Russellville High School athlete Addie Strickland has accepted a scholarship to play tennis at Central Alabama Community College where she plans to major in criminal behavioral psychology.

“She has a great serve,” said RHS tennis coach Charlotte Dollar. “She’s a really strong server, and she has a really hard four-handed backhand. She’s a real powerful player, and that will fit in well with college-level playDollar said Strickland’s tennis experience goes back to playing at the middle school level, continuing all the way through high school, noting

Strickland was part of the team placing as state runner up in 2022, in addition to being part of this year’s team that was state runner up.

“She has developed that super-duper powerful serve over the course of time,” Dollar continued. She’s come a long way since she started. Over the years, she has developed some really good strokes, and I’m really excited about her getting this opportunity to play at a junior college. It’s also the same junior college her sister, Elise, played. I coached her, too.”

Strickland said she credits Dollar with helping her “work so hard to be where I am today.”

“I want to thank Coach Dollar for all the time and effort she took to help me get better,” Strickland said. “I want to thank my teammates for being there for me and pushing me to be my best . I would like to thank my mom and dad for putting all the time, money and effort into making me a successful tennis player. I would like to thank Coach McQueen for giving me the opportunity to play tennis at the collegiate level.”

Strickland said she’s looking forward to meeting her new teammates and to “becoming the best tennis player I know to be and having a successful year.”

“I enjoy competing to win and getting to make new friendships with my team members,” she added.

Her father, Kevin Strickland, also expressed his gratitude.

“We are grateful to Russellville City Schools for their commitment to the tennis program,” he said. “Most schools don’t have so much support from the administration. Thanks to Coach Dollar for all that she puts into the program. Few people know how much effort she puts into the RHS tennis program.  Also thanks to all of Addie’s teammates. They are a great group, always supporting one another. Of course, a big thanks to Coach McQueen at Central Alabama for giving Addie the opportunity to play at the next level.”