September 2015 – AUSTIN TENNIS ACADEMY

ATA CP Students Praise Facility Changes

With the school year well underway at ATA College Prep, the students and teachers are settled into a rhythm in the new facility. In case you missed it, ATA CP Director Carol Hagar described much of the transition that happened over the summer in a recent post.

Now that students are fully focused on everything from French to Physics, they, too, offered their reflections on the changes.

“The new school facility for the ATA College Prep program has greatly altered the way we operate everyday,” said junior Abigail Chiu. “The new and improved buildings give us a more school-like feeling that allows us to access more resources in a more convenient space. Being closer to the courts, with more people/coaches around, has already kept me more accountable, and this is what I most appreciate. Hopefully we can all use this change to our benefit and strive to be even better student athletes.”

Payton Holden, a senior heading to Princeton University next year, echoed Abigail’s sentiment.

“I like the new school building much better because it allows me and the other students to transition from practice/lessons to school very quickly and effortlessly.”

With the school space now on the same campus as the courts, fitness center, pro shop and coaches offices, there is more of a cohesive tone between the major focal points of the program: to strive for excellence in academics, athletics and character. Alejandro Rodriguez, a junior in his second year at CP, agrees.

“ The new school facilities at ATA College Prep have redefined the way that students here study, train, and improve. The close proximity to the courts allows us to play even more than before, and the new facilities are high end, comfortable and make it easy to learn. Very excited about this year and the years to come!”

To learn more about the ATA College Prep program, please contact Carol Hagar at Carol.Hagar@AustinTennisAcademy.com.

Austin ITF – Wednesday Order Of Play

Here is the Order Of Play for Wednesday of the Austin ITF. Good luck to ATA College Prep’s Abigail, Payton and Alejandro!

Austin ITF – Tuesday Order Of Play

The Austin ITF is well underway. Qualifying is complete, and singles started smoothly. To see the order of play for day two, click this link – Tuesday OOP-Revised!

Austin ITF – Main Draw

Please find the Main Draw of the Austin ITF posted at this link – Monday-Singles. Don’t forget to sign in for doubles at your site before noon!

For more information on the event, please contact the tournament director. For more information about the Austin Tennis Academy and its programs, please browse the site or contact Deb Cahill at Deb.Cahill@AustinTennisAcademy.com.

Good luck!

LIFE IS LIKE A PRISM

Life is like a prism.
The way you see it depends on which side of the glass you are looking through.

When light hits water or a prism, it bends. A single beam of white light is really a combination of all the visible colors. So when white light bends, all of its components (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple) also bend. But they bend at different angles because each color travels through water or glass at a different speed.

This refraction results in beautiful rainbows.

We can learn a lot about how we approach life from this simple prism lesson. We are likened to a prism as we have several facets to our personalities. We take in information through our senses and then communicate it through our filters. Ideas come in and we refract, reflect and project them through our lenses – our filters of communication.

In CP Leadership we have been discussing how these filters create perception. The more clarity we have in identifying personal facets, the more aware we become and therefore better prepared for reflection. Some thoughts and actions add clarity and some can cloud the view. What thoughts create your prism?

Life is like a prism.
The way you see it depends on which side of the glass you are looking through.

~Carol Hagar

Saturday Quallies

Here is the draw to the Saturday Quallies for the ITF at Austin Tennis Academy. Click here – Saturday Quallies – to see it.

Coach Newman Recommended Article

Coach Newman recommends the following article about 3 qualities every athlete needs to have to play his/her best.

“The Bare Essentials: Three Things Every Athlete Needs to Succeed”

W. Timothy Gallway author of The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance writes the following equation:

Performance = Potential – Interference

There are three qualities that every athlete needs in order to strip away the interference and to play his/her best. (changingthegameproject.com)

Intrinsic Motivation
Enjoyment
Autonomy

Click here to read more

ATA Coach and Players Featured in Wilson Glide Video

Wilson’s latest shoe, The Glide, is the world’s first shoe designed to slide on hard courts. The technology was recently tested at ATA with ATA Coach Tres Davis and Academy players featured throughout. See Wilson’s Glide Training Video here:

To read more about the shoes, click here!

Pictures From ATA College Prep Practices

A major benefit of the ATA College Prep program is the ability to practice before and after school while having easy access to coaches and courts throughout the day for lessons, without disrupting the academic workday.

Here are a few pictures of the CP student-athletes on the court so far this year. To see more, check out the ATA College Prep Facebook page!

Hunter Bleser blasts a forehand as she attacks the net.

Coach Brandon Davis adjusts Kristin’s grip as Abigail practices her serve.

