Mound's Moorhead a fierce competitor in tennis, against cancer

Having just turned 16, Mound Westonka sophomore Luke Moorhead recently got his driver's license. Most parents associate that occasion with emerging worry lines. But for Merv and Tricia Moorhead, Luke's parents, it's a concern they're grateful for.

When he was barely a year old, Luke was diagnosed with leukemia. Treatments lasted until he was 5, when he was declared fully in remission.

But things are never certain after cancer. Moorhead was left with myriad after-effects, including an enlarged spleen that requires medical care every two years or so.

"And with childhood cancer, there's always the chance of it coming back," his mother said.

Health problems prevented Luke from playing contact sports. But they never kept him from competing.

Moorhead won twice Thursday in the opening rounds of the boys' tennis Class 1A state singles tournament. He defeated Blake Kuether of Columbia Heights 6-0, 6-0 and David Schneck of Fergus Falls 6-1, 6-1.

Tennis is his passion, and it's something he clings to with ferocity.

Wayzata's Nick Beaty, who will be playing in Friday's Class 2A semifinals, called Moorhead "a great competitor. Nobody wants to win more than he does."

Moorhead may not see anything special in his accomplishments, but his parents are sure grateful.

"When he turned 16, we looked at each other and said we never thought we would see this day," Tricia said. "We're pretty lucky."

• Moorhead will play Blake's Charlie Adams, the defending Class 1A champ, in Friday's semifinals. "It will be tough, but he's human," Moorhead said. "If I play my game, I have a chance to win." The other semifinal will pit Mound Westonka's Arend Turner, Moorhead's teammate, against Ty Misialek of East Grand Forks.

• In Class 2A, Beaty continued his strong tournament by beating Minnetonka's Joey Richards, the 2013 champion, 6-3, 7-6 in the first round. It was his second victory over Richards in less than 24 hours. Then Beaty routed Maple Grove's Zach Adkins 6-2, 6-1. "I'm naturally kind of always in a haze, but I've worked hard to find ways to focus on my match," said Beaty, who will play Elk River junior Josh Gearou in the semifinals.