Latest News from the USA Team Tennis Youth National Championships
Randolph Tennis Center, Tucson, Ariz.
November 21-24, 2003

By Craig Nyman

 

Monday, November 24

The AEGLE team from St. Cloud, Minn. -- The first-ever USA Team Tennis Youth National Champions!

AEGLE brings the championship home to Minnesota
After two thrilling semi-final matches the night before, the time came for the first ever USA Team Tennis Youth National Champion to be crowned.  The finals paired two teams from opposite sides of the country as AEGLE from St. Cloud, Minn., squared off against Channon @ WI5 from Honolulu, Hawaii.  After a long weekend of tough, grueling tennis, the smoke cleared and a 53-43 final score propelled AEGLE to be crowned the first ever champions.  Coach Mark Muntifering led AEGLE to the title with his team of Brittany Bachman, Mike Engdahl, Nathan Erdman, Hannah Frericks, Alex Gruska, Dan LaFountaine, Mike Sauer, and Katie Ward.

 

The Bryan brothers give a few tips to two USA Team Tennis players

Brothers know Best
At the conclusion of the 2003 USA Team Tennis Youth National Championship the participants were treated to a clinic led by brothers Bob and Mike Bryan, the No.1 doubles team in the world.  As the official spokespersons of the USTA's USA Team Tennis Youth program, Bob and Mike were joined by their father Wayne to share their success story with tennis' future stars.  Picking up racquets at age six and playing team tennis has led the Bryan brothers to succeed at every level of the game.  As both brothers said, “Team tennis is great, we have had the most fun playing for a team and being able to travel as a team.”  The also feel that team tennis teaches you to support and console your teammates and share in both victory and defeat.  Bob Bryan added, “regardless of whether you win or lose, it is a great day because of the teammates that you have.” 

Bob and Mike Bryan with their father, Wayne, talk to the players at the 2003 USA Team Tennis Youth National Championships

The brothers also give credit to their father for being such a supportive parent through their transformation in the sports of tennis.  “Tennis parents can crush a kid with the mentality of winning.  We learned to have a positive attitude win or lose and to have fun and show great sportsmanship,” Mike said.  For the Bryan family to come out and support Youth Team Tennis meant a lot to the youths and the parents learned a few lessons from Wayne.  They are the ideal family to promote this program as they have been involved with team tennis for almost 20 years. 

 

 

 

USA Team Tennis Youth National Championship Semi-Finals
Bearing the chilly temperature on Sunday evening, the semi-finals had arrived and each team inched closer to tasting victory.  The South bracket was represented by team BCCC out of Georgetown, TEX squaring off against Channon @ WI5 from Honolulu representing the West region.  Channon @ WI5 claimed victory winning the team match 51-35 and securing their place in the finals.  The other semi-final featured the North division winners; team AEGLE from St. Cloud, Minn., matching up against the East winners the Marauders from Fridley, Minn.  In a close semi-final match the two teams from Minnesota battled hard with team AEGLE winning 45-41.

 

 

Dreams do Come True
Sue Jollensten arrived in Tucson to see what she has always strived for, a National Championship for youth tennis.  Sue serves as the chair for the USTA Youth Community Programs Committee and has been involved since 1993.  Sue is responsible for pushing the USTA National Committee to continue to fund the team tennis program and would want nothing more than to see the success of this program and to see the youths participating flourish in the sport of tennis. After seeing the success of this tournament and this program, Sue unveiled that next years championship will also include an additional 14-year-old age group and that an extra regional will also be added.  The rise of youth tennis around the country has been exploding.  As Sue said, “this is the tip of the iceberg, we have between 380,000 to 400,000 kids in the youth tennis program and we are seeing an growth increase of 40 percent each year.”  USTA youth team tennis is here to stay and the sky is the limit with the support across the country.

 

Sunday, November 23 

 

Sisters Anna and Nina Surviladze

Sister Sister
For Anna and Nina Surviladze, tennis has helped the two see the country.  Anna and Nina moved from Georgia five years ago and now reside in Albuquerque, N.M.  Playing for the Dick Johnson Tennis Academy, the two hone their skills as well as pass along their teachings as instructors for the junior youth tennis program at the DJTA.

 

 

 

 

Jeff and Kari McCardel

 

A Family Affair
For the McCardel’s, tennis runs in the family.  Jeff splits his time coaching Peace Out with his wife Paula and coaching his daughter Kari’s team.  In her 12 years, Kari has yet to miss a tournament that dad Jeff has coached and serves as a good luck charm.  With Paula unable to travel this weekend, the coaching reigns have rested on the shoulders of Jeff and his good luck charm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Team BCC

Big Team Little City
Team BCC is a unique story because you could say they are all like brothers and sisters.  Each of the eight members have been playing together since they picked up a racquet at the Berry Creek Country Club in Georgetown, Texas and seven of the eight attend the same high school.  Being from a town of only 25,000, team BCC has faced the stiffest of competition in Texas and welcomes any challenge.

