by: Grant Chambers :: FINAL RESULTSSunday, October 22
The 2006 USTA Jr. Team Tennis National Championships (Intermediate) has concluded. Congratulations to the following winning teams for their great determination and perseverance!
18 & Under FINAL
USTA Florida Section
def. USTA Midwest Section 30-26
14 & Under FINAL
USTA Southern Section def. USTA Eastern Section 32-26
18 & Under 3rd Place Match
USTA Mid Atlantic Section def. USTA Intermountain Section 30-22
14 & Under 3rd Place Match
USTA Intermountain Section def. USTA Texas Section 27-26
Sportsmanship Award Winners
18 & Under
Brad Perkins - USTA Intermountain Section (boy); Lisa Rubino - USTA Midwest Section (girl)
14 & Under
Brandon Lane - USTA Florida Section (boy); Amanda Abrogast - USTA Northern Section (girl)
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| (Left to right) - Lisa Rubino, Brad Perkins, Amanda Arbrgast, Brandon Lane |
Winning Teams Pictures:
1st Place - 18 & Under - USTA Florida Section
(Left to right) – Robert Nichols, Thomas Holdstein, Michael Kopelman, Tyler Windschauer, Philip Girardi (coach), Jessica Cox, Simone Berger, Mary Wynne
1st Place - 14 & Under - USTA Southern Section
Front row: (Left to right) – Keith Childree (coach), Carly Cangelosi, Leslie Brandon, Heather Hathcock
Back row: (Left to right) – Stephen Moore, Thomas Cangelosi, Seth Rountree, JP Nichols
2nd Place - 18 & Under - USTA Midwest Section
Front row: (Left to right) – Cathy Cline, Raelyn Althoff, Lisa Rubino
Back row: (Left to right) – Pat Hoffmann (coach), Adam Waite, Hunter Ellis, Michael Sendor, Andy Krisman
2nd Place - 14 & Under - USTA Eastern Section
Front row: (Left to right) – Jill Cohen (coach), Jacqueline Kelly, Erika Cohen, Katie Derienzo, William Karl
Back row: (Left to right) – Tom O’Byne, Alex Derienzo, Alexa Cohen
3rd Place - 18 & Under - USTA Mid Atlantic Section
Front row: (Left to right) – Tonique Merrell, Maureen Slattery, Melissa Diskin
Back row: (Left to right) – Aaron Brownell, Harvey Robinson (coach), Chad Cutchin
3rd Place - 14 & Under - USTA Intermountain Section
Front Row (Left to right) – Keriel Adamson, Scott Hintz, Sidney Burningham, Kasey Bacon
Back Row (Left to right) – Andrew Applegate, Josh Bacon, Patricia Adamson (coach), Dan Prawitt, Kanela Adamson, Annie Kirk
4th Place - 18 & Under - USTA Intermountain Section
Front row: (Left to right) – Machel Boman, Lani Wilcox (coach), Kassia Adamson, Megan Keddington, Alexa Crandall, Debbie Boman (coach)
Back row: (Left to right) – James Collier, Greg Mudrow, Zackary Boman
4th Place - 14 & Under - USTA Texas Section
(Left to right) – Raul Garza (coach), Naomi Balbazo, Maria Cardenas, Sofia Montemayor, Guillermo Rico, Vernardo Vallejo, Raul Garza
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Saturday Night Player Party
The "Pool-side" Saturday Night Player Party was held tonight. Beside the beautiful El Conquistador pool, players, coaches and supporters were treated to appetizers, and a buffet featuring a roasted ham and turkey carving station. As the night progressed, the DJ kept the beat as players danced, played pool games, and gathered around warm fire-pits beneath the incredibly clear and starry skies of Arizona. The evening was magical indeed. At one point, a vivid meteorite streaked across the sky, spanning from one horizon to the next streaming a bright, glooming fire trail.
Saturday, October 21
Day 2 of the 2006 USTA Jr. Team Tennis National Championships - Intermediate is underway in Tucson. Be sure to keep checking back for news, photos, results and more.
Young , Smart and Full of Heart! |
| Alyssa Tobita |
Alyssa Tobita may be one of the youngest and smallest player at this weekend’s event, but with 7 years of tennis under her belt and a heart the size of Hawaii, Alyssa fits right in. Alyssa, just 10 years old, is a member of the 14 and under Team Hawaii Mililani. She has been playing tennis since the age of three. After her third round doubles match, which she and teammate Keli Kiyomi Matsuura won 3-4 ,4-2 ,1-0, we caught up with Alyssa and asked her what she thought about USTA Jr. Team Tennis and the National Championships here in Tucson. “My favorite thing about Jr. Team Tennis is the competition,” stated Alyssa. She went on to say, “It’s kinda like a dessert here in Tucson!” In addition to tennis, Alyssa likes to play softball, dance, act and sing.
