Jobe's tennis career taking flight
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Saint Louis University junior Ikaika Jobe is flying home this weekend, but during the 10-hour trip, his mind won't be on his upcoming tennis matches.
Saint Louis University
"I think about what those guys are doing up there," he said of the pilots. "I always like to stare at the cockpit and look at all the instruments."
Punahou graduate Ikaika Jobe says training to become a pilot has helped his tennis game. "You have to be pretty focused," he says.
Jobe, an Aviation Science/Professional Pilot major, hopes to become a commercial pilot after he graduates from the St. Louis, Mo., school.
And he said that training to become a pilot has helped his tennis game.
"You have to be pretty focused for the safety of yourself and others, and you definitely have to concentrate," said Jobe, a 2001 graduate of Punahou School from Honolulu. "I'm sure that helps in playing tennis as well."
Being an aviation major "has helped his tennis because his mind is engaged and it helps his focus and concentration and he uses different parts of his brain," Saint Louis coach Jonathan Zych said.
Jobe will lead the Billikens (3-10, 0-2 Conference USA) against the University of Hawai'i on Monday, Sacramento State on Tuesday, and Brigham Young-Hawai'i next Wednesday.
He competes at the No. 1 singles and doubles positions, which "almost always means you're the best on the team and you have the most talent," according to Zych.
Jobe, who is 7-5 in singles and 4-7 in doubles this season, also is a team captain, which he said "is a good opportunity to help and lead the rest of the players."
For his career, Jobe is 39-16 in singles and 26-24 in doubles, and was twice named to the all-Conference USA third team, mostly at No. 1 singles and doubles.
Zych compares Jobe to Brazilian pro Gustavo Kuerten — who has won three French Open singles titles — because of the amount of shots in his arsenal.
"It's just a matter of keeping himself under control and playing within himself," Zych said.
But having the ability to pull off different shots from all over the court has won him fans.
"Other coaches in the NCAA tell me he's their favorite player to watch in the country," Zych said.
Jobe, whom Zych calls "a genius in a lot of ways," said he has learned the value of being able to out-think and out-strategize his opponents.
"A lot of people have the strokes and shots, and it is a matter of knowing how to use what shot," that helps you win, Jobe said.
He said he hopes to take his game to the professional level after his college career is over. He said he will play in a few tournaments and decide then what is his best option.
If professional tennis doesn't work out, Jobe will put his degree to use, either joining the military or getting a job as a flight instructor, which would enable him to earn hours toward getting his pilot's license.
Now, he usually flies three times a week, for about two hours at a time.
Jobe is working on his instrument rating, which allows pilots to fly in clouds and depend on instruments, as opposed to just visual cues, he said.
His flying sometimes conflicts with tennis practice, which he usually does six days a week for about two hours a day. He said when that happens, he has to schedule night flights, which is harder because he needs to use a flashlight to see.
He said it should take him five to 10 years to learn to fly commercial planes.
For now, Jobe will settle for being a passenger on a flight set to arrive later this week. And that might not be soon enough.
"It was cold and snowing a few days ago," he said. "I just don't like it and I just miss Hawai'i. It makes me realize how much more I enjoy Hawai'i."
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.
