Tyler Perkins had a lot of great performances and great seasons in a New Franklin uniform.

On the basketball court, the two-time CAC first-team all-conference guard was a part of three straight 20-win seasons and two district championships. He led the Bulldog cross country team to its first district championship with a fourth-place finish in the state-qualifying meet. On the track he won a conference championship, set a school record, and finished fifth at the state meet in the 800-meter run.

When the track season was canceled in the spring, Perkins thought about hanging up his cleats for good. He was physically tired and thought maybe it was time to focus on academics.

But he kept thinking about it.

“I was talking with my friends about it and they said, ‘If you are thinking about it, you might as well just run. You don't want to have any regrets,’” Perkins recalled.

“So, I thought about what they said and I decided to go for it.”

Perkins will join the cross country and track & field teams at Central Methodist in the fall.

“Tyler is going to bring much needed depth to our mid-distance group. He has a tremendous amount of upside and his range and versatility will help us become that much more competitive,” CMU coach Kenny Anderson said.

“As far as character, Tyler is in an extraordinary young man, and can’t wait until he gets here.”

Perkins became the second Bulldog athlete to have a change of heart regarding participation in collegiate athletics this summer.

Perkins and New Franklin basketball teammate Gavin Bishop won two district titles together, each scored their 1,000^th career point on the same night in February, and now both athletes are looking to take the next step at CMU.

Bishop signed with the Eagle basketball program on July 6.

The Central Methodist cross country team runs its home meets at the Fayette golf course and the Eagle track & field team hosts the CMU Open annually in March, so Perkins’ friends and family will have a short drive to see him compete.

After Kenny Anderson took over as the new head coach of the Eagle cross country and track & field teams on July 9, Perkins became one of his first new recruits.

“Coach Anderson is a great person and he knows what he's doing. I like that he's young so most of the athletes will click with him pretty quick.”

Perkins plans to major in business.

 “Academically I like how the class sizes aren't too big and you can really get to know your teachers,” Perkins said.

“My sister went to CMU and she said that it was a great college and I could make friends pretty easily. Plus, she also did track her freshman year too, so it's like I'm following in her footsteps.”