Veronica Walker took over as the Leland High School tennis coach this spring, but she did not have to start from scratch.
This year’s Cubs tennis team is filled with a number of senior team leaders with experience on the court. And, with Coach Walker at the helm encouraging them along the way, the team has enjoyed much success as the Cubs finished in second place in District 1A-Region 4.
This success includes the play of Jeremiah Williams who won first place in the the boys singles. Gabriella Colon and Jardarius Wilson who won first place in mixed doubles, and Jessie Torres and Tyshun Oatis who won first in boys doubles. The Cubs will play their first match in the state playoffs Friday against Wheeler.
“It has been a lot of fun watching these players succeed,” Coach Walker said. “These players love to compete and play the game. They hate when it rains and they can’t play. They want to get better.”
Tennis is the second sport Coach Walker is coaching this year. She is also lead the girls basketball team in a sport she is well known for.
As a basketball star, Coach Walker, starred at Gentry High School where she led the Lady Rams to back-to-back Class 4A state championships in 2007 and 2008 and a perfect 82-0 record. After high school, Walker went on to have one of the best basketball careers ever at Delta State, where she still ranks third in the school’s all-time scoring list and second in total rebounds and blocks. She was the Gulf South Conference Player of the Year three years in a row (2009-2012). She also won the Gilliam Trophy in 2011 and 2012 which is given to the best women’s college basketball player in the state by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
Along with basketball, Coach Walker also played tennis while at Gentry. She said it is a sport she has always had a fondness, although coaching it is a little different than hoops where she can huddle up with her team during timeouts.
“When they are playing their matches, it is mostly about just encouraging them and helping them believe in themselves.”
