Wilcoxon led the area with a 7-2 record as Columbia’s No. 1 player
When you qualify for state in your freshman season, your expectations go through the roof.
For Camrin Wilcoxon, that meant winning a state title.
Wilcoxon never got the chance as a sophomore thanks to the covid-19 pandemic, but he returned in his junior season motivated to make history at Columbia. No CHS tennis player has ever claimed a state championship, and Wilcoxon aimed to etch his name in the record books forever.
But then he ran into Andrew Kelley in the District 3-3A title match, and his dream came crashing down. Kelley, Ponte Vedra’s No. 1 star, swept Wilcoxon in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2.
There would be no return trip to state for Wilcoxon.
“I’m still not over. I’m still not over,” Wilcoxon said. “I trained really hard and I thought I’d be a way better player, but he was a great player. I didn’t play bad. It was probably one of the best matches I’ve ever played. He’s insane.”
That loss to Kelley was a disappointing finish for Wilcoxon, who put together an impressive junior campaign. Wilcoxon finished the year with a 7-2 record in singles as Columbia’s No. 1 player and a 7-2 record in doubles with his partner, Cole Wehrli.
Those marks are why Wilcoxon is the repeat winner of the Lake City Reporter’s Boys Tennis Player of the Year. And if it weren’t for Kelley, he may have been a state champion too.
“When I watched him play, he had never played better,” said Columbia coach Tom Moore, who recently retired. “Everything he did, he did better. Now, there’s one or two things he needs to do playing the game, which he’ll learn with experience. But his shot ability is fantastic. He can hit shots amazingly. When he played Andrew at districts, even though he lost, he played the best game I’ve ever seen him play. And he can’t help but get better.”
Wilcoxon’s other loss during the season was also to Kelley, 6-3, 6-2. But Wilcoxon believed he had learned how to beat him that day and entered the district tournament eyeing a rematch.
However, Kelley took the court with a different approach. Wilcoxon says Kelley played a lot of heavy topspin balls during their regular-season match, but came out at districts aggressive by blasting balls back at him.
It caught Wilcoxon totally off guard.
“I took that match and evaluated it going into districts, but he played a completely different game,” Wilcoxon said. “He’s a great player and he plays really smart. I don’t think it was a bad loss. I thought I had a really great season besides the fact that I didn’t make it to state this year.”
That’s a change in attitude from two seasons ago, when Wilcoxon didn’t handle losing very well.
“I definitely would have lost 6-0, 6-0 to this guy freshman year,” Wilcoxon said. “He has a lot of experience and he’s super smart on the court, and his mental game is really strong. I feel like I’ve gotten a lot more mature. When I’m losing, I’m able to accept the fact that I lost for a reason, not just because I’m bad.”
Those two losses to Kelley now drive Wilcoxon to improve his game. He’s been going to various tennis academies this summer and training with college players, including at Florida and Valdosta State.
Wilcoxon has also been playing in wild-card tournaments with high-level players from Florida and Georgia. He’s hoping to get a chance to see Kelley again next year, when both players will be seniors.
The FHSAA will reveal new districts for the upcoming school year soon, and if Columbia and Ponte Vedra are paired together once again, Wilcoxon will be ready.
“It’s going to be fun,” Wilcoxon said. “It’s not going to be easy because he’s a really good player. But I definitely feel like this coming year I’ll definitely go to state.”
He plans to win it too.
“It’s going to take a lot, but I definitely know I can do it,” Wilcoxon said.