Back home in Mililani, Hawaii, Alyssa is part of the Mililani 10-s Kidz, a community program founded by Lyanne Binkauski in 1999. The program is completely volunteer driven and focuses on promoting tennis as well as community involvement, academics and a variety of life skills. “We are very fortunate to have great leaders, coaches, players and parents,” stated Lyanne, who made the trip to Tucson in support of the Hawaii 14 and under team.
Celebrity Ties
Will Hickl, member of Team Sugar Creek representing the USTA Texas Section, shows us a loose karate pose in recognition of friend of family Chuck Norris. Will’s father, a longtime Karate connoisseur, is an accountant for Norris, who lives in a nearby Texas town.
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| Will Hickl |
Gift Exchange an Opportunity to Learn About Other TeamsA long standing tradition at USTA national championship events, teams often times exchange gifts before they play. Pictured below, Hawaii’s 18 & under team members Tyler Duart (right), Joy Miyamoto and Trevor Hugo (left) display gifts they received from their opponent, Team Rahanis representing the USTA New England
section. Among other things, their gift bags included Boston Salt Water Taffy and “Lobster Tail” chewing gum, both popular and telling of the New England and east coast areas. “The gift exchange idea is a smart one,” stated Tyler Duart. “It helps you meet and understand other cultures from other teams.”
The Hawaii team gift offering included coconut bracelets with various scripted words, such as “Ahoha!”
St. Joe's Doubles Team Uses Mohawk Strategy
Hunter Ellis and Michael Sendor, team members and doubles partners for the St. Joe Tennis team from St. Joe, Michigan, have a unique strategy this weekend. Beyond a solid tennis strategy, Hunter and Michael are using their mohawk hair-dew's to intimidate their opponents! "I tried to convince our entire team to do it," stated Ellis. "It shows unity, and we hope it intimidates our opponents." Although they lost an extremely close match this morning, they were victorious in both of their doubles matches played yesterday.
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| Hunter Ellis (right) and Michael Sendor (left) give us a close-up view of their mohawk strategy! |
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Friday, October 20The 2006 USTA Jr. Team Tennis National Championships - Intermediate is underway in Tucson, Arizona. Being held at the Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort, this event marks the culmination of a year-long series of competitions at the local, state/district, and section levels, the National Championships serve as the crown jewel of USTA Jr. Team Tennis. We're in for a day of magnificent weather, sportsmanship, tennis and more! Stay tuned for more information!
Friday Night Festivities at Last Territory Steakhouse
Players, coaches, parents and supporters all gathered at the Last Territory Steakhouse Friday evening. This western-themed hideout featured a bull, firepits, lots of wood and good food. After a hot barbeque dinner, players gathered around fire pits and roasted marshmallows. Around 8pm, this evening's main event took form as a comedic hypnotist had his way with several players and coaches!
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Wayne Bryan Captivates Players, Coaches & Spectators
Wayne Bryan, famed tennis clinician and father of Bob & Mike Bryan, current world #1 ranked doubles team, put on an energetic and informative clinic today at the Tucson El Conquistador Golf and Tennis Resort. Players, coaches, parents and spectators were treated to the clinic, which focused on real-world tennis basics as well as maintaining a positive attitude on the court and balance in life. Wayne Bryan also staged a "meet and greet" for the players last night from 7-8pm. "I think USTA Jr. Team Tennis is the absolute best program we have in the United States," commented Bryan. He went on to say, "The more kids we have playing USTA Jr. Team Tennis, the broader our base will be, and the more champions we will have. But the biggest thing is that it just gets more kids playing this great game, and deriving the all of the benefits of our great sport of tennis."
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Left - Cody Mauston, member of team Virginia from Virginia, Minnesota, representing the USTA Northern Section, relaxes after playing two matches today. Show here, Cody is laying down, eating an apple and tossing a bag of peanuts into the air!
Right - Southern California's 14 and Under team from San Diego get a little extra practice time in on the "grass court."
Mid-Atlantic Jugglers!
Tonique Merrell and Kristine Alger, members of team Hunington Park representing the USTA Mid Atlantic Section kept it light between matches today. Shown below, juggling kept these two occupied. |
Brownsville High Rollers Raise Cash, Take Tennis Across Borders
The Brownsville High Rollers, representing the USTA Texas Section, are extremely excited to be here in Tucson. They’re excited about the tennis of course, but equally as excited to have the opportunity to travel outside the state of Texas! We all know that Texas is a large state. Well, Brownsville, Texas is just about as far South in Texas as you can go. Generally speaking, you’ll need to drive close to 6 hours just reach the east border of Texas, and about 12 hours to the north and west borders. Team coach Cassie Goodell stated, “the team is very happy because most of the kids do not get an opportunity to leave the state of Texas.”
