Both Kyla Heckaman and Audie Plothow made their choice of Bethel University to continue their tennis careers. Clockwise from the top left Plymouth AD Michael Delp, Bethel tennis coach Brad Foster, Tony, Audie and Carin Plothow, Plymouth assistant coach Kim Riddle, Scott, Kyla and Sheri Heckaman and Plymouth coach Brad Haeck.
PLYMOUTH – Another athlete from the class of 2020 has virtually committed to a college choice for the coming season.
Kyla Heckaman, a member of the 2020 Class of Plymouth High School, has decided to continue her education and tennis career at Bethel University. Kyla is the daughter of Scott and Sheri Heckaman.
“When I did my campus visit the students, the faculty, everybody was so friendly,” she said. “Especially (Coach Brad Foster). It just seemed like the perfect fit for me.”
Kyla’s academic rank in her class is 12th out of 234 students and she has a GPA of 4.04. The fit with Bethel goes further than just tennis.
“They have a great nursing program,” she said. “My goal is to be a nurse practitioner but I’ll probably go to work and get some experience and go back and get my masters.”
Nursing students at Bethel can start clinicals a year earlier than most institutions.
The number one singles player for Brad Haeck’s Lady Pilgrims also had an outstanding career as a member of the Plymouth gymnastics team, making the state finals this season, right before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I love gymnastics because it’s always been a part of my life,” she said. “But it is really hard on your body,” she said. “I had some injuries in the last few years and decided on tennis.”
“I’m really looking forward to meeting new people at Bethel,” she said.
And also staying in touch with some old friends. Teammate Audie Plothow will also be heading to the Bethel tennis team.
“It’s going to be great experiencing all this with Audie,” she said. “I’m really happy she’s going to be there too.”
College players play both doubles and singles in a match and doubles will be a new thing for Kyla.
“I’ve been a singles player all four years (at PHS) so I feel like I can contribute more there,” she said. “I’m looking forward to learning how to play doubles and gaining that experience.”
“We are excited to have Kyla come and contribute to our program on and off the court,” said Bethel Coach Brad Foster. “We’re looking forward to taking what she’s learned at Plymouth and help her to further growth.”
In her time at Plymouth, she was two years All-District, two years All-State honorable mention and last year was All NLC and the team MVP.
In gymnastics, she was a state qualifier this year and was a three-year captain, and four years as Most Valuable Player.
