By BY BRUCE HIXON – SPORTS EDITOR
Home may soon be a new location for the W.S. Neal High School tennis program.
W.S. Neal has played its home matches at Jefferson Davis Community College ever since the program was established, but the future home is expected to be R.T. Johnson Park in East Brewton.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs has awarded the City of East Brewton a $30,000 grant. Those funds plus local matching funds will go towards the construction of tennis courts.
Two courts are guaranteed with the grant, but Clark is optimistic there will be enough funds for four courts.
Clark indicated the new facility is scheduled to have lights, which will allow evening play.
No target date has been set for construction of the courts.
The JDCC courts where W.S. Neal has played its home matches have deteriorated with several huge cracks. JDCC has not repaired its courts since it abolished its tennis team a few years ago and no immediate repair plans are in the works.
W.S. Neal athletic director and 2006 tennis coach Blaine Hathcock was ecstatic about the announcement.