In it for the love
of the game

By Melissa Yerkov
Times Sports Editor

The countdown is on.
There are three months left in Carolyn Wilson’s collegiate career. After graduation, it will be time for the Northeast Philadelphia native to move back home and follow her dream of becoming a teacher.
But Wilson has one bit of business to take care of first. She’s trying to win a national tennis tournament.
Wilson, a senior at Cabrini College, helped the Cavaliers go undefeated in the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC) this season, winning the PAC championship and subsequently a spot at nationals.
The squad is scheduled to compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship tournament this May. An exact location and opponent is yet to be determined.
"It felt great," said Wilson. "It’s really exciting to win. The fact that I had to prove myself helped."
Wilson debuted on the tennis court more than a decade ago. At the time, she played basketball and softball, and she also took part in cheerleading and dance lessons. But she was looking for more.
"I was bored and wanted to try something new," said Wilson, 21. "I tried tennis. It was a random thing. I never played tennis at that point. I think I wanted more of an individual sport."
She took to it pretty well. Wilson later attended Nazareth Academy, where she played on the Pandas’ varsity tennis squad for four years. After graduating in 2004, Wilson headed for Cabrini College.
Her first tennis match there was a dud. But Wilson didn’t fret about failure for long. She won the next nine matches and took home her first PAC championship triumph as a freshman.
The Cavaliers continued their success the following season, compiling a perfect 10-0 record and winning the PAC title for the second year in a row. By her third season, Wilson was making quite a racket on the tennis court —an impressive streak of 31 straight PAC victories and another championship win.
Her senior year pretty much has been more of the same. Wilson helped lead the Cavaliers to their fourth consecutive PAC championship, a triumph that extended their overall winning streak to 44, a new PAC record.
"It was so thrilling," said Wilson, who put together a singles record of 54-1 during her tennis career at Cabrini. "People think tennis looks so easy, but it’s such a frustrating sport. It’s just you out there. It’s a lot of pressure, but that’s what makes it so exciting."
Once the season ended in November, the Cavaliers had a chance to relax and enjoy the sweet taste of victory, though not for long.
"After the season was over, I took one week off," said Wilson. "Now I’m working out and hitting as often as possible to prepare for nationals. Staying in shape is really important. You’d be surprised how fast rhythm goes when you don’t practice."
Wilson — a co-captain of the squad — is working with her Cabrini mates to get ready for the nationals.
Looking back, she’s appreciative that her days at Nazareth Academy did much to prepare her for the Cabrini chapter of her life.
"Nazareth was the best experience I’ve ever had," she said. "It’s just a special school. I loved it there. It really prepared me for college in general."
Wilson was vice president of her senior class at Nazareth, as well as a member of the student council throughout her time there.
At Cabrini, Wilson is majoring in English, with a double minor in secondary education and history. She consistently makes the dean’s list and maintains a 3.7 grade-point average.
"The thing that gets you through college is knowing how to write and manage the workload," said Wilson. "And Nazareth did that. They assigned me so much work and gave us a lot of responsibility."
Wilson’s early exposure to the hectic lifestyle of a student-athlete certainly came in handy at Cabrini.
"I thought it was hard then, having three-hour practices and matches and everything," Wilson said with a laugh. "At Cabrini we have nine-hour practices!"
One week before the start of school, the Cavaliers undergo an intense preseason workout that includes nine-hour practices, seven days a week.
"It’s insane, but it’s surprisingly pretty fun," said Wilson. "The first year, I was in shock. I thought the coach was nuts. But it really prepares you for how much you’ll play."
With a weekly schedule consisting of four matches, plus practices — as well as pursuing that degree — the life of a college tennis player is always a ball.
"It’s a little intense cause I’m student-teaching, so I’m getting up at six a.m. every day," said Wilson. "But it’s my last three months of school, so I can handle it. I’m excited to graduate and actually get paid for all the work I do."
Wilson recently got some insights to teaching as a student-teacher at Upper Darby High School.
"It’s good so far," said Wilson. "I went to Catholic school my whole life, so it’s a lot different. There are a lot of kids. It’s a new experience, though, and I like it."
Wilson hopes to continue her tennis career as a coach and help other athletes achieve their dreams on the court.
"It’s perfect because I can be a teacher, then coach right after school," said Wilson. "As I’m getting older, I realize I have to keep playing. Of course if you coach, you still have to be good. I definitely want to coach at a high school level. Coaching at Nazareth would be perfect." ••