With the impending losses of three key seniors from the Iowa State women’s tennis team after the spring semester, Coach Michele Conlon is blazing a hot recruiting trail.

Her last path netted her a prized recruit from Texas, high school senior Sharla Whitaker, who signed a national letter of intent this week to play at ISU.

Whitaker, who played high school tennis at Pleasant Grove High School in Texarkana, is considered one of the top 20 prospects in the state.

After a former college coach recommended the prep star to her, Conlon said she decided to check out Whitaker’s background. Conlon talked to coaches, viewed prep results and rankings and chose to go after the court star.

“Her credibility and background seemed fitting,” she said.

Conlon said there are many reasons why Whitaker chose to leave the southern warmth to be a Cyclone. “She was really a tremendous fit with our team. She blends in well.”

She said Whitaker was one of the most enthusiastic recruits she has ever seen and will be a good addition to the squad. Another aid in the recruiting process was the tough competition the Cyclones face each meet. “The draw of the Big 12 Conference is very appealing,” Conlon said.

Whitaker also is interested in managing information systems, and she will be able to pursue that degree at ISU.

Conlon said with the spring graduations of tri-captains Mollie Racette, Kirsten Fagen and Maggi Agustsson, the team can use Whitaker next season.

“She can step in and help us out next year in some capacity,” she said.

Whitaker’s strength is her all-around game, a positive for her in collegiate competition, in which many styles of play are used, Conlon said.

Another bonus with Whitaker is her ability to play both singles and doubles effectively.

Conlon also said Whitaker is a hard hitter with a strong serve, and at 5’11”, she has the ability to volley at the net.

With the signing of Whitaker, Conlon still has the opportunity to bring two more athletes to the 1998-99 team.

She said the recruiting process is a year-round effort, and the result of the work has been the distribution of all eight full-ride scholarships the team has available.

However, Conlon is not looking past the upcoming spring competition.

“This team will have the opportunity to have a lot of success,” she said.

She said the team has been hard-working and focused in the off-season, concentrating extensively on running, weightlifting and water aerobics.

But she said the strongest quality of the team has been the “good continued leadership” of Racette, Fagen and Agustsson.

“I’m going to expect a lot of them,” Conlon said.

The women will return from semester break to practice and will begin competition on Jan. 31.