KNOXVILLE, Tn- 

The Royals added one more to their incoming recruiting class on Wednesday with the signing of Elijah Vento from Mukwonago High School in Wisconsin. 

Vento joins the Royals after helping to lead his high school team to record seasons. During Vento's freshman campaign, the team was the first in school history to qualify for state. After a sophomore season cancelled due to Covid, his junior year his team won the Classic 8 conference for the first time in school history with Vento going undefeated in conference and being named conference player of the year.  He was the runner-up in the sectional tournament qualifying him for the state tournament.  With Elijah's senior season yet to be played, his goal is to qualify and advance further in the state tournament this year.  Mukwonago head coach summed it up by saying, "In my six years of coaching at Mukwonago High School no player has outworked Eli Vento in the offseason. He puts an incredible amount of time and effort into improving his game and it has resulted in a berth in the Wisconsin state tennis tournament and earning Classic 8 Player of the Year for the 2021 boys' tennis season." 

Elijah joins Johnson University excited for both the environment and the team. "The biggest reason I chose Johnson was to improve my walk with the Lord. None of this matters if I don't have a relationship with God and at Johnson, I'm able to do that" Elijah said.  He continued, "The whole college experience is really exciting, especially the opportunity to continue to play the sport I love. Being a part of the tennis family here at Johnson, I hope to bring something new to the table." 

Coach Hale was very excited at the addition of Vento, "From my first conversation, Eli and I seemed to have a connection and it only continued once he visited campus.  He is a very good player that likes to play in the same style that I like to coach and has the mentality of rising up to a challenge. More importantly, as much as he is going to add athletically, he is going to add even more to the community and the team." 

The Royals have now added three players for their 2022-2023 Men's Tennis Team, Tyler Parker, Mason Wrisley, and Elijah Vento.