ITA doubles rankings with partner Skupski … Knocked off teammate Kevin Dessauer at the Rice Invitational to take the B singles bracket title … Teamed up with Skupski to reach the main draw semifinals of the Polo Ralph Lauren All-American Tennis Championships … Skupski and Cluskey defeated the then-No. 3 ranked team of Middle Tennessee’s Marco Born and Andreas Siljestrom in the second round of the Polo Ralph Lauren All-American Tennis Championships … Teamed up with Skupski to reach the semifinals of the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships … Finished the fall season with a 5-2 record in singles and 7-5 record in doubles … Earned second varsity letter.
FRESHMAN SEASON (2005-06)
Saw plenty of action in his first year, compiling a 16-19 record in singles competition and an impressive 20-12 in doubles, including a 15-7 record while playing with Paul White … In the fall, participated in four tournaments … Reached the semifinals of the ITA Southeast Regional with doubles partner Ken Skupski … Earned first varsity letter.
PRIOR TO LSU
2004 Irish under 18 national singles champion … Was half of 2004 Irish national champion mixed doubles pair and a finalist in men’s doubles … Part of high school national champion team in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
PERSONAL
Born Aug. 18, 1986, in Dublin, Ireland … Full name is James Cluskey … Parents are Kevin and Esme Cluskey … Has one brother, Stephen (24), and one sister, Amy (26) … Decided to come to LSU because of the coaches, the facilities and the chance to play in the SEC … Majoring in finance.
Cluskey’s Career Statistics
Overall
vs. Top 125
SEC Dual
Year
W
L
Pct.
W
L
Pct.
W
L
Pct.
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
8
20
.286
2
15
.118
2
8
.200
Totals
57
57
.500
3
22
.120
17
19
.472
Doubles
Overall
vs. Top 60
SEC Dual
Year
W
L
Pct.
W
L
Pct.
W
L
Pct.
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
15
15
.500
3
8
.273
3
6
.333
Totals
82
48
.631
12
19
.387
25
15
.625