July 13, 2010

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Kathleen Hawkins, who signed with the University of Memphis last November and will start this fall, won Michigan's `Miss Tennis' Award last week.

The Detroit Free Press gives out the award in conjunction with Michigan High School Tennis Coaches Association to recognize the top senior player in the state. Hawkins recently graduated from Hackett Catholic Central High School in Kalamazoo, Mich. where in her senior season she went 23-0 and won the No. 1 singles title in Division 4 to claim her third state championship.

"This is a great way to end a chapter of her tennis life and begin a new one," Memphis head coach Lee Taylor Walker said. "We are anxious for Kathleen to get here and start winning awards for the Tigers!"

As the No.1-seed, Hawkins beat the No. 2-seed in the state final 6-0, 6-2--the two games she lost were the only two she lost all year. Hawkins' success helped lead Hackett to a third-place finish. Off the court, she graduated with a 3.3 GPA.

Hawkins had the opportunity to stay close to home when Western Michigan--where her mom was a two-sport athlete--offered her a scholarship, but after a visit to U of M she was hooked.

"It was kind of make it or break it," Hawkins told the Detroit Free Press. "I followed my gut feeling, and Western was too close to home. I really clicked with the coach at Memphis, and when I got down there I loved it. I knew instantly that's where I wanted to go."

Perhaps the sweetest part of it all is the fact that Hawkins was crowned `Miss Tennis' the day before she turned 18--a tough birthday present to top.