One of the area’s top tennis players has announced plans to continue his playing career at Emory & Henry College. Christiansburg High’s Brandon McGuire has committed to the Wasps.
Last season, he was 12-5 in singles action and was named first team all-conference. McGuire said he felt Emory & Henry was the right fit for him.
“I like the small campus environment more than a big town or city. Coach (Christine) Johnston is a very good coach and I feel like she will be able to help me improve my game,” he said.
McGuire has played in several United Tennis Association tournaments in North Carolina with some success.
“I will no longer be able to play junior tournaments in August, and I will miss traveling to new places and meeting new people to play,” he said.
Tennis has been his life for the past 10 years, and he hopes to one day become a college coach or a pro at a tennis club or academy.
Christine Johnston is entering her first year as the Head Men’s & Women’s Tennis Coach at Emory & Henry.
Johnston comes to E&H after spending the last six years on the staff of Furman University, serving as the Associate Head Women’s Tennis Coach during the 2016-17 season.
While at the Greenville, South Carolina school, Johnston helped the Paladins to back-to-back Southern Conference regular season championships (2016, 2017) and a Southern Conference (SoCon) Tournament Championship and NCAA Division I Tournament berth this past spring.
She has also coached 25 All-SoCon players, three SoCon Players of the Year and three of SoCon Freshmen of the Year. The Paladins swept both sets major awards in three of the past four seasons.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Johnston played intercollegiate tennis at the University of Kentucky from 2007-10, leading the Wildcats to a trio of NCAA Division I Tournaments (2007, 2008, 2009). She was also a two-time All-Southeastern Conference selection for her accomplishments in singles.
Emory and Henry’s men’s tennis team has been picked to finish in 11th place in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference this season.
Last season, the Wasps posted a 3-15 record including a 1-9 mark in league matches. E&H returns five letter winners from a year ago.
Washington and Lee University received 10 of 11 first-place votes and 100 points and is picked to win the league for a 37th time. Guilford College is second with 84 points while Hampden-Sydney earned the final first-place vote and is tabbed third.
McGuire has not decided on a major at this time.
