Moultrie is one of several local high school athletes to sign letters of intent to play college sports. Others to sign recently are Richmond Hill High School soccer player Bear Echols, who is headed to Mars Hill (N.C.) and RHHS basketball players Daniel Wilder, Keera Jackson and Hannah Riley. Wilder is going to Armstrong Atlantic State; Jackson is headed to Erskine (S.C.) College; Riley is going to Northeast (Neb.) Community College. More coverage on these signings in upcoming issues.
When your high school valedictorian singles you out in her address, you’ve done something. Vivian Moultrie has done something.
Moultrie, an honor graduate herself, was singled out by Bryan County High School valedictorian Ansley Avera at Saturday’s graduation for becoming the first player from BCHS to go on to play collegiate tennis — this after Moultrie signed to play at Albany State.
Moultrie, the No. 1 singles player at BCHS, had other offers but chose Albany State because of its nursing program.
“They have a wonderful nursing program there. I’ve always wanted to be in the medical field,” she said. “I’m not sure why. I just know I like helping people.”
Moultrie’s ascendancy to the top of BCHS tennis didn’t take long. She and her family moved to Bryan County prior to the start of the 2013-2014 school year after she played three years at South Effingham. It was a win-win situation. Moultrie finished 9-1 in No. 1 singles; her younger sister, Keyvona, a junior, went 10-0 in the No. 2 singles slot.
Moultrie didn’t start out as a tennis player. She competed in everything from soccer and volleyball and basketball to track and gymnastics before getting into tennis.
“At first I really didn’t like tennis much,” she said. “But I got used to it and, yes, I was better at it than I was at everything else, so there were better opportunities for scholarships.”
Now that the opportunity has become reality, Moultrie said there many to thank.
“I want to thank God, ultimately,” she said. “And my parents really sacrificed a lot for me. They pushed me to be the best I could be and have been encouraging. And my brother (Keith Jr.) and sister for hitting with me and being there to keep pushing me when I’mo not having good days.”
Moultrie also thanked her coach, Inga Cashon.
“She was really nice and open to me and my sister joining the team, just very, very nice,” Moultrie said. “Thoroughly nice.”
Cashon said Moultrie was special.
“Vivian was a strong leader on our girls team,” Cashon said. “She was a role model and helped the younger players learn the game of tennis and help improved their skills. Her leadership and work ethic was influential to both the boys and girls teams at BCHS. I am so proud of her accomplishments.”
Five questions
Q: What professional athlete do you most admire?
A: (Professional tennis player) Kim Clijsters. I love the way she plays. She’s a fighter. She’s got a lot of fight in her.
Q: Do you have aspirations of playing tennis professionally?
A: Not right now. We’ll see when the time comes.
Q: What’s the best book you’ve read this year?
A: “The Land” by Mildred D. Taylor. It’s a historical book, a true story though the names were changed. It’s about life in the 1800s.
Q: If you could meet one person from history and ask them a question, what would it be?
A: Martin Luther King Jr. I’d like to know what he really saw in his dream.
Q: What’s your dream car?
A: A black Merecedes Benz.