2015

Union High School senior Hannah Payne, seated right, recently s igned a tennis schol– arship with East Central Community College. Pictured with her are, from left, front row, her father James Payne and brother Carson Payne; back row, teaching pro Pete Mazzella, grandparents Larry and Liz Payne, Union High tennis coach Bryan Nor– man, and her sister Brooke Payne. Submitted photo ThreeloCalathletes sign JUCO scholarships

said. "We both (she and headed to the tennis courts. Brown) liked it and enjoyed She has been a doubles it and talked about (playing player most of her career, together). It's a great basket- but this season UHS coach ball program and they have Bryan Norman moved her to great coaching." sing1cs. Brown said one of the rea- "She has really done well," sons she chose Jones was Xorman aid. ··she is 7-2 in because they had been re- singles. She is a real go-getter cruiting her from the begin- and has a real good stroke. ning. As far as being a pure tennis "Iwanted to gowith some- player. she is probabl~ one of body who bas been there the best I ha,·e." since day one," Bro\'\-11 said. "I am really looking for– "They have been payingalot ward to it," Payne said of of attention (to me) and the playingat East Central. "£al– campus is awesome. I am ways wanted to go to East excited and nervous at the Central because it is closer to same time, because it is a big home .. step." She said tbere were a few Earning a tennis scholar- adjustments she had to make ship is not something Payne in her move from mixed dou– tboughl about fh·e yt'ai·s ago. bles to single . "KN.'ping it in– Sht• had played soc<'<'I' at her side;. the lines is the biggest prc\ious school iJ1 Petal but ··1hing... shP said. noting the when slw mowd lo Cnion for dilfp1·cncc in the width of the bC'r cig11th gl'ade y<'ar thRI OJ}- cou rt between doubles and portunitywasn't there>, so she sint..,tles.

A trio of local athletes signed scholarships to play on the junior college level next season. Ba ketball star , Tan Lloyd and Dana Brown of Newton High School signed on Tbw·sday to play for Jones County Junior College next year, while Union High School tennis standout Han– nah Payne signed with East Central Community College on Friday. While both Brown and Lloyd said tbeyweren't nec– essarily going to go to the same college all along, they were pleased with the oppor– tunity to continue to play on the same team. "\\'hen I went and \isited JC.JC !n Ellisville), I loved • P em·ironmcnt and I was • comfortable," Lloyd

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