The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IESHA Shepherd, the top ranked junior female tennis player in the country, is gearing up for a big transition in her career.

In mid-August, she will be heading to Chicago, Illinois, on a four-year scholarship to attend Chicago State University where she intends to pursue a major in accounting.

“I was a little bit nervous at the beginning, but I feel very mature now and ready to take this big step in my career to go to college,” said Shepherd in an exclusive interview with The Tribune. “I’m excited.

“I visited the college, I met the players on the team, the coach and assistant coach and everybody else. It was a great home feeling. Plus, it’s a division one school so I know I will get a lot more exposure than some of the other schools that I looked at.”

That was the main reason why she selected Chicago instead of all of the other states and colleges or universities that expressed an interest in her.

“I found more of a connection. I felt the chemistry there. I love my teammates. They are very competitive so I know they would push me more compared to the other colleges,” she stated.

“I think it would be a plus for me and being from the Bahamas, I wanted to pursue something new and going to Chicago, I think I will get to experience that and more.”

As the nation’s best junior female player, Shepherd said the coaching staff has indicated to her that she fits the description of what they are looking for and she hopes to go in and make an immediate impact.

By the time she gets ready to leave home, Shepherd said she will continue to train and play in a few tournaments during the summer to ensure that she is ready for the challenge ahead of her.

While accounting is what she will be majoring in, the 18-year-old former student of Queen’s College said she ultimately wants to become a Certified Professional Accountant (CPA) and the Chicago State University has an excellent business programme.

“They are very keen achieving CPA graduates so I am excited about going there,” she said.

She publicly thanked her parents Vernita Ellis-Daley and Ivan Shepherd for getting her into tennis at an early age; her coaches, including Dugall Small, George McPhee, Sandy Reid and Chelsea Russell for the impact they had on her life; her family and friends and her Church family at Macedonia Baptist.

“I could not be where I am right now without all of them,” she insisted.

Ellis-Daley said the awarding of the scholarship to her daughter has certainly taken the pressure of their family and now they wish her every success as they begin the next chapter in her life.

“I want her to remember God always for his strength and guidance and I hope that she won’t be led a stave, but she will remember why sh is there,” she stated.

“I’m very excited for her and I’m looking forward to her doing very well as she’s done in the past.”

They both indicated that they are looking forward to the journey ahead.