Last Year’s Seniors Check In From College
Each Fall, the previous year’s Seniors and current college Freshman send us an update of how things are going. Below, please enjoy the check in’s from Payton Holden at Princeton, Jake Berber at Claremont, Hunter Bleser at the University of Virginia, and Chase Bartlett from St. Edward’s University.
JAKE BERBER – CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE
Thinking back on my time at ATA, I can’t help from getting a smile on my face. It’s such a special place and you’ve done an incredible job at making it a place of such family. As I’m writing you from my room in Wohlford Hall, room 111, there are a few things that come to mind when I think about what I would love to tell the current players at ATA.
First of all, try your best to make life long friendships. Personally, I was blessed with an incredible class of 2016 and I consistently keep in touch with many of my fellow peers. Obviously, the tennis is unbelievable and is the reason why everyone is there, however, the people there are just as special. Take some time to worry less about how poorly you are hitting your forehand and actually ask someone how their day/week/life is going.
Second of all, try your best to get to know the coaches. They may be annoying at times but each and every one of them has an incredible story to tell. Some of my favorite tournament trips were when I was rooming with a coach because they’re all extremely interesting and smart people.
Lastly, enjoy the amount of free time that you have now. Even if you are feeling overwhelmed with school, tennis, or whatever is taking up your time, trust me, it only gets more hectic. For the last 3 weeks, I had 6-8 am practice Monday-Thursday and midterms all of last week. Start working on your time management skills now before you get to college so that you aren’t feeling as if you have negative time to work with once you get here.
Hope all is well back home,
Jake
PAYTON HOLDEN – PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
“The tennis aspect of Princeton is very tough and hectic. Practices are always super fun, loud and competitive. My practice schedule for the fall is MWF 7:15am lifts with 4-7pm practice and Tuesday Thursday practices from 1:30-3:30ish. Then on top of that, in order to receive our warm ups (Sweat pants and sweatshirts) we have to complete certain things in our free time. For instance, to earn one of our pairs of sweats we have to play 4 singles sets, 4 doubles sets and 5 extra ab workouts on our own time. As far as tournaments go, I have played 3 out the 5 fall tournaments we have scheduled this fall. College tournaments in the fall feel equivalent to matches at grand slam; technically it is an individual tournament but the cheering and support is still extremely high. One of the highlights of the fall thus far has been the ITA grass court tournament. Luckily I was able to compete against players from Michigan and TCU in the first ever collegiate grass court tournament. Overall, ATA and more specifically ATACP prepared me very well for the rigorous practice and tournament schedule, it also taught me how to manage my time on the road, which is a crucial skill to have for college tennis.
Academically it is challenging but not impossible. As long as I am diligent with my work and study consistently it isn’t too bad. This semester I am taking Spanish, Micro-Econ, Calculus and a Writing Seminar. CP classes prepared me very well for all of my classes, I feel like I know all of the pre-requisite material needed for all of my classes.
One piece of advice I would give the younger players is to really focus on doing the little things, especially when they are tired. For instance, I wish I had done all of my homework right after practice/dinner when I was still tired, because there is hardly a second here where I feel “ready” or “energized” to do work. Often I am super tired and just have to grind through it.
Well I hope everyone has a great and best of luck to everyone,
Payton”
HUNTER BLESER – UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
Hey ATA!
I am about to finish up my sixth week at school now and I just wanted to check in with yall and let you know a little bit about what college is really like and what ATA has taught me.
First off, time management is the major key component when trying to balance your academic and athletic life at school. You will not only have to schedule your days around classes and practice, but you will also have to take into consideration tutoring, conditioning, weight training, homework, etc. Those free hours that you have between classes at CP now, use them to get homework or readings done early. Make this a habit so that you when you move off into the next chapter of your life you won’t be overwhelmed.
Secondly, take advantage of CP’s environment and work on your communication skills. Professors and coaches really appreciate and idolize someone who communicates with them 24/7. Get in the habit now of “over communicating”. I promise it will help you out in the long run!
Lastly, take advantage of the advice and instruction your coaches at ATA are offering. They truly want the best for you and want to see you succeed in your endeavors. It may seem somewhat annoying now, but trust me, when you get to school, you’ll miss having them there every step of the way. The coaches and staff at ATA are truly your second family, whether you realize this or not right now. Love your family, because soon you’ll have to leave the nest and grow up.
I hope you guys are doing great! I still keep track of almost all of your results not twitter! Feel free to call, email, or text me if you guys have any questions about the college process or need some advice about anything! Can’t wait to see you guys here in a few months! Miss y’all like crazy!
