Published: July 02, 2009 11:19 pm      

MVTHS's Knox signs with KC

By John Roark

john.roark@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Craig Freels is kick-starting Kaskaskia College’s men’s tennis program, and Tyler Knox is coming along for the ride.

Knox, who recently graduated from Mt. Vernon Township High School, on Thursday signed a letter of intent to make his way to Centralia and be part of writing a bit of history.

Freels, retired as Centralia High School tennis coach, is a former All-America at KC who placed as a doubles entry in the 1971 NJCAA tennis championships. Kaskaskia eventually disbanded its program, but is reviving it, and Knox on Thursday became part of Freel’s first recruiting class.

And it is doubles play which is Knox’s forte, and he was a big reason Dave Junkins’ Rams were virtually unbeatable in dual matches (26-1) the past two years.

This spring, he teamed with senior classmate Blake Jennings to advance to the state meet, after finishing third in the Carbondale sectional. Knox’s success also landed him some college tuition money.

“Tyler is an outstanding doubles player, and we’re going to work on his singles game, too,” Freels said after attending the signing. “He’s a great volleyer and server, and we’re looking forward to him playing on our team.”

Knox doesn’t skirt the issue; he prefers having a teammate alongside, and covering the lesser ground right now

“I have always been a stronger doubles player,” Knox said. “I am more comfortable with getting points at the end, and serves come easy to me in doubles.”

And Knox does have a wicked serve for opponents to think about.

“Tyler has played number one doubles the past two years,” Junkins said. “He went undefeated in singles at five and six. Tyler is the hardest worker and has the biggest serve I’ve seen in the five years I’ve been coaching here.”

Junkins doubles as women’s tennis coach at RLC, and Knox almost assuredly would have take the short trip to Ina. However, Rend Lake doesn’t offer the sport on the men’s side.

“I am fortunate to be able to continue to play tennis,” Knox said. “I wanted to continue playing tennis in college, and would have liked to have followed coach, but Rend Lake doesn’t offer tennis.”

Knox said he plans on playing two years, then transferring to Belmont College in Nashville, Tenn., where his concentration will be audio engineering and technology. He calls his trip to the state tournament the highlight of his career thus far.

Junkins, who joined Freels, Knox and his mother, Lydia Emery, at Thursday’s signing, says he will miss Knox’s presence.

“It will hurt us next year not having his leadership,” Junkins said. “This is my fifth year of coaching and finally we have someone moving on to play in college. So we’re going pretty good.”