 

 

 

Terrance Nichols prepares to serve

Fortunate One
Terrance Nichols will be the first to tell you how fortunate he is.  Growing up with a rough home life, the local community in Syracuse, N.Y., has taken him under their wing and helped him to succeed in a sport that he loves.  To make the trip to Tucson, parents of team Sedgwick Blues gave Terrance frequent flyer miles for his ticket and paid for his hotel room.  At home, Terrance works at the local tennis club and trades his services for court time and lessons.  Terrance gives a lot of his credit to his mentor Al Cohan, who has been very influential in the growth and development of his game and keeping his dreams alive.  Hoping to continue his tennis at the next level, Terrance has been in contact with several colleges and plans on playing for one of them in the fall of 2004

 

 

David Hintze, Madison Hintze, CJ Adamson and Keyara Adamson

Family Time
For CJ and Keyara Adamson and David and Madison Hintze they are always at home on the road.  Brother and sister CJ and Keyara grew an interest for tennis after their mother played for the Peru National Team.  Being on the road is a different experience for the two because they have three more siblings at home but get to spend more time together as just the two of them.  David and Madison are first cousins and are playing in their first tournament together.  The two attend the same high school in Bountiful, Utah and like playing on the same team because it makes it more fun when they are with family.
 

 

Saturday, November 22 

 

Jim Reffkin runs the show at the Randolph Tennis Center

From Little Leagues to Youth National Championships
Jim Reffkin has waited for this weekend since 1968.  As the pioneer of tennis programs in Tucson, Jim has been responsible for hosting junior tennis leagues and USA League Tennis adult championships.  When the opportunity arose for Jim and the Randolph Tennis Center to become home to the first USA Team Tennis Youth National Championships, how could he refuse?  “I am excited to host this event because I started in the ‘60’s and it is a great experience and I feel we have the nicest public facility in the Southwest.”  With the tremendous support of the Tucson community and the USTA, Jim Reffkin has succeeded in making Tucson a tennis stronghold year round. 

 

The Seattle Ballaz take some time out between matches

Ballaz Balling
With nicknames and hometown pride sported on their t-shirts, the Seattle Ballaz came to Tucson for fun in the sun.  Leaving the cold rain and snow of Seattle was not hard for this team.  The Ballaz were established at Seattle’s only public tennis courts and this experience is the first chance many members have had to travel outside the state of Washington.  Coach Matt Look summed up the experience by saying, “Being the first team out of a public court makes this tournament really special.”

 

Team Kailua brings a taste of Hawaii to Arizona

Aloha….Shaka
Traveling from the town of Kailua of Oahu, Hawaii the “cold” 60 degree weather couldn’t spoil the islanders team spirit.  For most of the players, their first experience playing tennis on the U.S. mainland gave relatives the opportunity to watch without traveling over the Pacific Ocean.  Trying to bring part of Hawaii with them, Team Kailua presented their opponents with shell necklaces as a gift from their homeland.

 

 

AEGLE

So old yet so young
Hannah Frericks and Dan LaFountaine have been on team AEGLE for the last six years.  With the coaching of Mark Muntifering, Hannah and Dan have tasted success since each was invited to join Mark’s team at 12 and 10 years old.  Playing as teammates on AAU teams and now the USA Team Tennis Youth National Championships the duo are elder statesmen on their teams.  After capturing the gold medal at last years AAU Junior Olympics, Hannah, 18, now plays tennis for Gustavus-Adelphus College and is looking to add another championship in her last youth tournament.  At 16 years old, Dan is looking to build off of his silver medal from the AAU Junior Olympics and continue his success as part of the USTA and at the high school level where Mark is also his coach.

 

M.A.A.D. P.A.C.C.

M.A.A.D.   P.A.C.C.
Determining a team name was not the hard part for coach Joey Osthoff -- getting letters in the right order was.  Team members told their coach that they wanted their team name to represent each of them.  After taking the first letter of each player’s name, M.A.A.D.  P.A.C.C. was born.  The team from Lakeland, Fla. didn’t travel light, as their families were around to cheer on each member in their first out of state tournament. 

 

 

 

Two members of the Tucson Wildcats

Tucson Tikes
Don’t say age makes a difference to coach Jason Wilson and his Tucson Wildcats.  Playing in their own back yard, the Wildcats boast a team consisting of two 13-year-olds and a 12-year-old, by far the youngest team fielded at the 2003 USA Team Youth National Championships.  The Wildcats are making noise with their 13-year-old star Victoria Bravo.

 

 

 

Coach in the making
Border Patrol captain Patrick O’Connor is following in the footsteps of coach Scott Rickel.   O’Connor has handled assistant coaching duties for the Border Patrol since February and has accepted responsibility and control of the team when coach Rickel is unavailable.

 

Team CUTA

Utah has arrived
A trip to the 2003 USA Team Youth National Championships for team CUTA means the world to the players.  CUTA became one of the first teams from Utah to be invited to a national tournament.  Credit for the success of CUTA belongs to Robin Wise, Director for Central Utah Tennis Association.  In the past year, Wise has seen the growth of youth tennis in central Utah raise from 150 participants to 863 participants.

 

 

Players Party - At the culmination of play on Saturday November 22, 2003 all players attended a party in their honor. Dinner, ping-pong tournaments, and making new friends highlighted the end of a long day