The ATA Academy players have recently competed, or are currently competing, in tournaments in cities from San Angelo to Boca Raton. While the 12 and 14s super champ players traveled south to serve-it-up in San Antonio, ZAT players went west to San Angelo. Another player and coach journeyed to Boca Raton, Florida for the Evert ITF, while others stayed home for the high school UIL State Tournament.

 

Owen Strickland won the San Angelo ZAT this past weekend to qualify for the Champ division. Strickland swung his way to four straight victories to take the title, defeating C Subealdea in the finals 6-2, 6-4.

 

“Owen has worked extremely hard to be one of the most improved players at ATA over the past few months,” Coach Brian Notis said. “His success this weekend in San Angelo comes as no surprise to anyone that has been paying attention!”

 

Over 1500 miles east of San Angelo, Strickland’s teammate, Josh Hagar, is engaged in battle in Boca Raton.

 

Hagar is into the 3rd round of the Evert ITF in Boca Raton, Florida. The tournament is a Level 4 ITF, and is being held at the joint Evert Academy and USTA National Training Center.

 

 

 

“Josh is pursuing the goal of playing junior grand slams in 2012,” said Coach Jack Newman. “This goal requires a tremendous amount of travel to meet the competition. In 2011 so far he has gone from 2500 to 500 on the International Tennis Federation rankings.”



 

Josh won his first round match 6-1, 6-0, and his second round match 6-1, 6-1. He plays his round of 16 singles match on Wednesday at 9am. 

 

At the San Antonio Major Zone, about 1300 miles west back in Texas, the 12s and 14s super champ players competed against their peers from across the state.

 

Jake Berber won the consolation draw of the boys’ 14s A draw. After dropping his opening round match, Berber bounced back to take five straight matches. He took down Alex Gee in the finals 1-6, 6-4, 13-11.

 

"Until the finals, Jake really worked hard to play aggressively and to push the envelope in the finals," Coach Notis said.

 

In the girls’ 14s A draw, Meghan O’Malley rebounded from a first round loss to win four matches to reach the consolation finals. She took down long-time teammate Ali Young in the consolation semis, 6-1, 6-1.

 

 

 

"I was really impressed with Meghan all weekend," Coach Notis said. "Meghan played with a ton of intensity and energy."


 

The Lake Travis High School tennis team, many players from which practice at ATA, competed in the State tournament this past weekend. The team made the state finals, to finish the season as the number 2 team in Texas in 4A football. The team defeated Alamo Heights in the Regional finals, followed by Montgomery on Friday at State before falling to Highland Park in the State finals.

 

 

 

Congratulations to the entire Lake Travis team! Current and former ATA players on the team: Austin Mayo, Adam Dokos, Oliver Seifert, Courtney Shulte, Tyler Wilkie, Jaxon and Remi Immler, Smrithi Hariharan and Britney Brewster.