Commitment Announcement
Fall Signing Week '14: Cameron Klinger Signs with Vandy
by Rhiannon Potkey, 14 November 2014
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Cameron Klinger always played tennis because he enjoyed playing tennis. He wasn't playing just for the sake of getting a college scholarship.
But as he grew older and showcased his potential, Klinger started to realize the possibility existed.
"I didn't really have a long-term goal in mind, but I think the goal for most players is to play at a Division I school and receive a scholarship," Klinger said. "It seemed kind of far away at the time, and I didn't really even focus on it. But it eventually got closer and closer to where it actually seemed pretty attainable."
Klinger's far-off vision became a reality when the blue chip recruit recently committed to play at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
Klinger narrowed his options to Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, Alabama and Texas. The Elk Grove, Calif., native enjoyed every school he visited, but something about Vanderbilt was different.
"I love the coaches. I think Ian (Duvenhage) and Jamie (Hunt) are probably the best duo in the country," Klinger said. "I also love Nashville. It's an unbelievable place to go to school. I really just like everything about the school. I guess a lot of it for me was the feel I had there. I just felt like I belonged there and it was the place for me."
Klinger was born in Colorado Springs and moved to California when he was 1. The roots of his tennis career were all about proximity.
"There were some public courts probably 100-200 yards from our house and there was this guy giving lessons out there named Don Johnson," Klinger said. "My dad started taking lessons and I was around the courts from the time I was old enough to walk. Just from watching the game, I really got into it and wanted to try."
Klinger played other sports during his youth, but tennis was the one that gripped his interest.
