A quick glance at the opportunities coming for Randee Jernigan’s players on the next level gives fans an idea of the status of the Eupora tennis program.
The Eagles have had many players make their way to college over the last few years and already have two more in the fold from a loaded senior class this season that is destined to do big things. Just last month, Grant Frank signed his National Letter of Intent to play for Meridian Community College.
Frank was the Class 2A, Region 2 boys singles champion and was a State Championship tournament participant as the No. 10 singles player in the state. He would make it to the quarterfinals where he was eliminated by the state’s second best but he ended the year at 6-3 as a singles competitor and was 3-1 in mixed doubles.
“With Grant, he is an athlete with a solid foundation. He’s been a leader here, so you expect him to be a leader there,” Jernigan said. “He’s someone that will work hard and put in a whole lot of time and effort on and off the court and be just as good in academics as he does in athletics.”
MCC is coached by Simon Bardwell and had a successful season a year ago. Frank visited the school and chose them over East Central Community College.
Now that the decision is behind him, he said that he was excited to see what his Eupora team could do this season with the seniors that are returning.
On Wednesday afternoon, another tennis player signed his LOI when Garrett Crimm chose ECCC over several other options.
Crimm has been on the varsity team since his 8th grade season as a doubles specialist. He and his partner John Thomas Frank were the division champions a year ago and a part of a tennis team and they were the state’s No. 3 ranked doubles team heading into the state tournament.
Just like Grant Frank, Crimm and John Thomas Frank finished in the quarterfinals after being defeated by the No. 6 team in the state. Crimm went 10-3 overall on the season and Jernigan gave credit to the work that he puts in on a daily basis as he takes time to hit at the courts every day.
“EC is getting someone that will come out there when no one is watching and to give everything that he’s got,” Jernigan said. “He’s always pushing to get better.”
Decatur will be home for Crimm over the next two years and he enjoyed his visit there when he and his family were searching for a college choice. Coach Jay Pacelili’s team finished 10-9 a season ago but are poised for a strong program moving forward.
His direction is what drew the driven Crimm to the Warriors in the first place.
“Coach is a full-time coach up there that seems dedicated to his players. When I was up there, he was making sure his players had a place to stay and were taken care of,” Crimm said. “He told me that there was going to be a lot of hard work and I like that.”
Last year’s runners up for the district crown still have unfinished business to attend to, but the Eagles are poised for a big year behind the leadership of the two college-bound athletes.
Jernigan has watched both players grow over the course of their last few years on campus. Nothing they do the rest of the way will surprise her and their legacy has already been stamped no matter what happens this season.
“It is a nod to their hard work. It’s a culmination to everything that they’ve put in,” Jernigan said. “What they leave behind is a legacy building a program. Coaches will keep coming back to this program because of the efforts of those before. It leaves something for those behind to see that this is possible.”