In order to take their tennis show across borders, the High Rollers have raised funds for their travel through selling tickets to a raffle and holding a car wash. In all, they have raised a whopping $3,000!
BRRRRRRRRRR!
The USTA Northern Section team from Virginia, Minnesota may have a harder time acclimating to the warm climate of the southwest. Their city has a population of around 9,000 people and is located about 200 miles from Minneapolis. Typically speaking, there will be snow on the ground by Halloween which hopefully leaves by the end of March! That doesn’t leave much room for tennis during the winter months.
Recently, their City Council passed a resolution to help pay for and construct a new indoor tennis facility. A group of about six people, led by George Erickson, has raised, in the past year, over $600,000 in donations from private people, alumni, and local businesses. Team coach, Dave Gunderson stated, “thanks to their generosity, Virginia and our Quad-cities of Eveleth, Gilbert, and Mt. Iron will now be the home of many year-round USTA activities we have not been able to hold because of the climate conditions and our remote location in Northern Minnesota.” The new facility will bring an opportunity for kids in Northern Minnesota to become as proficient in the game of tennis as they desire. Coach Gunderson went on to say, “because we know that snow is coming soon, Tucson is looking pretty good to us right now!”
The Virginia Team Tennis program is in its beginning stages. This year they had one team of 14 and under intermediate players that were fortunate enough (and worked hard enough) to make it to the national championships. The players consist of four girls and four boys who are multi-sport athletes and also do extremely well in school. The four boys, Jordan Krebsbach, Cody Mauston, John Morgan and Garrett Hendrickson, play football, hockey and tennis. Two of the boys also play baseball. The four girls, Casey Mauston, Amanda Arbogast, Caley, Westin, and Alexis Gunderson, are also multi-sport athletes, playing not only tennis, but basketball, hockey and golf.
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| Team from Virginia, Minn. representing the USTA Northern Section, competing in the 14 and Under division |
(Front Row: Left to Right) Caley Westin, Amanda Arbogast, Casey Mauston, Alexis Gunderson
(Back Row: Left to Right) Jordan Krebsbach, John Morgan, Coach Dave Gunderson, Cody Mauston, Garrett Hendrickson
True Team Spirit Pays Off
In their final match at the sectional championships, Team Cedardale from Haverhill, MA, coach Jessica Molda was about to hand their lineup to the opposing coach before one of her players, Alex, who was supposed to play singles, stopped her. Jessica recalls, “he said he wanted another boy, Jeff, to take his singles spot. He felt that Jeff played an amazing singles match in the morning, and he was the team’s best shot at a singles win.” Jeff disagreed and wanted Alex to play another singles match because he thought Alex was on a roll. They talked it out – Jeff in singles and Alex in doubles. Alex’s doubles team would end up winning the deciding match! Jessica stated, “even though tennis is an individual sport, my kids are always putting the team first.”
Team Cedardale is representing the USTA New England Section this weekend. Good luck!
Florida Space Coast Shore Shots Bring Tough Tennis to Tucson
Each team here at the 2006 USTA Jr. Team Tennis 3.0 National Championships has overcome challenge after challenge after challenge to make it here to nationals. The Florida Space Coast Shore Shots team from Melbourne Beach, Florida was not different! Team coach Gary Lane gives us a brief synopsis of their road the nationals…
Our biggest challenge in order to be able to arrive to the National Championship was the battle in our flight with the Pembroke Lakes ( Miami) team that won first place and our team second place in Sanlando sectional tournament earlier in the year. Then we learned that we had a rematch at the State level with the same team in July 2006. It was very challenging and difficult to stay focused and outplay this Pembroke Lakes Team for all our players. They were a very strong and balanced team. We realized that if we did not prevail against this team our hopes of first place and the chance to attend the National Championship would diminish in the first flight on the very first day of the State competition. Our team players did what was needed to be done and scored the points that were needed to edge past the Miami team in order to win our flight and advance to the semi final against Lakeland and then on to the finals against Jacksonville. The rest is history.
Good luck team Florida Space Coast Shore Shots!
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| Florida Space Coast Shore Shots |
Keeping it Simple
There’s much to be said about the Sugar Creek Aces from Sugar Land, Texas, representing the USTA Texas Section. But it’s mostly told through their action on the court! The team consists of the minimum 3 boys and 3 girls. Even with their minimal structure, the team still managed to take their sectional championship. “The team looks forward to competing against other sections and wishes luck to all!,” stated team coach Sean Straley.
On another note, we have word that team leader Will Hickl personally knows celebrity Chuck Norris! (more to come…)
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| Team GPCTA Blue - USTA Eastern Section - competing in the 18 & under Intermediate Division |
Surprise!
