Thursday, March 28, 2024

Slone Early honored for academic, athletic prowess

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Tennis player Slone Early of Gatesville High School has been recognized as a Classroom Champion by local television station KWTX News Channel 10.

Slone's impressive abilities on and off the tennis court and his academic achievements were both recognized. Slone currently sits at the top of his senior class and has held this position since his first year in high school. When asked how he maintains his high GPA, he stated, "There have definitely been many nights in the past four years when I would rather have slept, but I had to study." He went on to say, "But the studying has paid off." 

Slone is not only striving to earn the title of valedictorian of the class of 2023, but he also has his sights set on the prestigious gold medal in District 4A boys' singles tennis known as "state champion."

He has established a series of goals to make his ultimate dream come true.

"My first goal is to win regionals held in Bryan-College Station," Slone said. A win of this magnitude would earn him a spot at the state tennis tournament held in San Antonio in late April."

"My final goal is to win the state tournament once I am there. This is my last chance in my high school tennis career, and I know the experienced and tough competition that will await me at each level of my goals."

To accomplish these goals, Slone focuses on one game and match at a time during his fall season of team tennis. When he's not at school, he works toward accomplishing his goals through private lessons, a ball machine – as his "new best friend," countless hours on the tennis court outside of the school day, and training a mentally and physically fit healthy body.  

Another part of being a Classroom Champion is giving back to the community. During July, Slone organized a tennis camp for a National Honor Society personal project where he gave lessons for incoming freshmen and junior high students for three Sundays in a row.

Slone said, "I truly believe that the hard work these kids put into the footwork and technique drills have contributed to the success of the incoming tennis players on our team."

Slone also volunteered his time to work with young tennis players at Ridgewood Country Club in Waco for the past two summers as a camp counselor.  

Slone plans to attend Texas A&M in the fall of 2023 to study in the engineering department and earn a degree in computer science, specifically software development. He is looking forward to reuniting with his former Gatesville High School graduate family, Shy and Stormy Tatum, and start the next chapter in his life as an Aggie engineer.