More tennis for the Bradfields

Two of the most decorated tennis players in FHS history have put Fairfield on the tennis map.

Now they are now set to don new colors.

The brother-sister tandem of Justin and Jennifer Bradfield recently signed on to play collegiate tennis ? Justin will take the court for Cornell College and Jennifer will be heading to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

For Jennifer, it won?t be her first rodeo as she already has a conference doubles championship in the bag while playing for Upper Iowa University in 2008 ? the same freshman season that she took runner-up honors in the singles tournament. With collegiate experience already in her arsenal, Green Bay coach Craig Klatt is excited with the type of talent and leadership she can provide with three years of eligibility remaining.

?The experience is going to be a huge asset for us as far as leadership goes and just not being overwhelmed with the collegiate game,? he said. ?We?re going to be a young team and I hope she can step in and play singles and double for us right away.?

In her time at Fairfield, Jennifer was a four-time conference champion, two-time district champ, placed twice at the state meet including a runner-up finish and also won a mixed doubles state title. The impressive list continues when looking at the Trojan record books, where she holds the top spot for wins in a career and season. After a year at Division III UIU, and a successful one at that, Jennifer opted for Division I competition, which she will get in Green Bay.

Justin is fresh off an eighth-place finish at this year?s state singles tournament ? a season he was crowned district champion as well as his second-straight conference title. After starting to focus on tennis just two years ago, Justin has already made great strides to take his game to the collegiate level.

?It?s a very tennis oriented family, and from what I?ve seen of Justin, he has a great stroke and is a good player,? said Cornell coach Patrick Cote. ?Since he started a little late, he may not burn out as quickly and tennis will be a passion for him. I like the way he plays and he brings a lot of competitiveness to the court.?

Where they fit into their respective lineups remains to be seen according to both coaches, but, Klatt says one thing that can only help is the amount of work put in over the next few months.

?I want her to contribute right away, but we?ll see who does the off-season work ? that will carry over for success during the season,? he said. ?Our season runs from September to April and time in the summer makes success in the season. We need somebody that can play from the get-go and stay strong all the way through.?

The comment bodes well for the duo who have been teaching lessons in Fairfield and are currently in Vermont for the summer teaching, and playing, even more.