Take care,
Hunter Bleser
Wahoow
CHASE BARTLETT – ST. EDWARD’S UNIVERSITY
Hey Coach,
Midterms are coming up, and since it’s almost halfway through the year I thought I would give you an update on how college life at St.Edwards has been so far. Fall semester has been interesting so far – I have changed roommates (my first roommate would get back at 4am on weeknights and wake me up, and I think he was selling drugs out of the room when I wasn’t there) and I now live with a good friend on the tennis team. Life is very similar to college-prep life. I set my alarm for 6:50am when I was in CP, and I still set my alarm at 6:50am in college. I feel like CP was a very smooth transition into a liberal-arts college – some of my classes are around 14 students, which is actually pretty similar to Coach Tommy’s English class. Additionally, the content is similar; this year there is an emphasis on community, which is really similar to CP’s focus on what it means to be a good citizen.
I’m not going to say that I find St. Edwards easy – I find it very challenging actually – but, I do think that it is do-able. I’m pretty happy with my choice of school; I think that going to a different school just because of a brand-name diploma would have been a bad choice, because the work load here is hard enough already and because I can’t imagine how much of a “better education” would be possible. I have a 4.0GPA so far, and have worked very hard to do so (I study between 3-5 hours daily). I get assigned about 8 writing assignments per week, and about 200 pages of readings. It seems like a lot, but when you get in college and you HAVE to do your work to get A’s, you figure out that there is a lot of time in the day that usually goes to unimportant things.
Tennis is good; the guys on the team are a lot of fun to be around, and Coach Strecker cares a ton about us and our program, which I think is the most important thing for a coach to have. Fall season was okay for me and for our team, I won one tournament in singles and doubles, but had to pull out of one because I had some sort of virus which lasted a week, and I went into regionals without having trained more than once. I’ve seen the level of competition though – I definitely belong here and have a strong shot at winning regionals next year. Training is interesting though, we are only allowed 25-something days of official practice (which means that we have been doing a ton of running and a ton of lifting). I have probably only spent 6 hrs on court for the past week or two, which is tough. I would tell anyone who is in CP right now to enjoy court time and have fun with it, because it’s much more pleasant to play tennis for 5 hours a day than to run until you throw up or write papers until your eyes hurt.
Overall, school has been good. I’m pretty happy with my choice so far, and hopefully I can hold on to my 4.0 through midterms!
Hope you are doing well and that everything is going well at the academy.
Chase Bartlett
Watch ATA CP Alum and Princeton Freshman Payton Holden Live
The first ever Hall of Fame Grass Court ITA Invitational kicks off tomorrow, bringing 8 Division I teams together to serve it up on the grass courts of the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.
ATA College Prep graduate and current Princeton Freshman Payton Holden will be one of 8 Tigers competing in the event starting tomorrow. Our friends at FloTennis are offering live video and extended coverage of the event – click here to check out the action.
Eight teams (4 women’s and 4 men’s) will compete in a flighted singles and doubles round-robin format, playing for individual ITA Ranking Points. Following is a list of participating teams, listed with their national ITA ranking, based on the standings at the end of the 2015-2016 seasons.
Men’s Teams
University of Virginia, No. 1
TCU, No. 3
University of Michigan, No. 25
Princeton, No. 52
Women’s Teams
University of California, No. 2
Oklahoma State, No. 8
Georgia Tech, No. 16
Harvard University, No. 55
Good luck, Payton!!!
ATACP Senior Abigail Chiu Claims Gold Ball At USTA Clay Court Nationals
The 2016 USTA Clay Court National Championships unfolded last week, with 14 ATA Academy players competing across all age divisions. The standout performance came from ATA College Prep Senior Abigail Chiu, who brought home a Gold Ball for winning 1st place in Girl’s 18s doubles – her 8th National Ball overall.
“This moment in particular was the most special feeling I’ve had after claiming a national ball,” Chiu said. “Between it being one of my last ever super nationals and having my mom witness me winning a gold ball for the first time, it was truly rewarding. The acknowledgment I’ve received especially amongst my ATA peers has made this accomplishment feel even better.”
Abigail traveled to the event, hosted in Memphis, TN, with ATA CEO Jack Newman. Following a tough first-round singles loss, Abigail was able to refocus and earn three-straight wins in singles before her undefeated run in doubles with partner Elysia Bolton.
“I have to give a huge thanks to Coach Newman who played a huge part in this,” Chiu said. “He was so encouraging and gave me great motivation throughout the entire tournament. We had a specific ritual everyday that allowed me to stay calm and focused and I really do credit him in the highest ways. I really believe he is the best at what he does and when you get the chance to travel with him one on one, you come to realize why ATA is so special. Of course I also credit my three main coaches: Coach Doug, Coach Brandon and Coach Dio who consistently take care of me both physically and emotionally.”
