Craig Freels was an integral member of the 1971 Blue Devil
Tennis team which still holds an unchallenged team record in
Kaskaskia College’s history. Craig competed in both singles
and doubles competition, winning the Consolation Championship at
the NJCAA National Finals as a doubles team. Craig was undefeated
in his freshman year; his matches included competition from Region
4, encompassing the state of Illinois and parts of Indiana,
Nationals qualification and NJCAA Finals.
Craig and his teammate, Ken Abrams, were an outstanding
doubles team, upsetting #1 Rock Valley to advance to the National
Tournament. Craig and Ken Abrams, both of Centralia and both
coaches for the Kaskaskia College Tennis programs in their later
careers, competed at the National Tournament held in Ocala,
Florida.
Craig continued his college tennis career at Eastern
Illinois University and later became the Head Coach at Centralia
High School, where he coached for 28 years. Craig returned to
Kaskaskia College and served as the Head Coach of the Blue Devils
Men's Tennis team from 2008 to 2012.
