FAIRHOPE — Class of 2010 Pirates Tyler Busby and Michael Wilson put their names to scholarship papers last week to attend Birmingham Southern College and participate in the Panthers' Division III athletic programs.

Wilson will play tennis and Busby golf for BSC in the fall. Both have played at the varsity level since their freshman seasons and are looking forward to this spring. Each said BSC offered the right mix of academic and athletic interests for them next fall.

The Pirates' tennis coach J.R. Fulkerson said he was very proud of Wilson.

"Michael has worked very hard for these four years and is very deserving of this opportunity. We're all very proud of him. He's every bit of six-six and he uses his size very effectively on the court, including at the service line and he has learned to use those strengths. I'm looking forward to another season with him."

Fairhope golf coach Jeff Hauge said Busby is a consistent competitor. "Tyler is an overall solid player. He gives great effort every time he goes out and he will give 100 percent every time. His short game is really strong and he can make up strokes around the green. That is where his strengths are."

Last year, Busby helped lead Fairhope to the runner-up trophy in the state 6A golf championship and finished fourth individually at the 6A level as a sophomore in the 2008 state championships. He plans to major in pre-med and pursue dentistry.

"There are just a lot to thank," he said. "But most importantly it would be my parents (Kathy and Tim Busby) and Jim Geram, my coach for all these years for, not just as a coach but for being a good friend. What really motivated me to go there (BSC) would be the coach (Jason Buha). He really knows a lot about the game and I know he will be there to take my game to the next level. They should be aiming at getting back to regionals next year, too, so I'm looking forward to it. The competition should be good."

As a junior, Wilson helped the Pirates finish sixth in the state tennis tournament in 6A overall and along the way made it to the 6A individual finals in singles and the semifinals in doubles. He also lettered in basketball his sophomore and junior years. He plans to major in pre-med or marine science.

"I want to especially thank my parents (Kitty and Wells Wilson)," he said. "For getting me involved in tennis when I was little and the school for having this signing ceremony and all my friends and the team for coming. I think I decided on (BSC) because it has an excellent academic reputation and I wanted to go to a smaller school. They also have a really good team and I wanted to play somewhere like that."