2007 14 & under Latest News & Photos

Day 3 - Sunday - October 14

Teams Win 2007 USTA Jr. Team Tennis National Championships 14 and Under Title!

Congratulations to the following teams for their great will, determination and hard work. 

Advanced Division:
1st Place:  USTA Intermountain - Salt Lake City, UT
2nd Place:  USTA Southern - Charlotte, NC
3rd Place:  USTA Florida - Orlando, FL
4th Place:  USTA Hawaii Pacific - Ewa Beach, HI

Sportsmanship Award (Boy): John Pearce - USTA Intermountain
Sportsmanship Award (Girl): Karlene Pang - USTA Hawaii Pacific
Team Spirit Award:  USTA Northern

Intermediate Division:
1st Place:  USTA Southern - Alpharetta, GA
2nd Place: USTA Middle States - Mechanicsburg, PA
3rd Place:  USTA Midwest - Charleston, WV
4th Place:  USTA Caribbean - Ponce, PR

Sportsmanship Award (Boy): Zack King - USTA Mid Atlantic
Sportsmanship Award (Girl): Deborah Thompson - USTA Southern California
Team Spirit Award:  USTA Hawaii Pacific

Winning Team Photos

Advanced Division:

1st Place:  USTA Intermountain - Salt Lake City, Utah

2nd Place:  USTA Southern - Charlotte, NC

3rd Place:  USTA Florida - Orlando, Flor.

4th Place:  USTA Hawaii Pacific - Ewa Beach, HI

Intermediate Division

1st Place:  USTA Southern - Alpharetta, Georg.

2nd Place: USTA Middle States - Mechanicsburg, Penn

3rd Place:  USTA Midwest - Charleston, WV

4th Place:  USTA Caribbean - Ponce, PR

 
Sportsmanship Award Winners

Day 2 - Saturday Evening Poolside Dinner Party
 
Players, coaches and supporters gathered tonight for a poolside dinner and dance party.  The evening began with a large buffet dinner (just about everything you could imaging), followed by a dessert sunday bar then a dance party by the pool.

Day 2 of the 2007 Jr. Team Tennis National Championships 14 and Under is coming to a close.  Be sure to check scores to see which teams have captured their flight and earned a spot in tomorrows championship round!

Northern - Play'in for Mary
This year's 14 and under intermediate team hails from Virginia, Minnesota.  Calling themselves the Virginia Blue Devils, they are returning to the National Championships for the second consecutive year with 3 team members from last years squad.  One of their core team members, Amanda Arbogast,  is not able to participate in this year's event.  She chose to stay home with her mother Mary who is battling through cancer.  Coach Jeff Mauston stated, "as a team we are dedicating this tournament performance to Mary and Amanda for their support and speedy recovery.  Our hearts go out to Mary as she continues to fight her battles.   We are confident she will be just fine and want to hold her in our prayers." 

Download Video Message From Team to Mary

Haley Seidenberg - Diabetes Hasn't Kept Her Down

Haley hits a volley. Shown in pop-up is Haley's insulin pump.

Haylee hasn't let her condition limit her life in any way.  In addition to swimming and running, Haylee is an avid tennis player.  When we spoke to Haylee, she was fresh off of a dramatic doubles match which she and her partner won in a 3rd set tie-breaker.  "Tennis is

Haley with Father and Coach Mark Seidenberg

Florida Shore Shots - Climb'in The Ladder Quick
This year marks the 2nd year in a row that the Florida Space Coast Shore Shots have made it all the way to the National Championships.  Last year, they competed in the intermediate division placing 6th overall.  Due to a rule, the Shore Shots were required to move up to the advanced division to continue playing together.  With three team members from last year's team, they new team committed to intensified training over the summer.  Their hard work and perseverance paid off big when they claimed the Florida Sectional Championship for the 14 and under advanced division!  Coach Gary Lane stated, "it has been a year of long hard work and planning.  We have great parents, a cohesive chemistry...things are really flowing!  This is a wonderful experience for us all."
 

6' 3" and Still Growing

Team Hawaii gives it the "shaka", a term which means "to have fun and have a good time".  They sure are!

