As far as Evan Magill is concerned, there’s lots to be said for playing tennis in the great outdoors.
It’s a large part of the reason he chose to accept a partial scholarship to attend Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana to play on the Gents’ tennis team starting in August.
“It is Division I and I thought the tennis would be better,” said Magill, who favoured the smallest NCAA D-I school in the United States over a few D-II schools. “It was the same with the weather. I’ll definitely have to get used to the heat, but I was really set on going somewhere warm and where you don’t have to play inside.”
It is the first year competing at the Division I level in The Summit League for the liberal arts school where the Aurora resident plans to study biology.
Active in several sports in the community, including soccer and hockey, and at Aurora High School where he played several sports, the six-foot Magill chose tennis about three years ago as his top priority. No surprise, really, since his mother,
Catherine, was a tennis instructor at the Aurora Community Tennis Club.
“Around 15 I just found I enjoyed tennis more than any other sport,” said Magill, a member of the Newmarket Tennis Club’s Major leagues mixed team.
NTC head coach Brian Draxl is confident the opportunity to play regularly will have a positive impact on Magill’s play.
“Evan has a lot of potential because he is a great athlete,” said Draxl. “He has an excellent all-court game. Right now it’s a matter of getting in more match play. Getting match play will really benefit him.”
“He’s a late bloomer, but an all-round athlete. He’s really going for it and tennis is his number one sport right now.”
Magill is anxious to get to school in August and start honing his game against a variety of players with different playing styles.
“I think I have all the shots down, it’s a matter now of making them more consistent,” said Magill. “That’s the main thing.
“I can’t wait. It’s a lot of tennis and court time and all the kids on the team are really good.”