Chiu also credited her access to two beautiful red clay courts here at here home Academy; appropriately named The Chiu Family Clay Courts.
“The clay courts at ATA have definitely been nice,” Chiu said. “It’s not so common to have clay courts at your home facility; many of my friends have to travel to Florida or other such places to access them but we’re really lucky here. Not every academy can have such nice clay courts and that’s the reason so many kids across Texas come to ATA for better preparation.”
Newman also credits the courts for the overall success of ATA players on the surface recently.
“We had our best clay court performance this year of any years previously,” Newman said. “Having our players start practicing on clay during the year on a regular basis and exclusively after the summer grand slam for sure helped our performance.”
Beyond the coaching, preparation, and court access, Chiu also credits her partner in this event.
“Elysia is also probably the best partner I’ve ever played with. She is an incredible player and I felt that our games really complemented each other well. The last match was actually our most dominating and confident performance and that’s another reason why winning this has never felt better. It was relieving to finish my last clay court nationals with a title and with a match that I will never forget.”
After spending the week with Abigail and coaching her to a Gold Ball, Newman was clear on how she stacks up against her peers on the doubles court.
“Abigail is the best doubles player of her age in the country (IMHO), for the following reasons–very good serve locations, solid returning from both sides, ability to move forward and control volley height and pace, ability to perform formations effectively without fear.”
The natural step after reaching a goal for Chiu and all ATA student-athletes is simple: set another one. Now, she will focus forward on the next steps in her tennis career.
“The next step for me is getting ready for college tennis. I am planning on tweaking my schedule a little bit so that I can experience some higher level tournaments whether it’s lower lever pro tournaments or more collegiate events. I’ve played junior Texas tennis my entire life and I’m ready to see what it’s like against the girls at the next level!”
ATA College Application & Essay Workshop, Aug 2-5
Dear ATA Seniors:
As the summer leads to its hottest moments, I am sure you are all working toward your end-of-summer goals, making plans for the future, and thinking about what college might look like for YOU. You are about to embark on your last year of high school, and then off to college. This is an amazing time in your life. It is also a very busy time in your life. It is a time of transitioning into young adulthood with new responsibilities. With classes, work, tennis tournaments, college searches, applications, essays, keeping up with responsibilities and chores, you may feel as if you have too little time to accomplish it all during the hours of the day.
Instead of feeling overwhelmed, begin your senior year with less stress. Take some time this summer to knock out your college application and essays.
Register for the College Application and Essay Writing Workshop
Aug 2-5, Tuesday-Friday
10:30am-12:30pm
at ATA College Prep
A course fee of $350 will be billed directly to your ATA account.
You will receive personal attention in completing the Common Application and receive advice and guidance on your Personal Essay. You will also research colleges and gain insight into the best matches based on your personal criteria. This workshop is intended for rising seniors, but rising juniors may also benefit from the college search and writing exercises.
Includes:
Introductory Counseling Session
Personalized Interactive College Search
Crafting an Introductory Letter to Coaches
Review of the Common Application
Selecting Recommenders
Brainstorming Session for Personal Statement & Essays
Practicing Interview Skills for phone and on-campus visits
I recognize many of you will be traveling during all or part of this time, but you are welcome to take advantage of the days you are here and then follow up with private or small group sessions available during the fall.
Remember that all of the work you have invested up to this point is going to pay off and that you are going to find the perfect college experience.
Contact Carol.Hagar@AustinTennisAcademy.com for additional information and to register.
Looking forward!
Carol Hagar
ATA College Prep
512.423.1105
The ATA College Prep Community Honors The Class of 2016
The ATA College Prep community came together earlier this month to celebrate the graduating class of 2016.
Set in the serenity of the Spanish Oaks hills, a few hundred family members and friends of the graduates attended the commencement ceremony. Before Head Coach Doug Davis offered his customary invocation,Director of ATA College Prep Carol Hagar opened the evening and welcomed the guests.
“Over the years, I have witnessed these student-athletes struggle, accomplish, and develop into strong young men and women and it has been an honor to work with each of them. I hope that the lessons learned here will continue to guide them into thoughtful futures and continued transformations. I know they will each add a great deal to their excellent university communities.” ~Carol Hagar
As the sun set behind the trees, the community personally honored and celebrated each graduate. Hunter Bleser, Sofia Burnett, Chase Bartlett, Payton Holden and Erik Kerrigan were each recognized through commemorative video tributes, introduced by two loved ones who know each graduate best, and finished by addressing the audience with a few words of their own.