After a long day on the courts, players, spectators and all were anxious and ready to let loose at the Friday night Welcome Dinner.  Held at El Conquistador's “The Last Territory” , all enjoyed delicious barbecue cuisine in a unique old-west themed outdoor setting.  After a good dose of barbeque, players were lining up to participate in a hilarious act combining screenplay, singing, video trickery and more.  Participants chose their own video theme, then suited-up in front of a green screen.  While the video was playing, participants moved their head and lips to the beat.  All combined, the heads of the participants were combined with the comical animated video scenes all show on a big screen!  Take a quick look at the video to your right to see just what we're talking about.  The perfect after-dinner desert was served as a build-your-own smores-fest where attendants gathered around one of many fire-pits.  All combined with cool temperatures and a dark star-filled sky, one could say it was a perfect night.

Day 1 - Friday, October 12

Get a Grip! - a Hawaiian Grown Team
Team Get A Grip, representing USTA Hawaii Pacific, consists of four boys and four girls including  Erin and Kari Hashimoto (sisters), Taylor Kong, Kelly Howell, Brandon Ancheta, Kevin Campuspos, Mitchell Miyashiro, and Nicholas Kim.  Although they were all raised in Hawaii, this team started the 2007 spring season not knowing each other very well, and for many, they were meeting for the first time.  As the season progressed, team Get a Grip quickly developed as a strong, close team.  "We think the best part of the season was having the pot lucks after each game," stated coach Jon Megia.  He went on to say, "the parents would bring our favorite foods and we’d all get together after each game to recap that day's games."  The menu included spam musubi (Japanese rice balls with luncheon meat on the top) mochiko chicken (Japanese deep fried chicken), fried noodles (Chinese Chow Mein) and cascarron (Filipino sugar glazed, deep fried dessert).  "The food was always “ono” (delicious)," stated Jon.

At the end of their spring season, Team Get a Grip decided to pick nick names.  Here are those names along with an explanation!
- Taylor Kong: “Slammer” – She’s known for her hard, driving fore hand.
- Eric Hashimoto: “Electric Erin” – She can zap you on the court.
- Kelly Howell: “Smiley” – She’s always smiling on the court.
- Kari Hashimoto: “Kiwi Kari” – A cute name for a cute girl.
- Brandon Ancheta: “Cheta” – That’s what “da boyz” call him at school.
- Kevin Campuspos: “Krazy Kev” – Because he can get wild and crazy on the court.
- Mitchell Miyashiro – “Fluff Ball” – We’re still trying to figure out why he’s called this???
- Nicholas Kim: “Nick Nack Nick” – Because it rhymed really well.

Coach Megia stated, "This is the first time our team has made it to the Nationals and we’re very excited to be in Tucson.  As they say in Hawaii, Mahalo for having us here.”


Introducing Team "DEUCE" - Instant Reply, Pianos, Guitars, Mystery Books and more!
"DEUCE" in tennis means two consecutive exchanges needed to win.  Team DEUCE, representing the USTA Middle States 14 and under advanced division, chose their name signifying that most of their players advanced to the National Championships.  Four of the six players on this year's team made it to Nationals last year.

Photo taken in Willingboro, NJ

Random tidbits about their players...
- Rohit and Vinit Palayekar completed an advanced geometry course this summer.  Rohit finished with a 91 average and Vinit finished with a 98 average. After this course they were off to Orlando Florida for a family vacation at Disney for a week and then another week at the International Tennis Camp in Del Ray Beach Florida.
- Spencer and Taylor Ng both participate in a program called “Instant Replay”. This is a program that recycles used and new clothes which are then distributed to juniors in the Middle States Section. Spencer is a member of the South Jersey Rowing Club and she enjoys playing the piano and cello. Taylor plays baseball, basketball and runs track. Tennis is her first love because she loves playing doubles with her sister. Taylor also enjoys playing the piano and the guitar.  
- Sahana Jayaraman the newest member on the team is a runner and runs track for her school. In her spare time she plays the viola and loves reading mysteries and fantasy books.
- Michael Perrone, also new to the team enjoys writing and perfecting his tennis game.  In school, science is his favorite subject.

Team DEUCE plays at Fairmount Park in Willingboro, NJ.


Peach State Poachers - Don't Ever Give Up
The Peach State Poachers, coming from Alpharetta, Georgia and representing the USTA Southern 14 and under Intermediate division, had a tough start to the season.  It was by chance that they put together their USTA Jr. Team Tennis team for this season.  Not expecting to accomplish much more than good tennis and good times, Team Peach State Poachers didn't even make it to their city finals, losing a play-off match to another team who eventually went on to win.  Despite losing, they were fortunate enough to be invited to play the their District Championships in Macon, Georgia.  To their total amazement, they would win their District Championship, then go on to win their Sectional Championship earning a spot in this weekends National Championship event.  Coach Jill Connor stated, "we are totally overwhelmed by how far we have come.  We are just a team from a sub-division called Glen Abbey in Alpharetta, Georgia, put together by chance."

