By By Jeff Byrd / sports editor
June 11, 2003
Meridian Community College added five quality tennis players to its program on Tuesday at the Damon Fitness Center.
The only bad thing was, MCC head tennis coach Wanda McPhail was unable to see it.
MCC Athletic Director Hilary Allen subbed for McPhail introducing the five new players to the area's media at the afternoon press conference.
McPhail was in the hospital on Tuesday morning undergoing abdominal surgery.
That will be good news for two West Lauderdale products, who will rejoin their former coach at MCC.
Amy Frazier and Kyle Naylor both played for McPhail for four years when she was the head tennis coach at West Lauderdale,
Last fall, Frazier helped lead the Lady Knights to a fifth state title in 3A girls softball.
In March, she played a key role as a reserve guard on the Lady Knights' second straight appearance in the 3A girls basketball state finals in Jackson.
In the spring, Frazier was on the tennis court where she advanced to the semifinal rounds of the Class 3A girls tournament.
Due to her overall athletic ability, Frazier was named West Lauderdale's Lady Knight recipient and also received the Lanett Odom Scholarship. She will pursue a degree in Education.
The most well-known signee is Newton County's Mylan Anderson.
Anderson finished his prep tennis career as the two-time boys Class 3A singles champion.
While at Newton County, Anderson was selected as the school's Mr. Newton County High School.
He has played in several United States Tennis Association tournaments and has been selected to the State All-Star tennis team.
Anderson said he will use some summer USTA Tournament and the All-Star tennis clash as a way to improve.
Naylor is looking forward to having Anderson as a teammate next year at MCC.. He has been beaten by Anderson in the finals of the Division 5-3A Tennis Tournament for the past two years.
He is also excited about playing for McPhail again.
The fourth area signee of the five is Newton County's Britley Kimbriel.
Britley will rejoin her primary doubles partner, who also happens to be her older sister, Melissa, on the MCC team. In 2002, the pair reached the 3A semifinals in girls doubles.
Melissa had a good freshman season in the No. 6 role and made it to the consolation finals at the National Championships in May at College Station, Texas.
Kimbriel, who will study nursing at MCC, is ranked No. 9 in 18 girls on the USTA rankings in the state. She was the district runner-up this past season to Frazier.
The lone, non-area, signee is boys player Tyler Marroy of Donaldsonville, La,
Marroy is ranked No. 6 in the boys 18 by the USTA in the state of Louisiana. He played four years at Assumption High School where he made the All-District team.
He recently won the Subway Junior Grand Prix in Louisiana.