A little over one month before the national championships, Team GPTCA Blue, representing the USTA Eastern Section, had hung up their rackets for the season, believing they were done. The team from Plattsburgh, NY, had won their flight at the Eastern Sectionals. Because they had only participated in the summer USTA Jr. Team Tennis program, they had to do a play-off against the winter program sinners. They did not win this match, and thought their season was over. “Then we got a call,” explains coach Debra LaPorte. She went on to say, “…just a little less than a month before nationals that we had earned a wildcard spot!” They had to make up their minds almost immediately, whether they would take the spot or not. “What a two day roller coaster trying to pull together enough of the players to make the trip. Everything that could go wrong did, but in the end, we had just enough players to make the trip,” stated LaPorte.
All of the GPTCA Blue team players play high school tennis in different regions and schools. The team represents five schools in all.
Sidewinders Slither on to Nationals
The New Mexico Sidewinders, representing the USTA Southwest Section, are made up of a group of high school students from Las Cruces High School and Onate High School, located in Las Cruces, New Mexico. They have been together for a little over a year now and have become a very tight knit group. “This team was put together in the interest of fun and expanding tennis in the Las Cruces area, so we are pretty much ecstatic to represent the Southwest Section (at nationals),” stated team coach Ryan Doss. He went on to say, “This group of individuals should be applauded for their awesome work ethic, sportsmanlike attitudes, and true love of the game.”
The Sidewinders will be missing their team captain Brand Call and their youngest team member Grenner Thome this weekend. Ryan stated, “Every match we will be playing for them and wishing they were on the court with us.”
Rahanis Park Koala Bears Bring Hometown Passion to Tucson
Rahanis Park is a public park in Burlington, Massachusetts where local residents and near by neighbors flock to play the game of tennis. There are 6 courts at the park along with a few soccer and softball fields. There are power lines which run over the courts which gives Rahanis its unique look. Rahanis is a club where love and passion for tennis there is felt by everyone who makes the trip to Burlington, Mass. There are players of all levels at the park ranging from pure beginners to advanced Division One college players. Everyone at Rahanis truly knows one another and that is what makes the park so special.
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| Rahanis Park Koala Bears |
Team Works Hard, Benefits Extend Well Beyond Winning
The Kentucky 14&U Intermediate Champions, coached by Tina Beavin and representing the USTA Southern Section, set out for Mobile, Alabama for the Southern Sectional Championship with no expectations. They were a little surprised to have won the State Championship, after losing handily in the regular season against of the teams participating in the state tournament. Ten players, six boys and four girls, from four different schools, and two home schooled all knew each other, but not well. During the regular season, the players showed up, played their match and went home. Team tennis was just a way to play some matches, to improve their game. However, somewhere on the way to the Southern Sectional Championship Final, these ten kids discovered camaraderie, friendship, and the meaning of team tennis. Everyone played, everyone won; there was no MVP. Every match two boys sat out, but they were on the sidelines cheering for and encouraging their teammates. There was no pouting, no complaints about who played in what match, it was a given that everyone played equally. Even though they lost in the championship to a strong Georgia team, the weekend was a huge success. This team was proud of their accomplishment of reaching the final and had a great time getting there. The Southern Sectional received the wildcard for the USTA National Championship for the 14&U Intermediates. Coach Tina Beavin stated, “The team is now practicing hard for the next level, but it’s not about winning, it’s the experience of going to Nationals with their new best friends.” She went on to say, “While competing for a National Championship is not being taken lightly, the tennis is secondary to the memories and life lessons these ten players have achieved through teamwork. Whatever the outcome, they’ve already won; playing for a National Championship is a bonus.”
Life is Tough!
The South Carolina 18-Intermediate Team really gets along very well with each other – even though four girls play on two opposing state rivals in the South Carolina Independent School Association. The two Girls Varsity Tennis teams are on a collision course to meet in the State Play-offs on October 20-21st. All four of these girls had to make a very difficult decision – and that was to either represent your high school, or advance to the USTA Junior Team Tennis 3.0 Nationals in Tucson. Coach Doug Snyder decided that this is a decision that 13-15 year old girls should not have to make. He told them to just play tennis and not dwell on the decision. The respective parents have been very supportive in this most difficult dilemma that the girls have been placed in. One of the Girls Varsity teams (Cardinal Newman, Columbia, SC) is competing for their third straight Girls Varsity Tennis Championship.
PHOTOS
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| Southern California - Team Westview - competiting in 14 & Under - Intermediate Division |
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| USTA Northern Section - Team Sioux Falls - Competing in 18 & Under Intermediate Division |
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| USTA Northern Section - Team Virginia - Competing in 14 & Under Intermediate Division |