Tuesday, May 2, 2006

SOUTH GREENE'S JESSICA SMITH INKS WITH TUSCULUM TENNIS

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Jessica Smith has signed a national letter of intent to attend Tusculum College and play tennis for the Pioneers announced TC women's coach Tommy Arnett.

Smith, a native of Greeneville, Tenn., played her prep tennis locally at South Greene High School where she was coached by Shawn Jones.

Smith was recently named the Watauga Conference Player of the Year in 2006 and has garnered All-District honors on four occasions. She is a two-time recipient of the Golden Racket Award which is presented to the SGHS Tennis Most Valuable Player (2004, 2005).

During her high school career, she has posted an impressive 51-5 singles record, including 35-5 over the last three seasons at the No. 1 flight.

In career doubles she has tallied a solid 47-9 worksheet. She won the District Doubles title in 2003 and 2004 and followed that with a pair of Regional Doubles crowns in 2004 and 2005.

"I feel Jessica comes to Tusculum College ready to make a positive impact for our women's tennis program," said Arnett. "I'm excited she has chosen Tusculum and am really looking forward to being her coach."

She has been named the WJHL-TV Scholar Athlete of the Week and was first runner-up for Homecoming Queen at South Greene in 2005. She is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Students Against Drunk Driving.

Smith has also shined in the classroom where she is a member of the National Honor Society and is ranked in the top 10 of her graduating class. She is a four-year member of the A/B Honor Roll and Who's Who Among American High School Students.

Tusculum College, located in Greeneville, Tenn., is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA and is a NCAA Division II member of the South Atlantic Conference which is comprised of eight colleges and universities in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.

- TC -