Marble Falls tennis, soccer players sign letters of intent
Marble Falls High School seniors Kelly Copeland, a soccer goalie (left), and Madison Dyer, a tennis player, signed their letters of intent to play for Cisco College and Texas Lutheran University, respectively, on Feb. 4, which was National Signing Day. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — Marble Falls High School seniors Kelly Copeland and Madison Dyer signed their letters of intent Feb. 4 to play soccer and tennis, respectively.
Copland will be the starting goalie at Cisco College, while Dyer will play for Texas Lutheran University in Seguin.
“You have aspirations for your children and players to move on and play the sport they love,” athletic director Matt Green said at the signings.
Copeland played softball, volleyball, basketball and soccer for Marble Falls, but she landed her scholarship offer after only playing in 10 soccer games.
“(Cisco head coach Freddy Drago) said, ‘We had three others, but we chose you,’” she recalled. “I learn fast and learn quickly.”
Drago likes that Copeland is quick with natural reflexes and has good grades, she said.
The daughter of Roger and Robin Copeland will major in broadcast journalism with the intent of moving on to an NCAA school.
Marble Falls girls soccer head coach John Huntsman said the goalie’s habits are similar to successful athletes.
“We stay after it and work every day to improve,” he said. “She has a good attitude, and Kelly is a perfectionist.”
Dyer comes from a family of tennis players starting with her grandparents. Dad Greg and grandfather Dean played for Texas A&M University. Her mother is Jo Lynn Dyer.
Dyer began playing in tennis tournaments in the sixth grade and reached champ status in the girls 16-18 division of the United States Tennis Association.
She chose Texas Lutheran because of its small size, location and head coach Michael Hunt, the former head coach of Western Illinois University.
“He runs a really good program,” she said. “I really like the way he’s running it.”
The player will attempt to return to the high school regional tournament in doubles this spring for the third year. She will have a new partner for the third time, teaming up with Anne-Claire McCannon. She credits her partners for their success in qualifying for the playoffs because of their experience.
What Dyer enjoys most about tennis is the team atmosphere, she said, adding her teammates don’t let her dwell on the setbacks.
Marble Falls tennis head coach Jeff Savage said what makes Dyer successful is her willingness to put in the hours to get better.
“She comes to practice early and wants to stay late,” he said. “She deserves everything she gets.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com