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Currituck County High School freshman Shiloh Willingham had a breakout year on the Knights’ varsity women’s tennis team, where she played Court 1 and went undefeated playing a host of juniors and seniors. Willingham wrapped up the season by earning the 2024 Conference Player of the Year for the Northeastern Coastal Conference as well as All-Conference Team.

Reflecting on the season, Willingham said, “I knew I had to come ready to play my best at every match because my coach, Vic Ramsey, told me when you play Court 1, no matter what team you play, they will have their best player lined up for you.”’

Willingham did just that – going 12-0 and dropping on average only one game per match with a game record of 140-12.

“I am looking forward to competing in the postseason tournament and training even harder this off-season,” she added. “I want to play in Division 1 tennis in college, so I know I have to continue to get better as I grow.”

In addition to her high school coach Vic Ramsey, Willingham’s primary coach is her father Tony Willingham, USTA elite tennis professional and director of tennis at Corolla Light Resort.  Willingham also trains at Old Dominion University’s Folkes Stevens Tennis Center with tennis director Jennifer Toomey and at Westside Athletic Club with Richard Hurst.

Willingham said both of her parents were competitive athletes – her father played tennis and basketball at South Missouri State for two years and then played on the pro tennis tour and her mom Laura Willingham is a two-time NCAA D1 national champion in field hockey at Old Dominion University who was also invited to try out for the U.S. Olympic Team.

“My parents know what it takes to compete at the highest levels and I think they have taught me how to be competitive, focused and disciplined,” Willingham said. “They have also taught me to respect the sport, the adults who make it happen and the other players and coaches.”

Willingham also leads her class academically, is a talented piano player at Calvino Studios and plays in a rock and roll band for OBX Mustang Music Program. “Finding time to balance everything and still be a kid can be a challenge, but it is also not that hard because I love all the things I do so I have a lot of fun doing them,” she concluded. Shiloh won her regional qualifier match last week and advances to the regional tournement that will take place in Rocky Mount later this month.

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