Northern California

Patrick Toman Named 2021 Bill Talbert Junior Sportsmanship Award Recipient



USTA NorCal is proud to extend a big congratulations to NorCal Junior player Patrick Toman for being selected as the 2021 Bill Talbert Junior Sportsmanship Award recipient out of an impressive pool of outstanding young men and women across the 17 USTA sections.

 

This prestigious award recognizes a junior player who exemplifies the finest qualities of sportsmanship in tournament play and the traditions of the great sportspersons of tennis past and present. 

 

“I am very proud of myself for winning the Bill Talbert Junior Sportsmanship Award,” Toman shared. “There is a lot of value that comes from winning a sports competition, but for me, a lot of the joy comes when I am fair and show generous behavior towards others.” 

 

For Toman, sportsmanship is not necessarily something he must practice, but rather something that is directly ingrained into how he approaches the game overall.

 

“Having a calm and quiet attitude on the court helps me as a player dealing with nerves, but it also helps me remain composed and respectful,” he said. “I believe when everyone shows good sportsmanship it uplifts the spirit of the game. It means showing respect to your opponents and the fellow players around your court and appreciating the game without creating any arguments or drama.”

 

And on the flip side, Toman added he thinks this extends to how you react to your opponent's play.

 

“I think it is important to make good calls and give your opponent credit for a good shot,” he said. “I always feel great after the match when respect is shown at the net toward my opponent through kind words. Whether I win or lose, I focus on keeping respect for both my opponent and the sport.”

 

Toman also credits his passion for personal development, visualization, and meditation for helping him keep good sportsmanship at the top of his game play.  

 

“These skills and practices are all essential to me as a player and person help,” he said. “When you get frustrated, it affects the quality of your game and the overall match. For me, meditation is mental training that helps keep my mind still and calm. Visualization is another technique that helps me come up with a plan for my matches, and I visualize in my mind how I will execute a match. This all helps ensure that I am at my best and ready to play.”   

 

In addition to earning this honor, Toman has been recognized for his sportsmanship throughout his entire junior career, including earning the 2021 Boys’ 18s San Diego L2 Sportsmanship Award, the 2020 USTA NorCal Junior 16s & 18s Excellence Tournament Sportsmanship Award, and numerous sportsmanship accolades from different Open, Championship, Excellence, and Sectional tournaments in Northern California. 

 

A senior this year, Toman is planning to keep his options open after graduating to chase his professional dreams and open the door to play national junior events, ITF junior events, ITF pro circuit events, ATP challenger events, and the ATP tour. 

 

No matter what he does next, Toman will make sure to keep his same mindset at the next level.

 

“This accomplishment will give me a lot of motivation to continue having great behavior on the court. In every match that I am a part of, I will try to maintain a peaceful attitude,” he said. “I will continue applauding great shots and acknowledging the efforts that my opponents have. Off the court, I will remind others of their successes so I can be a better person.”

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