For the second time in as many years, a Columbia High School tennis star inked a letter of intent to play at the collegiate level.
Senior Amber Wascomb, who has dominated on the court for the Wildcats for several years with back-to-back district titles, signed with Meridian Community College Thursday morning.
“It’s an opportunity to play the sport I love more and actually get to learn more about it and experience new things,” she said.
Wascomb said it was really special to sign with Meridian with her family, friends and teammates by her side.
“I’m excited they get to share it with me,” she said. “It’s good on my parents, too. They’re happy for me.”
Wascomb is the first female tennis player from Columbia High School in recent memory to earn a scholarship, which is still sinking in for her.
“It’s pretty awesome because I’m the only girl they know of that has signed from Columbia High School,” she said. “That’s good for me to know I’m the first person to do something, and it makes me happy and excited. It still doesn’t feel like it’s real.”
While playing tennis wasn’t something Wascomb has always to do, she knew from the moment she first gripped her fingers around a racquet she was doing what she was meant to do.
“When I first started, I kind of just picked up the racquet and started playing. I didn’t know if I would really like it or not, but I found out I was really good at it,” she said. “I just kept playing and felt like this was the sport I needed to continue in.”
Meridian’s academic opportunities first drew Wascomb to the school, along with learning of the team’s prowess on the court.
“What made Meridian the right fit for me was one of my friends mentioned something about Meridian when I had never really heard much about it, so I looked into it and saw they have a really good communications program, which is what I plan on going into, and the tennis team is one of the best in Mississippi,” she said.
Wascomb’s backup plan was to try out for Jones County Junior College, but when she found out she had earned a scholarship with Meridian her mind was made up. Meridian finished the 2017-18 season 13-11 and 7-4 in conference play.
Pictured Above: Columbia High School senior Amber Wascomb is joined by, front row, from left, her parents Carolyn and Tim Wascomb; back row, tennis head coach Anna Morris and assistant coach Monika Ford, as she signs a letter of intent to play tennis at Meridian Community College. Wascomb becomes the first female tennis player from Columbia High School to play collegiately in recent memory. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