Josh Clark spins a forehand in front of his team during an intense game of 105.

Chase Bartlett works on closing to the net with Coach Ryan Rowe.

Anushka Dania locks in on the ball as she prepares her backhand.

Champions For Life Page Up And Running

The Austin Tennis Academy is excited about its affiliation with David Benzel and his organization, Growing Champions For Life. The non-profit works to create cohesive families, healthy teams and principle-centered athletes.

Mr Benzel creates articles, videos and other media that serves as coaching material for parents of athletes. We have a dedicated page up and running on our website under the News tab where you can access this content at any time.

Take a look!

How to Achieve Whatever You Set Your Mind To Do

Coach Newman recommends this article by Inspower.co that was sent to him by a parent. It reminded the parent of what he hears from Coach Newman and the other coaches at ATA. Click here to read the entire article.

How to Achieve Whatever You Set Your Mind To Do

1. Work Hard And Quietly

Make the best use of your day
Be humble

2. Surround Yourself With Positive People

Pick positive people to spend time with that help you achieve your goals and support you

3. Keep a Positive Mindset All the Time

Start the day with positivity
You have control over your mind. Maintain this control and decide what affects you and what does not

4. Fight Overthinking

Focus on the most important things only

5. Have a Clear Purpose

Have crystal clear goals
Break down your big goal into several steps

6. You Don’t Have to Be Perfect

Accept the fact that you are not perfect; no one is perfect
You can only do a certain activity or task to a certain degree of efficiency and effectiveness

7. Focus on Your Goals

Plans are made to be followed and to be fixed, but sometimes things happen and plans need to change
Be proactive and actually face the change and adapt accordingly in an attempt to stay on track and accomplish your goals

8. Take Action

Taking action is the first step you need to take to achieve anything
Start taking control of your life and do not let anyone control your life or take action for you

9. Live in the Present

Direct your effort to the important things and always think of what you can control  Whatever happened in the past is something out of our reach and is something we cannot change, so thinking about it just makes matters worse

Conor O’Meara Goes Undefeated!

Conor O’Meara went undefeated in singles in his first collegiate tournament for the Blue Demons. Conor played flight D singles at the event which was a three day competition at the River Forest Invitational in Oak Park. In his first round, he defeated Robby Berry of Morehead State University 6-3, 6-3. In the semis, Conor defeated Erich Schuette of Northern Illinois University 6-3, 7-5. In the finals, he defeated Elliot Ward of South Dakota State University 6-1, 4-6 (10-7).

Click here to check out Conor’s results from this past weekend.

Last weekends SCMZ and CMZ results

Richardson BG 16 and 18 SCMZ

Coach Newman on BG 16 and 18 SCMZ: This past weekend’s superchamp major zone is one of the toughest events of the year. This four day, feed in consolation and quarterfinal loser consolation tournament tests players both physically and mentally. Because of the feed-in element, players face progressively tougher and tougher opponents. ATA players competed well in this long event with many making it to day 3 and one making it to day 4.

Playing on Monday: Payton Holden, Callie Creath, Avery Schiffman, Kristin Kerrigan, Hunter Bleser, Chase Bartlett, Meghan O’Malley, Alejandro Rodriguez, Harrison Chiu and Alex Mjos.

Callie takes 3rd place!

Callie Creath and Payton Holden reached the semifinals of the main ‘A’ draw in G16 and B18 respectively. Wilson Hamilton reached the finals of backdraw, played very aggressively all weekend. Alex Mjos played in and won the backdraw of her first 18s B draw tournament. Alex and partner also placed 2nd in B draw doubles.

Alex with partner JC were finalist in doubles!

Austin BG 12 and 14 SCMZ held at ATA

Juan Abboud played some tough matches and got 5th place in B14s A draw. Jett Hampton also made it to Tuesday in the Boys 14s A draw. Kai Canada played a good tournament and took 2nd place in B14s B draw.

Caroline Wernli and Anushka Dania were playing in the G14s A draw and both made it to Tuesday.

James Cockrell took 2nd place in B12d.

James and partner 2nd place A draw doubles

Jake Riezebeek Qualifies for Supers!

Jake places 2nd to Qualify for Supers

Coach John: “Jake played a 3 hour and 45 minute match to qualify for supers. It was 95 degrees with 85{37ef6ac642fae6f93f343032eb62785d28fa7a25a4a4f0267a12512c541c53a9} humidity. He just broke his opponent down winning 6-1 in the 3rd set to reach supers. I was very proud of his ability and willingness to stay out there as long as it takes to win.”