RUMFORD – Jason Provencher doesn’t follow a pattern when it comes to participating in athletics.

Tennis seems light years away from the rigors associated with playing football and wrestling – two sports that require a tremendous amount of physical skills and brought the Mountain Valley High School senior tremendous success in his career as a student-athlete.

“I get that all the time,” Provencher said. “People ask me why I’m playing tennis. I’ll admit that it’s a different combination.

“In football, it’s X’s and O’s, and you need to rely on teammates to make a block or a tackle. In wrestling, you are out on the mat one-on-one against an opponent, and if you make a single mistake it usually costs you big time. But for myself, tennis is fun to play.”

And he’s good at it. In one stretch of the season, Provencher enjoyed a 10-match winning streak at No. 1 singles, dropping only one set to Jeff Tau of Boothbay.

Provencher dropped a 10-7 decision in a pro set against Matt Chamberlin of Dirigo last week. It was the rematch of a confrontation won by Provencher two weeks earlier, 7-5, 6-4.

Mountain Valley has completed its regular season schedule and is preparing for the Class B playoffs.

“It surprised me when (Tau) won the opening set,” Provencher said. “Once I found myself behind, I knew it was time to get going.”

One important element of tennis is being able to adap to an opponent in the middle of a match. That’s where Provencher might have an advantage, because he has encountered demanding situations throughout his career.

Provencher credits current coach Don Fournier with helping him stay focused on the court and increase his repertoire of shots. Fournier is the fourth different coach that Provencher has played for in high school.

“It’s different this spring,” Provencher said. “Coach is really interested in tennis and works with each player on their individual games. He can recognize things that would help, and he’s able to communicate them to us.”

Provencher has developed into a strong leader. He earned the respect of teammates by being voted co-captain in football and wrestling. On the gridiron, Provencher was a two way starter at receiver and defensive end as well as the punter. In February, he was on the center mat in the 189-pound finals of the state wrestling championships at the Augusta Civic Center.

“I really like to remain active,” Provencher said. “I enjoy playing sports. Besides playing guitar, it has provided a great way to expend (excess) energy. There was a gap after wrestling before tennis practice, and it drove me nuts.”

Idle time won’t be an issue next fall. Provencher plans to study engineering and play football at Maine Maritime Academy in Castine.

Provencher didn’t even pick up a racket until the summer prior to entering the eighth grade. Along with his cousin, Cory, he would stop at the courts on his way to and from swimming at the Black Bridge.

“We played every day,” Provencher said. “We’d stop on the way up by and again on the way home. It was enjoyable. Cory went on to play baseball, and I stuck with tennis.”

And while some people think it was an unusual choice, Provencher has proven that it was the right one.