MORGANTOWN – Taylor Stephens and Bryson Sanders play different sports and signed to attend college at different schools on Thursday. Still, one thing the Trinity Christian School seniors have in common is what motivated them to choose the future of their academic and athletic careers this fall: family.
Stephens, who will continue on to play tennis for Waynesburg University this fall, is the latest in a long line of family members who have played the game and competed at the collegiate level. That includes her father, Justin, who also serves as head coach for the Warriors. After securing second place in Region I, they will compete in the state team tennis tournament in Charleston beginning May 15.
“I’m excited to be able to continue playing tennis competitively because it’s what I’ve fallen in love with,” Taylor said. “My whole family played when they were in college. Waynesburg has been growing as a team every year, and I hope to be a part of that when I join the team. I’ve been able to meet the coaches and even some of the players, and everyone is great. It’s a lovely campus and isn’t far from home either.”
Taylor says she didn’t begin playing tennis seriously until her freshman year of high school.
“I’ve been a runner my whole life, so once I started playing tennis, I wasn’t sure what college would look like for me as far as being able to play,” she said. “But once I discovered my passion for the game, I knew it was something I wanted to do. The past four years have been great, especially spending so much time with my dad, who has been my coach.”
Bryson Sanders will join the Bethany College baseball program in the fall, something that he holds close to him when it comes to his family, like Stephens.
That’s because Bryson’s older brother, Jacob, just finished his four-year career with the Bethany men’s basketball program.
Playing college baseball is a dream come true for Bryson, but it becomes much more with the chance to follow in his brother’s footsteps as a Bethany College athlete.
“I’ve been playing baseball since I could pick up a bat,” Bryson said. “I’ve always loved the game, and being able to continue playing at the next level is what every player dreams of as a kid. My brother went to Bethany and played basketball there, so it was a no-brainer for me when the opportunity came across the table. I hope I can be the kind of teammate he was when it comes to the culture of the team. I like competition, and I’m ready to embrace that when it comes to proving myself and fighting for my spot. My balance as a player and my ability to play multiple positions allow me to do that.”
Before he joins the Bethany program, Bryson and the Warriors will enter Regional play for Class A Region I on Monday evening as they travel to Blacksville to meet Clay-Battelle.
