ATA College Prep senior Josh Hagar will receive the 2011 Bill Talbert Sportsmanship Award, recognizing his outstanding sportsmanship in tournament play.

 

 

 

“This is a very prestigious award and I am very honored to have been chosen as one of the four recipients,” Josh Hagar said. “To be the one in millions of USTA junior players who are considered to receive this award is eye-opening. Also, it is very cool for my name to be added to the list of past recipients such as Sam Querrey, Andy Ram, and ATA's own Ashley Weinhold.”

 

Presented annually by the Board of Directors of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, the four recipients are selected from the 17 sectional nominations of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Awards Committee. Each award winner must be a junior player who exemplifies the finest qualities of sportsmanship in tournament play as well as one who maintains the finest traditions of the great sportsmen/women of tennis, past and present. The award is given in honor of 1967 Hall of Famer Bill Talbert, who was highly regarded for his high standards of sportsmanship.

 

 

 

“I think that sportsmanship means different things to different people,” Hagar said.

 

Hagar explained that beyond the conventional understanding of sportsmanship, for him, an effort that reflects an appreciation and respect for the game that trumps the trials and tribulations of competition is truly what it means to compete with sportsmanship.

 

“Some think that it is simply acts of kindness while in fierce competition,” Hagar said. “While this is good, I happen to believe sportsmanship is different. A good sport is one who always gives it their all no matter what the circumstance is, even when the chances that he/she prevails are slim or impossible. A true good sport can separate their love of the game and the heat of the competition from their integrity and the fairness of those around them. For me, I struggled with this as a younger athlete. But as I got older and persevered through tough ups and downs (like injuries, bad losses, etc.), I grew to appreciate the moments of competition and endured whenever I was in the heat of the moment."

 

 

 

Hagar’s primary coach and ATA CEO Jack Newman explained that it is Josh’s ability to control himself amidst the toughest situations, as well as his extensive work off the court benefiting A Glimmer of Hope Foundation, that makes him deserving of this recognition.

 

“Josh Hagar manages his emotions on the court as well as any player I have coached,” Coach Newman said. “One of the things we work on is how many negative ticks, either body language or verbal ticks, Josh has in a match.  He is down to 1-2 negative ticks per match, which is amazing.  Josh is one of the most calm competitors in the country in Boys 18s. In addition to how Josh holds himself on the court, he shows great compassion off the court.  His work with the Playing for Glimmer campaign was a factor in being recognized with this award.”

 

Hagar credited the big-picture perspective emphasized by his coaches at ATA for helping him learn to be a good sport.

 

 

 

“I must thank ATA as the catalyst in my sportsmanlike development. The ATA's teachings far surpass those of traditional tennis programs. Values learned through ATA are more on the bigger picture (perspective) scale that I mentioned above. When a student buys into this, they become great sports.”

 

Hagar will receive his recognition in person at the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s enshrinement ceremonies next July in Newport, Rhode Island, surrounded by some of the world’s greatest tennis legends.