All but 4 members of our 13-member team live on the sub-division.  The four that don’t live in Glen Abbey are good friends with kids from Glen Abbey, Georgia and came on the team to play tennis with their friends.  Adding to their dramatic season, one of their players, Andrew Carlton, broke his collarbone the day after the District Championships playing street hockey and was forbidden by his doctor to play tennis for six weeks, which meant that he was not supposed to play at the Sectional Championships.  Coach Connor stated, "he couldn’t bear to just sit and watch that tournament and begged to be allowed to play.  He wanted to play singles, but we compromised and he played a mixed doubles match and boys’ doubles match for us.   He won a total of 14 points for us during that tournament.  This was an awesome achievement considering his injury.  I’m pleased to report he is now fully recovered!"

Team Hotshots - Nationals A Long Time Coming
Linda Hayes, coach of this year's 14 and under Intermediate Division team from Southlake, Texas, has been coaching five out of the teams eight players on Team Hotshots since they were 5 years old.  The team’s goal was to get to the State Sectionals and finally, this year, they were able to do it.  "They never dreamt that they would win the Texas Section," stated team coach Linda Hayes.  She went on to say, "The Hotshots definitely looked like the underdogs at Sectionals, but with their fighting spirit, athletic ability, and determination they were able to beat the other teams."

When coach Linda Hayes was playing tennis for Duke University, she never dreamt of coaching tennis, and especially not coaching her Duke friends’ kids.  But that is exactly what happened.  Somehow, Linda Hayes, Jennifer Bohannon, and Jenny Hope all ended up in Southlake and Colleyville, Texas.  When their girls were 5 years old, Linda started teaching them tennis, along with her own daughter, Molly.  The girls all became fast friends (just like their moms) and continued playing tennis together all these years…..all except for Molly, that is.  Two years ago she decided she wanted to spend her time dancing so she became the Hotshots’ team manager. 

One of their players, Will Talkington is a hockey goalie and spends most of his time playing ice hockey.  Another player, Clay Angeli, had just started playing tennis less than a year ago.  Another player, Brady McClanahan is only 9. 


Team CTC Blue - Midwest Section 14 Intermediate takes a break between matches....

Left to Right: Casey Hudson, Colton Murphy, Brianna Rodberg, Cristina Dans and Will Jones (laying down)

Team Tidbits...

"Slamming Acers" - Hawaii Section 14 Advanced
They call themselves the "Slamming Acers".  Representing Hawaii Pacific, this team almost didn't have the required minimum of players to participate at the National Championships.  Instead of folding, they reached out to other clubs in the area and were fortunate to fill their roster! 

Eastern Section 14 Advanced
The New York Junior Tennis League provides free tennis programs for over 170,000 children in the New York City area.  The Bronx International Youth Tennis Center is The New York Junior Tennis Leagues Advanced Training Facility located in the Bronx, NY. Here the Advanced Training Program fields its Tournament Team, trains them, enters them in tournaments and hosts Junior Team Tennis. Team coach Ronald McKenzie stated, "The children on the USTA Eastern 14 Advanced team have come a long way in their development and we are extremely proud to represent the Eastern section with the help of the New York Junior Tennis League."

Team "Academia Surena de Tenis" - Caribbean Section 14 Intermediate
Team "Academia Surena de Tenis" visited Ponce, Puerto Rico City Hall to receive recognition and donation approval to cover the expenses of their trip to this year's National Championships.  They were applauded by their efforts for their outstanding efforts!

Sports Mall Ballas - Intermountain Section 14 Advanced
Team Sports Mall Ballas, hailing from Salt Lake City and representing USTA Intermountain, appreciates the commitment from their team.  In spite of vacations, other tournaments and the like that almost kept some players from competing at their District Playoffs, they have all made the extra sacrafices to be here at the National Championships.

Thursday, October 11

The 2007 USTA Jr. Team Tennis National Championships 14 and under Division is set to begin tomorrow morning in sunny Tucson, Arizona.  More than 25 teams arrived today coming from all corners of the United States including Hawaii, New England, Washington, Florida, California and everywhere in between.

Wayne Bryan, father of the famed doubles team Bob and Mike Bryan (The Bryan Brothers), was on hand Thursday evening performing an energetic, entertaining and informative clinic.

Wayne Bryan Conducts Clinic