HE ECREE T since 1960 “of, by,D and for the Wesleyan community.” November 16, 2012 NORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN COLLEGE, ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 27804 Finishing 2nd in Nation, Kjellberg Makes Bishops History By Decree Staff to play Skinner again in the spring. I know I est times for me,” he recalled. “Five days team’s prospects in 2013, when the Bishops has earned it a coveted bid to the 2013 NC Wesleyan junior Robert Kjellberg have more work and tough matches ahead." after I got back to Sweden, me and my best will defend their USA-South title and hope to ITA Division III National Men's Team upset the number-three and number-two If the fall season is indicative of friend were in a tremendous car accident. advance farther in the DIII national tournament. Indoor Championships. The 13th Annual seeds before losing a tough match in the Kjellberg’s commitment, Richardson knows So I was in the hospital for a long time and Kjellberg said he’s been delighted with his Championships will be held February 22- finals of the USTA/ITA Small College that his number-one will put in the time and couldn’t practice for most of the summer.” new coach, a former standout at conference 24 in St. Peter, Minnesota on the campus of National Championship last month in effort needed to elevate his game. “Rob rival Christopher Newport, pointing to his en- Gustavus Adolphus College. Mobile, Alabama. made a lot of sacrifices this fall,” the coach thusiasm, his ability to work with individual The eight bids went to Cal Lutheran, After the initial disappointment, Kjellberg said. “He traveled virtually every weekend team members, and his deep understanding Emory, Gustavus Adolphus, Johns Hop- said he “was thrilled” with his accomplish- and trained incredibly hard. All fall, Rob’s of the game. Kjellberg believes the team’s kins, NC Wesleyan, Trinity, UC-Santa Cruz ment. “I’m very proud to be number two in practices were full of purpose and focus.” chances of winning a national title have and Kenyon, which will be the Bishops’ the nation,” he said. “All the hard work was Kjellberg’s work ethic and love of the improved with Richardson at the helm. opening-round opponent. worth it. You live to play in the finals of a sport have inspired his teammates. “His “Coach Richardson is young and shows “We had an impressive fall season, national tournament. Sometimes you win; passion is unbelievable. He really loves passion for the sport,” he said, noting that which culminated with Rob’s run to the sometimes you lose. I lost, but not because I to compete on the court,” said teammate the coaching change “was very positive for finals in Mobile,” said Richardson. “It’s played bad. My opponent was just playing Peter Hviid, who noted that his fellow me and the team.” certainly something to build on as the better than me that day.” Scandinavian has become a team leader by Before opening its USA South schedule, Bishops look to put in hard work in the Kjellberg’s second-place finish is the setting a “professional” example. “He works the Bishops will compete against other off-season to prepare for the spring.” highest ever for a member of the NC and plays really hard.” national powers. The team’s recent success (NCWC Sports Information contributed to this report.) Wesleyan tennis team, said new Bishops While Hviid singled out Kjellberg’s Coach Worth Richardson. “Rob will now forehand—“It’s very hard and flat”—his coach pointed to his serve-and-return game Officer Locke Takes Residence be ranked number two in the nation going The College of William & Mary and as strengths for Kjellberg, who is listed at By Kristi Lucas into spring play,” Richardson said, adding Hampden-Sydney College, Williams’ 5-9 and 150 pounds. Decree Staff Writer that Kjellberg was the first athlete who previous two schools, both employed a “For a young man of his stature, Rob’s Petteway used to be an all-boys dorm, was not from Emory University (GA) to police division on campus. As a result, serve is tremendous and really helped him until now. Officer Tamika Locke, NCWC’s win the ITA Regional Singles title. Dean Williams desired stronger safety Entering the tourney in Mobile with a lot this fall,” Richardson explained. “His first female courtesy officer, now resides return of serve and backhand are world-class there, in what she likes to call her “hotel measures at NC Wesleyan. Following a seven-match winning streak, Kjellberg Williams’ request, the Rocky Mount first dispatched third-seeded Oliver and on a technical level there are very few suite.” Officer Locke said that living in the holes