November 19-22
Randolph Tennis Center - Tucson, ArizonaView Photo Gallery
Saturday, November 20
by Grant Chambers
Day two of the USA Team Tennis National Championships is underway in sunny Tucson, AZ!
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| Scenes from Day 2... |
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| AYTC Ballers team members Aron Shimeles (left) and Garrett Engeset (right) from Seattle, Washington play'in it |
"Hand Shake Man" keep'in it cool in sunny Tucson, AZ
Aron Shimeles, team member of the AYTC Ballers from Seattle, Washington, has gained the nick-name "Hand Shake Man" for his unique and sophisticated arsenal of hand shakes!
Play Video - watch Aron as he demonstrates three of his marquee hand shakes!
Tennis Channel's Inside Tennis with The Koz comes to Tucson!
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Dave "The Koz" Koslowski, renowned broadcaster and host of
The Tennis Channel's Inside Tennis with The Koz, is in Tucson this weekend filming the USA Team Tennis National Championships. Through this program and other efforts, The Tennis Channel has been an active and proud supporter of "Come Out Swinging," the largest grass-roots campaign in the history of tennis in the U.S. "The Koz" has traveled to more than eight grass-roots events this year. He stated, "it has been fun to travel the country bringing the "Come Out Swinging" message to the Tennis Channel audience. It is a real honor and privilege to be involved with this growing the game campaign."
Along with this weekend's USA Team Tennis National Championships event, the Tennis Channel's Inside Tennis with The Koz have been onsite for the 2004 Quickie U.S. Open USTA Wheelchair Championships in San Diego, the USA Team Tennis College Campus Championships in Daytona, an NJTL workshop in Orlando, a visit to the Pikes Peak Tennis Association in Colorado Springs, Colorado, an event at the USTA National Tennis Center promoting the TennisWelcomeCenter's and several others. Attending the 2004 Quickie U.S. Open USTA Wheelchair Championships held last month in San Diego was particularly memorable for Dave and his Inside Tennis with The Koz crew. He stated, "many of us have been impacted emotionally by sports. I've had the opportunity to witness major sports events. None has had such an impact on me as seeing the wheelchair participants, their upper body strength, their racket skills along with their extremely impressive wheelchair adroitness. However, their drive and competitive spirit is what most impacted every spectator."
Play Video - watch and listen to a quick message from "The Koz" himself!
The Tennis Channel continues to thrive and grow and is now broadcast in over 18 million households in 49 states.
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True meaning of T-E-A-M; Through thick and thin, Wildewood Crush team makes it to Nationals
The Wildewood Crush, from Columbia, South Carolina, have finally made it all the way to nationals! In four out of the past five years, this team has won their state championship. At each Sectional Championships, they have posted better and better results, finally winning and making it to the National Championships this year in the 14 and under division. This year's journey to the National Championships has been filled with joy, tragedy and triumph.
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| Wildewood Crush Team from Columbia, South Carolina |
This past April, teammate Karson Kocher fell into an unexpected coma that would last for over one month. Karson, 11 years old, was diagnosed with a brain tumor and given three weeks to live. Miraculously, Karson's treatment and the love, support and prayers of friends, family and strangers across the nation would help her reduce the tumor by 95%. With a paralyzed right arm resulting from the coma, Karson, a fighter by nature, stormed back onto the tennis scene. Rigorous rehabilitation treatments helped her begin to regain use and strength of her arm. Unbelievably, Karson is competing in the National Championships this weekend!
Throughout Karson's recovery, the entire Wildewood Crush team has been a true testiment to the meaning of TEAM. In all ways possible, they have supported Karson. When she had regained enough strength to step back onto the court, Karson's teammates put a higher meaning of WINNING in focus and forged ahead. Coach Doug Snyder said, "This is a team that just never quits. They are the most unselfish team. They have really rallied around Karson." True to genuine form, any person on the Wildewood Crush team will tell you that "Karson is our glue. She is such an important part of our team. She is always up, happy and supporting."
Play video - watch and listen to a brief introduction and statement by Coach Doug Snyder.
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Hawaiian Team's Always Giving Spirit
At a National Championships event, it is customary for one team to give their opponents a gift representing their own culture. Shown here, the Hawaii team, true to their Aloha spirit, deliver shelled lei's to their opponents before a match.
Play Video - watch and listen to a brief introduction from Hawaii's coach, Arnold Yuen
Pair of sisters and have become best of friends through tennis, even when playing on seperate teams
Samantha and Victoria August and Karson and Madison Kocher have been playing tennis with and against each other for years now. Samantha and Victoria attend Cardinal Newman High School while Karson and Madison attend Hammond Middle School and Hammond High School, located in Columbia, South Carolina. While their respective high school teams have dueled in heated rival matches, these four young tennis players have become best of friends while playing on the Wildewood Crush USA Team Tennis Team together.
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| Wildewood Crush teammates/sisters with parents |
Photo Order: Front row: Samantha August, Victoria August, Madison Kocher, Karson Kocher; Back row: Catherine and Ray August, Gary and Lisa Kocher