George Wilkerson’s first trip to the MHSAA state tennis tournament was in the seventh grade. Six years later he’s become a staple, qualifying each year and making it all the way to the third round in 2017.

Now he’s competing for the final time as a senior, but his mixed doubles partner Audrey Jennings has something unique in common with Wilkerson — she’s competing in the state tournament for the first time this year, and she’s only in seventh grade.

The duo is seeded sixth in the 16-team Class 6A individual tournament that starts Monday at Parham Bridges Park in Jackson. They’ll face a team from Pascagoula in the first round at 6:30 p.m. Monday. The winners will play again at noon on Tuesday, against the winner between Ocean Springs and Pearl.

“Audrey Jennings is really good. I think that we’re alike in that we’re starting out seventh grade year going to state,” Wilkerson said. “I think we’ll have a good chemistry, I’m excited to play with her.”

Warren Central coach Steve Summers saw a lot of similarities between them as well.
“She’s fitting into that mold as kind of a female counterpart,” Summers said. “The way I look at it is kind of as a passing of the guard.”

When Wilkerson went to state for the first time, he was competing in singles. Jennings has an even better situation to start off with.

“She will share the stage with a senior who has a lot of experience with it,” Summers said. “As little as he says, they have really good communication on the court, so I’m looking forward to seeing them compete.”

Jennings said that Wilkerson having gone through the same thing as she is now has definitely helped her.

“It really helps to strategize,” Jennings said. “He knows what I’m going through so he can help me do stuff I’m struggling with.”

Wilkerson’s hard work during his high school career has paid off a lot, and this year he feels he has a better chance than ever to go far in the tournament.

“Seventh grade I didn’t know really anything. I was just really surprised to be there. Everyone was a lot older than me. Now I know how it works better and I know the people more,” Wilkerson said. “I’m definitely more comfortable with my game, and my strokes have improved.”

One of the things that has made Wilkerson so crucial for the Vikings’ program off the court is his leadership abilities.

“George is a quiet leader. He goes about his business and takes care of what he’s supposed to do. He really leads by example, always has,” Summers said.

On the court, however, it goes without saying that his consistency has also been a big asset. Wilkerson has long been one of the Vikings’ better players, no matter what lineup slot he was put in.

“For a long time, if you’re putting George on the singles court, you knew that was the court you were going to win,” Summers said.

Now Wilkerson has shifted his focus to mixed doubles, and feels like he has the best draw of opponents he’s seen in the state tournament so far, which hasn’t always been the case.

“I do really want to place, and we have a great chance this year because we have the sixth seed so we’ll have a good draw definitely,” Wilkerson said.

As Wilkerson’s storied career comes to a close, Summers knew Wilkerson would be giving it his all in his final performance.

“One thing you never have to worry with George is his demeanor and whether or not he will be competitive,” Summers said. “He’s going to show up ready and he’s going to show up competitive.”

Wilkerson and Jennings aren’t the only Warren Central players in the Class 6A individual tournament.

Ian Gorden is the No. 16 seed in the boys’ singles tournament, and will play No. 1 seed Bo Nash of Oxford in the first round Monday at 3:30 p.m. The two also faced each other when Warren Central and Oxford played in the Class 6A team playoffs in mid-April. Nash won that match 6-0, 6-0.

In girls’ doubles, the sister team of Laney Smith and Taylor Smith will take on Gulfport’s Devyn Alexander and Laurel Dennis in a 12 vs. 5 matchup Monday at 6 p.m.