May 29, 2009

KENNESAW, Ga. - Kennesaw State tennis head coach Brandon Padgett and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has announced that Elliot Kahler has signed a National Letter of Intent and will play for the Owls this fall.

"We are excited to have Elliot join our program," said Padgett. "He has acquired some great experience training at Saddlebrook, and his game is starting to show that benefit."

Kahler, one of the most promising young tennis players in the region, played No. 1 singles for two seasons at Carrollton High School before moving to Florida where he played for two years at the Saddlebrook Tennis Academy.

"I look extremely forward to coming to Kennesaw State," said Kahler. "And, I look forward to contributing to the program."

At Saddlebrook, Kahler is ranked No. 3 in the academy's nation wide ladder rankings and won the single's draw of Saddlebrook Junior Super Series where he defeated a 5-star player in the semifinals and a 4-star player in the finals. He also advanced to the final of the doubles draw.

"We expect Elliot to come in and compete for a spot in the doubles line-up for sure," added Padgett. "But, with his recent results, he has an excellent shot at earning a spot in the singles line-up."

While in Georgia, Kahler was ranked in the Top 15 in the Georgia U-16's and recently competed in two International Tennis Federation events in Atlanta and El Paso where he defeated both a 5-star and 4-star in the first round of each event.