After years of working a full-time job and mothering two daughters, deciding to return to college and play on the tennis team may have been impossible for some.

For Kim McMunn, freshman undecided major, this has become a reality.

McMunn decided last semester to return to Missouri Southern and play on the tennis team. This, of course, took some convincing from head tennis coach Julie Wengert and McMunn’s daughters and husband.

“She always comes to all of our matches, and the thought never really occurred to her that she has eligibility, and she’s never competed at the college level before,” Wengert said. “We kind of got the idea started, and it went from there.”

McMunn said her daughters Lacey McMunn and Mendy Burnett played tennis for the Lady Lions.

Burnett no longer plays and is trying to finish her degree this semester.

Wengert told McMunn that the team needed extra players for this season and asked her if she considered playing for the College.

“I was kind of like, that was really nice of you to say that, I was flattered,” McMunn said. “I didn’t really seriously think about that. Then she got back to me and she said, ‘Well, you’re actually eligible.'”

Wengert told McMunn that for her to be able to participate on the team, she had to take 12 credit hours.

Because she works full time, McMunn didn’t think she would be able to play on the team and take classes.

Her daughters then told her she could take classes over the Internet and through video correspondence.

McMunn said her first thought about going back to college was that it was “too crazy.” After getting reassurance from her children and husband saying that if she wanted to do it, she should.

McMunn said after she checked out her options, it seemed possible.

It has been 25 years since she was last in college, and she was a little scared about the tests. McMunn said she took one test over the Internet and when she submitted the test, it didn’t go and the timer kept going.

She thought it just hadn’t worked, so she pushed the submit button again.

When the next page opened up, it said she hadn’t answered any questions.

“I was sick,” McMunn said. “It was a Saturday night, so I e-mailed the teacher, and then I called and left a message. Then she went ahead the next week and reset it and let me retake it.”

McMunn said the incident didn’t happen to just her but other students in her class.

In the upcoming season starts at 6 p.m. on Saturday against Cowley County Community College at home, McMunn will be playing No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles.

Wengert said once McMunn gets practicing again, she will be close with Lacey McMunn and Sheryl Posch.

“She can give each of them a run for their money,” Wengert said.

McMunn said as a player she likes to make the person she’s playing against work for the win if they beat her.

“It should be pretty exciting to see her play and compete against other people within the conference,” Wengert said. “I think she’ll be very competitive. She might surprise a few of us girls in the conference.”