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Freeman, Inn sign on with St. Mary's College athletics By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN The end of high school normally marks a time when friends say goodbye to pursue new beginnings in their lives. But North Medford High seniors and best friends Kyle Freeman and Deryk Inn are going to become even closer when they get to college next fall. Inn and Freeman have signed letters of intent to play different sports for St. Mary's College of Moraga, Calif. Inn plays tennis, Freeman plays golf. St. Mary's is an NCAA Division I school in the West Coast Conference. The boys will be roommates in a dormitory at St. Mary's. Inn has played No. 1 and No. 2 singles this season, and Freeman is the golf team's No. 1 player. Both boys are currently preparing for district and state competition while making plans for college. They agree that being dormitory roommates at St. Mary's will ease their transition into college life and make the adjustment to a higher level of athletics. "This isn't something we planned to do for a long time, but it worked out that way, which is nice," says Inn, the son of Southern Oregon Tennis Club head teaching professional Frank Inn. "I visited there first, and I told Kyle it's a nice place and a good school academically and to play a sport for since it's Division I." Freeman says he wrote a letter to the St. Mary's golf coaching staff after talking to Inn about the school. "They wrote back and said they were interested, and I made a visit and decided to sign," says Freeman. "They play against good competition, and it's a good opportunity to try something new and play golf at a high level," says Freeman. "Deryk and I have been staying overnight together since grade school and we get along great. It should be fun." Freeman led North Medford's golf team into the Southern Oregon Conference meet on Monday at Roseburg Country Club. The final round is today, also at Roseburg. Freeman says he's struggled to maintain consistency in his game this season, although he was medalist in a regular-season tournament at StoneRidge Golf Course with a round of 76. "I'm going to the district meet to try to win," says Freeman. "I think I have a shot. But more importantly, I'd like to help our team get first or second so that we can qualify for the state meet." Freeman is playing his fourth season of varsity golf. Inn and Scott Schnugg have alternated in the No. 1 singles position. They're expected to meet in the SOC singles championship match for the second consecutive year on Friday at Hunter Park in Ashland. Schnugg, who is seeded No. 1 in boys singles, defeated Inn last season in the title match. Inn has a 3-0 record in SOC singles matches this spring. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.