TENNIS star Millen Hurrion will be returning to Weymouth Lawn Tennis Club after a phenomenal Freshman year at Gardner Webb University in North Carolina.

Weymouth’s Julien Lawes was Hurrion’s first coach from the age of seven and provided a coaching program that enabled the youngster, who returns to his home club at 9am on Saturday, June 16, to develop and reach his potential.

Lawes and Hurrion will also contest an exhibition match, weather permitting, from 11am to add extra intrigue to the occasion.

Hurrion, a former student at Budmouth College, secured an unconditional four-year scholarship from Gardner Webb University in 2017.

Gardner Webb University competes in the NCAA Div 1 Big South Conference and working under head coach Mike Griffith, Hurrion was selected as Freshman of the week five times.

Hurrion, 18, won an unprecedented four awards in his Freshman Year: Big South Conference Freshman of the year, All Conference first-team singles selection, All Conference first-team doubles selection with Maximilian Scholl and Gardner Webb University rookie athlete of the year.

Commenting on his experience at Gardner Webb, Hurrion described his time there as “incredible”.

He said: “I didn’t really know what to expect before I arrived. The first thing I noticed was the team spirit at Gardner Webb - its incredible, spending so much time together creates such a positive environment in which to train and compete.

“There is however a lot of pressure on the coach, the team and the individual players to perform at the highest level week-in, week-out.

“It’s tough, both physically and mentally at a level I’ve never previously experienced, but it’s what I’ve worked for over the last 13 years and the feeling when the team does well is worth all the hard work.”

Hurrion quickly secured the number two position in the line-up behind number one Scholl, and they achieved a doubles ranking of 67 as the number one pairing in their first year together, which is the highest doubles ranking in Gardner Webb University History.

Hurrion will be helping Lawes and the coaching team and will be available to play while giving top tips and advice on match play and how to improve your tennis. He will also answer any questions on life as a student and athlete in the USA.

Contact Julien Lawes on 07857 785395 or Weymouth Tennis Club on 01305 835131 for more information.