Coleman Merce is going home.
The Greens Farms Academy senior boys tennis standout has committed to take his talents to the Washington University in St. Louis next fall, returning to the city where he was born and raised before relocating to Connecticut.
Merce was one of 12 Dragon student-athletes feted on Wednesday, March 6, during the school’s annual Spring College Commitment ceremony held inside the Coyle Gym. Those 12 coupled with eight Dragons who committed during the National Letter of Intent signing period in the fall brings the school’s total to 20 different GFA athletes playing in college come fall.
“I was born and raised in St. Louis and was born in a hospital not far away from campus,” Merce said. “While I lived there I got a really good sense of the kind of school it is and the academic rigor. I chose to commit to Washington University because for me it is the perfect combination of strong academics and athletics.”
The base he got at GFA is carrying over to the next level both on and off the court.
“I learned what the balance between school and tennis was like and the emphasis on education was very compelling to me,” he said. “Another factor that drove me to choose it was the type of environment I was surrounded by in the team. When I visited, I got to know many of the team members and got to observe how closely knit the team was together and how they boosted each other up. Seeing such a cohesive team with such a positive mentality was super important to me.”
With the Dragons, Merce has been solidified in the No. 1 singles spot for the past two seasons.
As such Dragons coach Aaron Kusza knows Washington University is getting a top-notch player.
“Coleman Merce has been one of the best tennis players in the FAA conference over the last couple years,” Kusza said. “He has a strong serve and forehand that allows him to create offense, but he can also defend incredibly well with his speed and slice. Coleman also has really good reflexes and can volley extremely well and finish points off at the net. He is the ideal captain and teammate. Not only does he work hard each day he also brings such a nice amount of positive energy and humor to the team dynamic. He is also extremely coachable. A coach cannot ask for a better balance of a tennis player and person on a tennis team. I have no doubt in my mind that Coleman will be successful on and off the tennis court in the next chapter of his life on the university level.”