Spark It Up!!!: Girl from Wise Advances to VHCL Group A state tennis semifinals

No not my Wise Girl...the JJ Kelly senior is Andi Kilgore.

The formula for success in prep tennis often includes private lessons, years of experience, and expensive equipment.

J.J. Kelly senior Andi Kilgore followed a different route. The do-it-yourself path carried Kilgore to the Region D championship and a berth in today’s Virginia High School League Group A state semifinals at Radford University.

Before her sophomore year, Kilgore attended a party at the home of Kelly tennis coach and long-time tennis enthusiast, Phyllis Wood. Kilgore had been searching for a new sport to play in the spring, and the party sparked her interest.(LINK to the whole story)

The young lady has only been playing a couple years. That makes her story very unusual in the tennis scene. It's a very good story so check it out. A quick note about girls tennis here in Wise -

J.J. Kelly has won eight Group A titles in girls tennis, including seven straight from 1991-1997.
Dera Leigh Stalnaker, daughter of the current Kelly tennis coach, claimed two Group A state doubles titles and advanced to the singles semifinals in the late 1990s. No Kelly girl had advanced to the state semifinals until Kilgore.

Win or loose this lady should be proud. There has always been something special about these Wise Girls! Did I mention this class act was also awarded most valuable player honors in the Lonesome Pine District basketball tournament? A Special young lady indeed.