The next song will be sung by Stuart Forrister, and he has chosen, “My Old Kentucky Home.”

The young man, who graduated May 30 from Llano High School, will attend Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, on a tennis scholarship.

“One reason I chose Asbury was that my uncle, Ray Zerkel, attended seminary there,” Stuart said just after receiving his Jackets’ diploma. Zerkel is now a missionary in Costa Rica.

Asbury is named after the founder of American Methodism, Bishop Francis Asbury. It is not, officially, a Methodist school, but religious strengths of all faiths are certainly encouraged.

“Stuart has been a great leader, a great role model,” Llano head tennis coach, Brad McCasland, noted, “and I think he’ll go beyond what’s expected of him, because he will always do more than what the coach tells him to do.”

Forrister, who played both singles and doubles in Llano and in Horseshoe Bay as his game matured, recognizes the challenge of playing in college. “The transition will be hard--keeping up my grades and improving my tennis game will make it tough, but I think I’ll adjust.”

Coach McCasland has already strongly indicated that Stuart will adjust. “His work ethic will be the foundation that leads to success; he definitely had his ups and downs at Llano--there were wins and there were disappointments--but I saw how much he improved, and his game will get even better in college,” McCasland declared.

Asbury, with an enrollment of under 1,300, is located about 20 minutes southwest of Lexington and the University of Kentucky. Youngsters from 44 states and 14 foreign countries will join Stuart Forrister there.

The school’s Web site emphasizes that the classroom environment promotes academic excellence and spiritual vitality, while the area of Wilmore boasts “rolling hills, horse farms, and the Palisades of the Kentucky River.”

“I’m looking forward to playing for the Eagles,” Forrister discloses, “because they’re trying to be more competitive.” Stuart says his serve and forehand are the strongest aspects of his sport, while he will strive to be more consistent. Coach McCasland thinks his positive attitude is one of his stronger points.

“We played some tough opponents,” McCasland advised, “so I think, even though college is indeed stepping it up a notch, those matches will be good preparation for Stuart.”

This writer’s not always right, but he does always write. Men’s tennis in the U.S. needs someone to challenge Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the major championships. It seems like if Andy Roddick or maybe James Blake don’t win a round or two, the Americans are done long before the second weekend of the Grand Slam tournaments.

Man, where have the successors to McEnroe and Agassi and Sampras gone? The first tee at Augusta? It’s been five years since an American was triumphant in a major. The sporting goods stores are still selling rackets and balls, aren’t they? Stuart Forrister may not win any Wimbledons in the next 10 or 15 years, but at least he’s participating in a sport which badly needs a new coat of Red, White and Blue.