Continuing a CP tradition, each graduate selected a Senior Legacy Quote that will be installed as pavers in the campus garden. Their selections are below.
Chase Taylor Bartlett will attend St. Edward’s University next fall. His trainer/mentor Dio Miranda and friend Garrett Reiter spoke on his behalf.
“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” – Vivian Greene
Hunter Nicole Bleser will attend the University of Virginia next fall. Her grandfather Franklin Cutler and brother Ryan Bleser spoke on her behalf.
“God didn’t bring you this far to leave you.” – Philippians 1:6
Sofia Burnett will attend Washington University next fall. Her friend Sarah Masaryk and trainer/mentor Dio Miranda spoke on her behalf.
“What lies behind us, and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Payton Holden will attend Princeton University next fall. His friend/mentor Philip Berber and his Aunt Renee Pethtel spoke on his behalf.
“But you know, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” – J.K. Rowling
Erik Kerrigan will attend the University of Chicago next fall. His friend Aksel Taylan and English teacher Tommy Collins spoke on his behalf.
“The world’s a stage and I want the brightest spot.” – David Lee Roth
After the presentation of the graduates, Christopher Stevens, a Notre Dame Professor, Producer and Entrepreneur, offered the commencement address titled Living The Dream.
“What a thrill to see how every child should be so blessed to graduate. ATA is a very special place and the fine institutions the five graduates will attend this fall is testimony to the quality education they have received. Moreover, the sense of wanting to give back and help those less fortunate than they are seems to run in the DNA of every student. It was truly a privilege to be at the ATA graduation ceremony.”
~Chris Stevens
CEO Jack Newman closed the graduation ceremony by initiating the Passing Of Leadership To The Class of 2017. This tradition of handing off the ATA ball symbolizes the hand off of responsibility for leadership within the greater Academy group for the next year.
A year from now, this group of leaders will look to continue the CP tradition of 100{37ef6ac642fae6f93f343032eb62785d28fa7a25a4a4f0267a12512c541c53a9} college matriculation to some of the top schools in the world.
Congratulations to each of the ATA College Prep graduates of the class of 2016! Check the ATA College Prep Facebook page for more pictures from the evening.
ATA College Prep – Around The Campus, In The Classroom
It is hard to believe… but we are approaching the final moments of the 2015-16 academic year. The students and teachers are well underway preparing for a strong finish to the year, while continuing to improve on the court as they enter the summer months.
The CP students do a group dance for a video message in an attempt to cheer up a fellow teammate who was recovering at home.
The boys work the legs and lungs while Coach Luka keeps track of time. This was one stage in a lengthy and diverse circuit workout to support strength and conditioning.
Coach Lucie leads the group in a Pilates workout during a rainy morning after the circuit workout.
Mr. Collins is guiding the English III/IV students through their final research papers after discussing C.S. Lewis. Each student chose a social problem in Austin and is working to research the issue and offer a solution. They will present their findings to the school at the end of the semester, including the experience of volunteering their time and energy to support their proposed solution.
Mr. Rutherford gets his Chemistry class started. “We’ve been learning about nuclear chemistry, radioactivity and nuclear power, as well as discussing the advantages and drawbacks of nuclear energy production in society,” Rutherford said.
Erik Kerrigan, a CP senior and UChicago commit, helps Josh and Wilson with math homework.
Check back over the next few weeks for updates on the end of the year presentations, graduation and more!
ATA College Prep Gains All A’s in (re)Accreditation!
June will mark five years since a major milestone in the development of the Austin Tennis Academy. That month, the ATA College Prep program, which at the time was a young community-supported learning environment, earned full accreditation through AdvancEd, the largest accreditation organization and education community in the world with a network of 32,000 private and public pre K-12 schools, colleges and universities. At the time, ATACP was both the youngest and smallest school ever to receive full accreditation through AdvancEd.
“The growth and development as well as the accreditation and reaccreditation of ATA College Prep is a fantastic accomplishment and opportunity for our community. ATA College Prep allows us to impact our students in both their academic and athletic lives in powerful and meaningful ways. Teachers and coaches are focused on high performance as a way of life and students are getting positive, impactful messaging throughout their day. This has led to ATA College Prep college placements that are in the words of one of our evaluators: ‘off the chart’.”
Accredited status eases the process for transfer students moving between accredited schools, while demonstrating that ATACP meets nationally recognized standards for quality and professional practices.
As the status requires renewal after 5 years, ATACP recently went through the evaluation process with AdvancEd. First, through in-depth reporting and data tracking, and next through a two-day on-site visit including classroom visits, and extensive interviews, the evaluators conducted a rigorous review of the school and its systems.
