Keeney takes difficult path to Bama

TUSCALOOSA | If Caroline Keeney had chosen an easier path, she might be preparing to leave town for college with some kind of scholarship.

The 18-year-old Keeney, who graduated from Tuscaloosa County High School, plans to walk on and play tennis for the University of Alabama women’s team.

“It’s like a dream come true for me,” she said. “For my game to reach the point where I want it to be, that’s where I need to be. They’re definitely going to push you hard.

“It’s a great opportunity. I think we’re going to have 11 girls on the team. There are only six singles spots, so it should be really competitive and help everyone’s game improve.”

Keeney is the daughter of Claire Cole and the late Curt Keeney, former tennis director at Indian Hills Country Club. Her father was 43 when he died of leukemia in 1998.

Her mother has been married to Clifford Cole, a veterinarian, for seven years. Caroline Keeney has two older sisters. Christina, 26, is the director of an art gallery in Atlanta. Celia, 23, is majoring in childhood education at Boise State University. Claire Cole said she is planning weddings for her two older daughters.

All three Keeney girls were introduced to tennis at an early age.

“It’s a tribute to him,” Caroline Keeney said of her father.

“He’s always been my main inspiration. Tennis is my whole life. I guess he gave that to me.

“I think about him every day on the court. This is what he would want me to do.”

As an eighth-grader, Caroline Kenney attended Collins-Riverside Middle School, but she played for the TCHS varsity. Early in her senior year, she decided to give up high school tennis to participate in tournaments sanctioned by the U.S. Tennis Association.

She said TCHS coach John Sheffield “understood why I needed to do that.”

Claire Cole, who taught at TCHS for 15 years, said she wanted her youngest daughter to continue playing for the Lady Wildcats.

“We actually argued about it, but it was totally her decision,” Claire Cole said. “It’s grueling, and you can get beat up out there. I felt bad for John in a way, and Caroline did miss the camaraderie of the high school team. She just felt like this was going to be more beneficial in the long run.

“This child has said, ‘I can’t stand for anybody to tell me I can’t do something.’ She’s so determined on the court. Her strong point is that she won’t give up. I saw a lot of that in Curt. Caroline’s demeanor on the court and just her mannerisms are so much like him.”

Caroline Keeney takes a two-fisted approach to tennis. She actually keeps both hands on the racket when hitting forehand and backhand shots.

“I’m more of an aggressive player,” she said. “I’m looking more to more forward on the court.”

Keith Swindoll, tennis director at Indian Hills, served as a coach and a father figure for Caroline Keeney. Matt Hill, a volunteer assistant with the Alabama men’s team, has been coaching her for the last couple of years.

Swindoll said he was in school at Alabama in 1982 when Curt Kenney hired him as an assistant tennis pro at Indian Hills.

“I have mixed emotions,” Swindoll said. “Knowing that Caroline is getting ready for college means I’ve gotten older too.

“Curt was so proud of all his girls. For Caroline to take it to the next level, that’s something the whole family can be proud of. I know Curt is looking down on us and is extremely pleased.”

Caroline Kenney knew her decision would require certain sacrifices. When she got out of school on Friday, she’d hit the road with her mom for tournaments in Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Florida and North Carolina.

“That was our bonding time,” Caroline Kenney said of the traveling with her mother. “She’s always been my No. 1 fan. It was definitely a big commitment. I call it my work, but I love it.

“It’s good to compete with people from other parts of the country. Tennis teaches you a lot about discipline and sportsmanship and being fair and patience. Not everyone out there is nice to you, even though you wish they were. You still want to go out there every day and do your best.”

Claire Cole and Swindoll said they felt Caroline Keeney was talented enough to earn a scholarship at a smaller school.

“Keith and I both tried to talk her out of it,” Claire Cole said. “I thought it would be a good experience for her to go away for college. But she wants to play in the Southeastern Conference. When coaches call the house, she doesn’t want to talk to them. This has been her dream to play here.

“I’m extremely proud of Caroline. I admire her for being able to balance her life socially, academically and athletically. I’m just praying she’ll continue to be successful, and I’m going to be there to watch her.”

Swindoll said Caroline Kenney is a “big hitter” like her father was.

“She’s kind of a power player,” he said. “That helped set her apart.

“I knew she had enough talent to get a scholarship. She was willing to stay home and play for the University of Alabama. I think the Alabama coaches are very lucky to get somebody of her talent. I’m hoping that what she learned from this is that it’s not all about wins and losses. If she gets better, the winning will start to take care of itself.”

Reach Andrew Carroll at andrew.carroll@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0223