East Webster’s Gregg finds chance at ECCC
A shortened season in sports hurt many high school athletes this year with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) doing more damage on the United States than just the virus itself.
While some players won’t get a college option in sports due to the shortened season, others are getting chances this summer. East Webster tennis player Madison Gregg is one of those as the Lady Wolverine athlete got interest late from East Central Community College coach Jay Pacelli. Last month, she signed with the Warriors and will get her shot in Decatur next year.
East Webster head coach Robbie Brown helped sell what kind of person and player that the Warriors would have on their squad if they picked up Gregg. It seemed to help.
“I told them that they were getting a hard worker and a girl with a great attitude,” Brown said. “Aside from tennis, they had no idea what they were getting in a person and a teammate. She could be down big in matches and she never quits. Her strength is her defense. They’re getting a player that will really work hard and be a blue-collar worker.”
Gregg was a singles player early in her career but has been moved around where Brown has needed her the most. Last year she was in mixed doubles with Caleb Parrish and they placed second in the district and qualified for the state tournament.
This season she was doing doubles and Brown felt she would have competed for another state tournament appearance. That was until the season ended prematurely in the form of COVID-19.
Gregg joins two other Webster County products in Decatur next year. Teammate Samuel Turner signed with the Warriors last year while Eupora’s Garrett Crimm did the same. The ECCC girls squad was off to one of its best starts in years in 2020 as it was 8-4. The Lady Warriors won 12 matches last year so the women’s squad was looking to have one of its best years to date had the season continued.
With the momentum from this year now carrying into a new year, it should be a good situation for Gregg. She is a player that will only make the team better with her attitude and hard work.
“She’s always willing to do whatever,” Brown said. “She never would miss a practice, would be the last one to leave and the first one there. She’s gotten better every single year because of that.”