The Womack Way – strength, determination lead to championship tennis

CAPTION: Though Marble Falls senior Cooper Womack’s springs on the tennis court ended the same, he put in the work to make himself a better athlete. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

When Cooper Womack burst into the Marble Falls High School tennis program four years earlier, coaches and fans had an early glimpse of his talent and drive.

That will be on full display April 17-18 when he competes in the Class 4A Region III championship for the third consecutive year with the goal of returning to the Class 4A state tournament in a couple of weeks for the third time. He has won every boys singles district title in his four years as a Mustang and one regional championship.

Womack is seeded No. 1 in the regional draw and will face the winner of the match between Bridge City’s Gavin Williams, seeded No. 3, and China Springs’ Isaac Chapa, seeded No. 4.

To illustrate just how dominant Womack is, consider this. An opponent he faced earlier this year put in a request during a court changeover.

“We had been joking around the whole match and we were good friends,” the Mustang recalled. “And he said, ‘So you’re going to let me get one.’ And I was like ‘what are you talking about?’ He said, ‘One game.’ And I said, ‘I don’t know that I can do that.’ But I just thought it was funny because we were friends.”

He won his first boys singles district title as a true freshman in 2023 when he outlasted his opponent in a match that took 2 hours and 20 minutes to complete. Back then Womack’s key to victory came down to his ability to outthink his opponents and not give up on the point.

“When I was an underclassroom, especially freshman, I didn’t really hit the ball as hard as other people,” he said. “But I tried my best just to physically outbeat them, just running down balls that maybe they didn’t expect me to get or just having the mentality to get after every single ball because you never know when they might mess up on an easy shot. So I think those two combinations has really helped me to beat a lot of opponents.”

CAPTION: As an underclassman, Cooper Womack analyzed his opponent and created a plan to led to success. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

And as he’s gotten older, he has transformed himself, both physically and mentally. Tennis greats use the phrase “mix it up” to describe using different strokes to win the point. Womack has followed their advice.

“I would describe my game as something where even I don’t know what I’m going to do next,” he said. “I always try to switch things up during the match. I don’t really like to do the same thing. I think that gets kind of boring. I like to hit trick shots. I like to drop shots, lobs. I hit all the shots basically so that way, my opponent, and even myself sometimes, doesn’t know what’s coming next. And I’m Always watching like YouTube videos or asking people, a lot of different guys I play with for different tips or ways to like serve the ball harder. Serving is one of the things I’ve had to work on a lot on different techniques or just anything to add more power, spin or accuracy.”

Physically, he no longer looks like a scrawny freshman. He has lost weight, added muscle and transformed his game. He wins the majority of his singles matches 6-0, 6-0. He has done that with stronger legs that help him cover the court quickly, powerful serves and overheads that put the ball out of play to give him the point, and winners from his forehand and backhand that put the opponent on the defensive.

“We spent time in the weight room,” the Mustang said. “All throughout the offseason, we were lifting and I think right about fall of last year, too, I started trying to eat a little bit better, just overall for cramps and just a better physique.”

He knows firsthand the obstacle cramps present, especially during matches where a loss can end his season.

He won gold at the 2024 regional tournament and finished third last year, losing to Caldwell’s Dylan Chapman, who graduated.

“I did not have a good semifinals match,” Womack said. “I just didn’t play up to my standards, and I think my opponent played really well. I’ve never seen a player like that. I was really impressed by it. And then I was battling cramps, not during the tournament but prior to it, so I was just a little bit sore. I can remember back last year playing those matches, especially the third-place match where I was just laying on the ground cramping up about to forfeit, but I was able to push through. And I definitely don’t like cramping up, so I’ve been trying to take precautions this year to not do that.”

CAPTION: Cooper Womack’s ability to adjust his game to give him the best chance to win is one reason why he is so difficult to beat. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

Womack’s reputation in the sport has grown. Opponents throughout the surrounding counties and region know him.

“I felt like for the most part I’ve kind of just had a target on my back at the tournaments we’ve played,” he said. “And the one loss I’ve had against (Liberty Hill senior) Jacob Cooper, I didn’t feel as much pressure playing against him because he’s already beaten me before. But I would say that I remember freshman year, not really many people knew who I was. And I could take some people by surprise, but I don’t feel like that’s really the case anymore. I don’t think I can sneak up on people anymore.”

He credits many people for his success: mother Anna, dad, sisters, aunts, cousins and other family members, girlfriend, community members and church members, Braeden Fuller, Maverick Dickinson, Tristan, Burnet High School graduate and former tennis player Tatum Salinas, Ricardo Gullien, Angel Tavera, all previous and current teammates, tennis head coach Samuel Whitley and Marble Falls High assistant coach Nathan Redman, MFHS Principal Patrick Hinson, athletic director Keri Timmerman, assistant athletic director John Berkman, Marble Falls Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Jeff Gasaway, Ms. Rice, Mr. Jackson, Jerry Bostick, retired MFISD teacher and tennis coach Nancy Herrington, Glynn Wilson and “all my teachers who support me and ask about tennis.”

While Womack may be the most accomplished tennis player of this era of Mustang tennis, he believes he is one of several 2026 members who were determined to play well and win. His class led the program to the playoffs in team tennis all four years.

“I feel like our class is pretty strong,” he said. “We started freshman year with most of these people in my grade. And we’ve added a few throughout the years, but that was around the time that coach Whitley had gotten here (in 2021). And ever since then, he’s been working with us, and we’ve been getting our friends out here, and I think the success that our class overall has been able to put out has really helped motivate more kids in our school to start playing and want to be a part of the program, which is amazing.”

He is aware of the Marble Falls tennis program of the 1980s when the Mustangs and Lady Mustangs often won just about every singles and doubles state championship. And he knows those banners typically aren’t for winning district championships.

“All I can hope is that I can be someone that maybe the coaches or people will reference,” he said. “I don’t know if we’re going to get a banner. I hope we get a class banner or something in the gym. That would be amazing. I might be referenced, but I hope that my class and I have set a good example for future kids. So maybe it’s not as much about the success, but how you set up a good program and how you work and how you build it up.”

CAPTION: Cooper Womack has become the athlete he envisioned – a combination of court smarts, physical training and a self belief that he’s never out of a match. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro