Player Profile: Tymon Smith
The Lions' tennis team is extremely fortunate this spring to have a new member with exceptional talent and experience. He is Tymon Smith, currently living in Athens, but having lived most of his life in Australia.
Born in Virginia Beach, VA in 1986, Tymon's family decided to move to Australia in 1988. He took up tennis in Australia at age 7 as a way to stay active. After some success as a junior he started playing in men's tournaments at the age of 14. He started traveling around Australia and reached the ranking of 69 nationally in Australian Men's tennis at age 16.
In 2004, his family moved to Florida and he was made an offer to start training at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy. In January of 2005 he achieved a USA national ranking of 247.
Due to some extreme family problems, he gave up tennis at the competitive level in January 2005 and moved back to Australia in March 2005 to support his mother and younger brother. He worked in Administration and Finance, first at an accounting firm, then in 2006 at a Construction/Engineering firm.
He got back into tennis when his younger brother, Josh Smith, convinced him to start hitting with him. Josh is now on a full scholarship at Western Kentucky University.
Tymon wanted to be at a school that has the same moral and spiritual values he held and where he could play at a competitive level. Fortunately, he chose Emmanuel.
Since the addition of Smith to the tennis team, they have turned their season around going 7-4 in March and April from a 1-6 start.
Posted on
Thu, May 12, 2011
by Hugh Morgan