in his game. When he works on finish- dorms will help her “be a resource for the Police Department screened its current Loutsenko of Skidmore College (NY) by officers to present a pool of candidates scores of 2-6, 7-5, 6-2. The following day, ing points by taking the ball out of the air a students. I want to make students and staff little more, he’ll dominate Division III tennis.” Robert Kjellberg. SI Photo here comfortable with law enforcement.” for the courtesy officer position. he ousted the second-seed, Paul Bergin of Locke’s full-time job includes security Kenyon College (OH), 2-6, 6-3, 7-5. Both Hviid and Richardson praised Locke is a very approachable, warm- Kjellberg’s mental approach to his sport. The But by the final two weeks, he said, he mannered individual. She has a college-aged at the Nash-Rocky Mount School System. A native of Vetlanda, Sweden, Kjellberg Although Wesleyan is a side job to her, used his unseeded status as motivation in coach said that Kjellberg’s toughness was on was practicing five hours per day, seven son of her own, and has worked with students display in Mobile and earlier fall matches. days a week, with a former ATP pro, Per in the past. Now in her second career, Locke Locke is on call for Wesleyan 24 hours the tourney. “I knew before I went down to a day. She was called to the scene when Alabama that I’m one of the best players in “He responded well when adversity presented Hjertquist. “And we built up everything from pursued law enforcement and joined the itself and he looked for ways to find solutions scratch again,” Kjellberg said. police force in 2007 because she saw “youth shots were fired at the Hartness Center over this country, if I’ m playing good,” he said. homecoming weekend, though the situation In the first two matches, he said, “I didn't and not worry about problems,” he said. Kjellberg credited Coach Richardson with falling by the wayside with no way out. They Richardson revealed that Kjellberg had helping him to hone his game. “He put in a lot had the wrong image of a police officer. I was under control when she arrived. play my best game, but by fighting on “We need to change the way students every single point, it gave me extraordi- considered transferring from NC Wesleyan after work and extra hours on the court,” Kjellberg wanted to change that for the community.” a successful sophomore season. “When I took said, “and that helped me reach my goals.” Her ambition has not changed since that perceive events like that,” she said. “There nary wins against very good players.” is a difference in a shooting and shots fired. The finals match pitted Kjellberg over this summer,” he said, “I had to re-recruit Earlier in the fall, Kjellberg won two time, and Locke wants Wesleyan students Rob pretty heavily as he had Division I offers tournaments, the ITA at Emory and the UVA to feel relaxed, as she is open to students There were shots fired that night – no property against Aaron Skinner of Trinity damage or injury occurred.” In those types of University (TX). Kjellberg took the first set on the table. Part of this process was telling him Fall Invite. Along the way, he posted impressive coming to talk to her about anything–– he’s a leader here. He affirmed that this fall, victories over top players from Wake Forest, even about previous run-ins with the law. situations, Locke has arresting powers, unlike in convincing fashion, 6-1, but then lost the the campus security guards. She has been last two, by identical 6-7 scores. being an example for other players thanks to his Coastal Carolina, William and Mary, Campbell, Locke was an obvious choice for the professionalism in playing and training.” Richmond, and George Mason. “It’s important courtesy officer position. Dean of Students sworn into law enforcement, enabling her to “The final was the best match I played enforce certain laws security guards cannot. in the whole tournament,” Kjellberg said. “I What’s perhaps most remarkable about to use Division I schools to put into context how Randy Williams admires that “she has an au- didn't give away bad games or stupid balls. Kjellberg’s play this fall is that he suffered a strong D3 tennis is,” Richardson said. “It’s easily thoritative presence, but doesn’t have a sense of I played a very good match. I made good serious setback in the off-season. His intense the strongest D3 sport relative to D2 and D1.” dictatorship on campus. She demonstrated the decisions for the most part, so I'm happy training regimen was derailed when he and Besides a possible rematch with Skinner, capacity to establish relationships with faculty with that.