WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Midwestern State tennis coach Scott Linn announced the signing of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent following the early signing period.
 
The class includes a pair of local standouts in Chris Norrie of Rider High School and Emily Draughon of Vernon High School joined by Clear Brook High's Tanner Pearson and Courtney Anderson of Cypress Ranch High School.
 
"We needed to recruit freshmen who will come into our program and produce," Linn said. "All come from great families and have a solid record on the tennis court. I am confident they will make a commitment to our program and do what it takes to be successful."
 
Norrie played a key role in helping Rider High School to a pair of state semifinalist showings while building on the Raiders' strong tennis tradition. He advanced to the state quarterfinals in singles as a sophomore and reached the same round in mixed doubles as a junior.
 
"Chris is very familiar with what we do, so his adjustment will be very fast to college tennis," Linn said. "His work ethic was fantastic in our camps."
 
Pearson enjoyed great success at the club level claiming a pair of USTA state championships in the summer of 2011 and fall of 2012 before reaching the state finals again this spring.
 
"Tanner and Chris are very similar," Linn said. "They are tremendously hard workers and both want to continue to get better while they are in college. They are consistently playing USTA events and both have solid base games but need to continue to develop weapons to make their games better. They don't have any major weaknesses in their game."
 
Draughon makes the jump to Midwestern after enjoying a stellar prep career for coach Ruben Vargas at Vernon High. She was a state finalist as a freshman in singles and advanced to the state doubles tournament in each of her sophomore and junior seasons.
 
"Emily is very familiar with his part of the state and is another really good tennis player," Linn said. "She's a competitor and a very good doubles player with a solid back hand. Emily has spent a lot of time at our camps so I am very comfortable with her. She will have the opportunity to be a starter."
 
Anderson made quite an impression earlier this fall at the Midwestern State Campus Showdown.
 
"She came in and won and every girl on our team was in that event," Linn said. "Courtney is a hard worker and is extremely competitive. She has a great technical base and will outwork everyone. She wants to compete and I'm extremely happy to have her here. She will impact us greatly in the fall."
 
Anderson helped Cypress Ranch High to the 2012 district title and competes on the club level at the Houston Tennis Academy.
 
The Midwestern State women's squad opens the 2013 season against St. Mary's at the MSU Tennis Courts, while the men open with matches against Collin College and Southeastern Oklahoma a week earlier in Plano.
  
 
Courtney Anderson
5-6 | Cypress, Texas | Cypress Ranch High School

Notables: helped Cypress Ranch High School to a district championship in 2012 for coach Minh Phan… competed at the club level for coaches Ivan Ivanov and Nikolay Gantchev of the Houston Tennis Academy… an Honor Roll student at Cypress Ranch High School… daughter of Keith and Becky Anderson of Cypress, Texas… plans to major in education at MSU… 

What coach Linn said: "Courtney came in and won our Campus Showdown and every girl on our team was in that event. She is physically stronger than most tennis players her age and is a very solid singles player with no weaknesses." 

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Emily Draughon
5-7 | Vernon, Texas | Vernon High School

Notables: three-year letter winner for coach Ruben Vargas at Vernon (Texas) High School… compiled a combined 189-30 record in three seasons of competition for the Lady Lions… posted a 52-8 mark as a junior last spring earning a Class 3A State doubles berth after claiming a district championship and finishing as a regional runner-up… posted a 72-12 mark as a sophomore in 2011 claiming a district championship before finishing as the regional and state doubles runner-up… rolled to a 65-10 mark as a freshman in 2010 claiming regional and state singles titles before claiming the silver medal at the Class 3A State Singles Tournament… member of the National Honor Society… earned A Honor Roll status… part of the Gifted and Talented program at Vernon High… daughter of Edwin and Gayle Draughon of Vernon, Texas… plans to major in political science at MSU… 

What coach Linn said: "Emily is very familiar with this part of the state and is a very good tennis player. She has spent a lot of time at our camps, so I'm very comfortable with her. Emily will have the opportunity to be a starter." 

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Chris Norrie
5-11 | Wichita Falls, Texas | Rider High School

Notables: a four-year letter winner for coach Ryan Gillen at Wichita Falls Rider High School… helped the Raiders to a pair of Texas Class 4A State semifinalist showings… led the Raiders to a pair of district championships in his four prep seasons… reached state quarterfinals in singles as a sophomore in 2010… advanced to the state quarterfinals in mixed doubles as a junior in 2011… competed at the club level at the Wichita Falls Country Club for coach Michael Turner and at the TbarM Tennis Academy for Zac Dillard… ranked in the Top 20 in the State of Texas… qualified for two super national tournaments… qualified and claimed a win in a Level 4 ITF event… state championship qualifier in singles and mixed doubles… ranked 43^rd in the 2013 Texas Class on Tennisrecruiting.net… an honor roll student at Rider High School… son of Mike and Dianna Norrie of Wichita Falls, Texas… plans to major in business and marketing at MSU… 
 
What coach Linn said: "Chris is very familiar with what we do, so his adjustment to college tennis will be very fast. He has a fantastic work ethic."

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Tanner Pearson
5-9 | Friendswood, Texas | Clear Brook High School

Notables: Competed for coaches Todd Burrows and Jarret Smith at Clear Brook High School in Friendswood, Texas… claimed two state championships in the Summer 2011 and Fall 2012 while playing for coaches Eric Striesfield and John Severence at the Bay Area Racquet Club… advanced to the state finals in Spring 2012 and finished third in the Spring of 2011… son of Gregg and Amanda Pearson of Friendswood, Texas… plans to major in environmental science at MSU… 

What coach Linn said: "Tanner works tremendously hard and wants to continue to get better. He has a solid base game and I feel really good about how he will commit to our program and do what it takes to be successful."