Proud Of Our Alumni!

Coach Newman,

I just wanted to check in a see how everything is going. Things in Boise are going really well right now. I am playing some really good tennis and I have made a ton of progress over the course of the past few months. I love our coach, I love our team and I love being a part of something great.

Our team is looking really strong this year and we just recently got done dominating our regional tournament which means that we get to host a playoff for a spot as National Indoors. I look at Boise State and I realize how fortunate I am to be in a place that is just like the ATA. It's just like being at the ATA everyday and I couldn't be more thankful for that.

Our team cares for each other, just like the ATA. Our coaches care for us, work for us, live and breath tennis for us, just like the ATA. Outside our campus we have a family-network of people that support us, care about us, and truly want to see us shine, just like the ATA. Being in an environment like this has really been a big factor in all the improvement I have made over the past few months.

Looking at the time that I have been here so far I can say this with full confidence: It doesn't matter if you are looking to champ qualify, super qualify, or win super sectionals. It doesn't matter if you are looking to win a national open, or if you aspire to come home with a GOLD BALL. It doesn't matter if you are looking to play pro tennis, or go to the US Open. Everything you will ever need to achieve any goal your mind is capable of perceiving, is at the ATA. The peer group we (Yes, I do still say we, the ATA will always be a part of my life. Hey, once your in, your in.) have at the ATA, the coaching we have at the ATA, and the family of people that care about us, all add up to something priceless. It then becomes a matter of what YOU are doing on a daily basis to maximize your opportunity while you have it in the palm of your hands. As you know Jack, opportunity is something that I don't take lightly, so I wanted to share with you what I thought were the key things that helped me maximize my opportunity at the ATA.

First, without a doubt I would have to say that the family of people that surrounds the ATA made all my dreams and aspirations possible. Families like the Berbers and the Smiths have made is possible for all of us to train and come together in such a beautiful place like the ATA. The whole family group at the ATA supported me in so many ways on my journey to play college tennis, and I know that I will always have this family for help and guidance in the future. Appreciation for having the opportunity to be a part of the family at the ATA is something that I am thankful for everyday.

To the up and coming stars I would say this, cherish and love the fact that you are a part of a family whose goal is to ensure that everyone succeeds. What you are experiencing now is something that most could only dream of being a part of.

Second, the endless amount of resources that I had at the ATA contributed greatly to me being where I am today. The fact that I was able to pull in so much information from so many different sources made getting better inevitable. The information and resources are there, but like I said before, it becomes a matter of what you are doing on a daily basis to maximize your opportunity. Everything you will ever need is right there in your hands, from sports psychologists to trainers to getting private lessons on the court, its all there. I feel that this was one of my strengths, I was open and willing to take in information wherever it came from.

I had two goals, Kalamazoo (Just thinking of it still gets me excited) and NCAA D-1 tennis, and if anything was presented to me that would help me reach those goals I became a sponge. Stars of the ATA, absorb everything you can, from anywhere you can, every second that you can, every single time you breath with the passion for achieving your goals. Do this and its only a matter of time before it all beings to unfold.

Lastly, I will have to quote you, Jack, from a letter you wrote me that now hangs over my bed. "The more there is to be done, the more important it becomes to solidly focus your efforts. Hurried and scattered actions will rarely get you there any faster. Be patient, stay focused on one task at a time, and you'll make the most progress. Give your efforts the power of focus and momentum, and watch them bring spectacular results."

This to me is something that I really didn't grasp up until my last year and a half at the ATA. This to me has been the most important part of my tennis career thus far. Simply put, the day I found out the exact thing that drove me in tennis, nothing else in the world mattered. It didn't matter if I won or lost, who I was playing or what they were ranked, I even stopped caring if I double faulted (which led to the discovery of what is now my second serve). All I wanted was to find a way to get back to Kalamazoo and compete with the best. My goal was crystal clear. I knew who I wanted to play at Kalamazoo, on what court, and how I would play the last game with each of my opponents. Every time I would think of this goal I would zone, and every action that I took would be with the intentions of working back to Kalamazoo. The private lessons that we would have down on the last court were then seen as my silent pursuit back to Kalamazoo, and it worked. My fellow teammates, find a goal that drives you to wake up everyday. Paint it with the most vibrant colors you have ever seen, and in doing this let go of everything that could hold you back. Learn this now, long before I did, and you will have the ability to reach any height you are willing to climb.

Coach, I definitely miss everyone at the ATA and I can't wait to get back into Austin. Tell everyone that I love them, I miss them, and that I am anxiously waiting to practice with them next Tuesday. I cant wait to come back and kiss the ATA ball. Keep working them hard coach and Ill see you next week.

ATA FOR LIFE,

Brent Werbeck