NATCHEZ — Wesley Callaway has her eyes fixated on the pre-medical program at Louisiana State University, but before the Cathedral High School senior journeys toward college, she has unfinished business on the tennis court.

With a Region 7 District 3 tournament win Tuesday, Callaway will advance to play in the doubles tournament at state. Though high stakes are involved, that’s not the most important aspect of Callaway’s life currently.

For Callaway, the classroom comes first. It always has, and it always will.

“Grades have always been such a big thing for my family,” Callaway said. “It’s a big deal to my parents, and my grandmother helped make it a big deal to me when she taught me in second grade at Cathedral.”

Callaway’s life centers around academics, boasting a 4.0 grade point average in high school and serving as a member on the National Honors Society. Though athletics may have taken a backseat to her studies, sports haven’t fallen to far behind her books.

“I’ve played basketball for three years, ran track for one year and I’ve played tennis for several years,” Callaway said.

For Callaway, tennis means much more than just any extracurricular activity though. It’s a form of release, allowing her to escape going to school and spending two to three hours a night studying.

“Tennis is something I do to get away from thinking about school,” Callaway said.

Callaway’s tennis coach Beth Foster described Callaway as “studious.”

“She’s a very bright girl, on and off the court,” Foster said. “I’ve heard good things from her from the teachers.”

Foster said Callaway is always on time for every practice, and if there’s ever a time Callaway can’t attend, she always calls Foster and lets her know beforehand. Foster said that type of devotion to the game would allow Callaway a great opportunity to play at state with a tournament win.

Foster said Callaway’s forehand and serve are her two main attributes, and when Callaway serves sometimes its best to just get out of the way.

“She pounds the ball,” Foster said. “She hit herself in the eye with her racket last week and it blackened her eye.”

Callaway’s powerful serve could provide a storybook ending to her high school tennis career, but win or lose, Callaway will continue to compete in the classroom, working hard for something much more important to her.