Dallastown tennis star makes Division I college choice
When making his college choice, Holden Koons wanted to go somewhere he would play immediately but also be challenged.
He wanted competition. And he wanted a place with good size and a strong academic reputation.
That's what led him to James Madison.
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The top boys' tennis player in the YAIAA since he entered high school, Koons officially signed with JMU on Wednesday. The Dallastown High School senior had verbally committed to the Division I school a few weeks ago.
"I definitely want to play right away, but at some schools I would have been near the top of the lineup to start," Koons said. "At JMU I can start at the bottom of the lineup and work my way higher. It's a good fit and I felt like it's a place I can thrive."
James Madison competes in the Colonial Athletic Association against schools such as William & Mary, Elon, Drexel, UNC Wilmington and Delaware. The Dukes finished 16-7 last season under 27-year veteran coach Steve Secord.
After visiting seven Division I programs during his recruitment process, Koons ultimately narrowed his choices down to James Madison, Butler and Penn State. He said all three schools were "great," but that JMU provided the best fit due to its size and opportunity for playing time.
Like most Division I tennis players, Koons will receive a partial scholarship. With only one senior on JMU's current roster, Koons thinks he'll be able to play singles and doubles as a freshman. He's applied to the school's finance program.
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"All the schools were super nice, but I got to know the players at JMU really well during the process and we really clicked," Koons said.
Koons will enter his senior season of high school as a three-time YAIAA and District 3 Class 3A singles champion. Ranked as the No. 3 boys' player in Pennsylvania by the Tennis Recruiting Network, he's yet to lose a singles match prior to the state tournament.
He's still trying to accomplish his biggest goal of winning a state title. After bowing out early in the tournament his first two years, Koons reached the Class 3A finals before losing to District 1 champion Sameer Gangoli of Great Valley in three sets, 6-1, 6-7 (6), 6-2, last season.
The Class 3A tournament should remain extremely tough in 2019, with the top four finishers from last year all returning. Still, Koons isn't taking his sights off a gold medal.
"I felt like I was right there last year, and I got a little worn out," Koons said. "It's a long tournament but I'm going to be ready for it this year. I'm confident and I know what it takes."
An extremely dedicated tennis player who trains in Baltimore and Lancaster on a regular basis, Koons has boosted his strength training this fall. In addition to playing two hours of tennis a day, he's been going to the weight room five to six days a week.
Standing 5-foot-11, Koons said he has put on about 10 pounds of muscle since last season and weighs 170 pounds.
"I'm going to get back to the speed and agility (training) soon, but being bigger allows me to put more force behind the ball," he said. "I think I'll get a little taller, but in college I don't want to be more than 180 pounds."
Koons thanked both of his parents for guiding him through the recruitment process and supporting him during a career that has involved traveling to tournaments across the country. Koons' father, Mark, is his head coach at Dallastown.
"My wife and I are obviously proud of him for many reasons," Mark Koons said. "Everyone in our family knows it's been 10 years and 1,000 hours of hard work. We're happy because he's happy."