MARION, Ind. – Indiana Wesleyan women's tennis has announced the addition of Pleasant Valley High School standout Katie Parr for the upcoming 2023-24 season.

"Katie was our number one recruiting priority this fall," said James Gleghorn, Head Tennis Coach. "She fits so many of our needs for next season. She is a strong singles and doubles player who will come in as a freshman and play near the top of the line-up, and we will have four years of huge impact. There were a lot of good players available, but Katie stood out. She is the prototype player for IWU. Her priorities are serving Christ, loving others, being a leader academically and athletically, and finally being a great tennis player. We are blessed to have her join the IWU family!"

Parr has held the United Stats Tennis Association (USTA) No. 1 ranking in the state of Iowa, while boasting a highly successful junior tennis career with several tournament titles. She is also an honors student at Pleasant Valley, and plans to pursue a Nursing degree at IWU.

She comes from a family enriched with athletic success. She has three cousins who played baseball for the University of Illinois before having professional careers in the minor leagues for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies organizations. Her parents both had collegiate careers at Wheaton College in baseball and softball.

Parr explained when asked why she chose IWU, "I was initially attracted to IWU because of the nationally competitive tennis program, the reputation of academic excellence, and the beautiful campus. I fell in love with IWU after meeting the team, coaches, professors and experiencing the authentic passion for Christ on campus.  I am excited to play tennis and pursue my studies in a Christ centered environment.  

Parr will be joining the IWU women's tennis squad that won their 31st-consecutive Crossroads League Tournament championship and had six players earn All-League honors.




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