By JON WEBB
Glasgow Daily Times
GLASGOW — Cameron Felkins always dreamed of playing a sport in college. But he never thought it would be tennis.
The Barren County senior signed a letter of intent to play tennis at Union College on Monday. Felkins said he preferred a more team-oriented sport in his childhood, but soon garnered an affection for tennis.
“In elementary school I favored basketball,” he said. “I didn’t start playing tennis until high school, but once I did I fell in love with it.”
That love will be shared at Union. The Bulldogs’ men’s tennis squad ranks 10th in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Felkins said the high-level of competition will be challenging.
“Everybody at the next-level is as good as everybody in high school,” he said. “I’m going to have to practice and just do the best I can to become a better player.”
Felkins is already in elite — if not exclusive — company. Barren County High School Athletic Director Bob Blair said he doesn’t recall any Trojan moving on to play tennis at the collegiate level.
“I’ve been here 25 years, and I can’t remember anybody signing a tennis scholarship,” he said.
Signings in general have become commonplace at BCHS. Former Trojan quarterback Colton Phelps preceded Felkins in signing a letter of intent to play football with the Bulldogs.
Unlike Phelps, Felkins still has a year of high school eligibility to help him prepare for the next-level jump, and even though Felkins has achieved a childhood dream, he knows the work needed to be successful still must be done.
“I come here by myself sometimes and work on my serve or have my dad help me with my backhand,” Felkins said. “You’ve got to practice when there is no practice.”