The committee Lead stated that ATACP attained the highest overall scores in all 7 domains received by any school during the year and announced that CP would be recommended for re-accreditation. In example, ATACP scores as compared to National Averages were: High Expectations Environment 3.51 to 2.81; Active Learning Environment 3.43 to 2.94; and Well-Managed Environment 3.4 to 3.14.
“ATACP is committed to continuous improvement which is apparent through our community culture of mindfulness, holistic programming, excellent instructional staff, above national SAT averages, and 100{37ef6ac642fae6f93f343032eb62785d28fa7a25a4a4f0267a12512c541c53a9} graduation rate to 4-year universities. It is very rewarding to gain validation from a national board of experts that our programs, processes and people are exemplary among our peers,” states Carol Hagar, Director of ATACP.
Looking back, many of the goals outlined five years ago after being evaluated – like establishing a permanent school building – have been accomplished. Looking forward, CP leadership has again defined a set of goals that both ensure continuous improvement and confirm that it is creating lifelong learners.
Carol reflects that, “Conquering the stigma often associated with a small independent school or sports academy education has been a challenge. But innovation is often uncomfortable, uncommon and unrecognizable until much later when the stories of change, success and gratitude are told and remembered. Enhancing the overall vision of the Austin Tennis Academy, ATACP is a place where young minds and bodies can reach for excellence, develop a mindful approach to life, and dare to become citizens of significance.”
For more information about ATA College Prep, click here, or contact Carol Hagar directly at Carol.Hagar@AustinTennisAcademy.com.
ATA College Workshop and Coaches Forum
As Parents… What Can We Do? Try the 30-30-30 rule!
Parents often ask what they can do at home to help reinforce the ATA & CP messaging of ‘strive for the pursuit of excellence’ and ‘study for the love of learning’. I love this! It is truly the village that creates the community, and together we can make a bigger impact. One thought that comes to mind, is to encourage them to “Show up. Listen. Always do your best.” Another thought that comes to mind is to model what you wish for them to do: complete tasks joyfully; study diligently, practice what you love to do; and perform with dignity.
In relating specifically to building better study habits, some things that you can do at home are:
1) Ask the right questions. ie. Instead of asking “How was your day?”, which may result in a one word answer of “fine”, ask “What are you reading about in History?”, which requires thought and dialog. OR instead of “Do you have any homework?” which is task oriented, ask “What will you be studying tonight?” which is habit oriented. This develops a proactive mindset instead of a passive one.
2) Designate an evening ritual as ‘study time’ or ‘family time’. To optimize the effects, it should be repeated each night, at the same time, in the same location, and with minimal distraction. Establish 30 minutes (or longer) to gather at the dining table or in the living room, with no TV, computers or cellular devices. Read. Discuss. Play a game like Bananagrams, Boggle, Yahtzee, etc.
3) Practice this study habit with your child for the next 30 days. Review her day. Ask her to explain the topics she currently studying in each class. Help her locate the process to solve a problem. Show her how to learn.
4) Read aloud to your family or read silently as a family. 30 pages a day is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your child that will result in improved academic performance and character evolution. It is also a beautiful way for your family to connect each day. Suggested books that will spark discussion include: The Chosen, To Kill A Mockingbird, Moby Dick, The Alchemist, Three Cups of Tea, Never Let Me Go, The Giver… or perhaps one that she is currently reading at school.
As parents, we want the the very best for our children. Emphasize the quality of long-term practice over short-term results. Show them that you value how they spend their days. And teach them to appreciate the way in which you spend yours.
Try the 30-30-30 rule: 30 minutes, 30 days, 30 pages.
Let me know what happens next.
Take care, ~Carol
Wisdom Shared Through ATA Alumni
Earlier this year, Coach Newman invited six ATA alumni members who work in Austin to participate in a panel discussion so current ATA students could see how some of the life lessons they are learning have been applied in real life. The goal of having current ATA students witness firsthand the powerful outcomes that result through the positive processes the ATA program offers was accomplished in a powerful way through this panel discussion. Many of the ATA coaches who attended were impressed by the articulate and insightful nature of the comments shared by the alumni members. Through the stories they shared, each of the alumni members communicated that the ATA culture and the process of competing in junior tennis had been their primary driver of success.
Many of the alumni members contributed specific thoughts on the qualities they learned from junior tennis and ATA that has helped them succeed in the workforce. Ryan Berber, who was on the tennis team at Claremont McKenna and is currently an Investment Associate at Nicoya Capital, said he learned how to stay calm under pressure through competing in junior tennis and that he never gets rattled in his job. Santiago Montoya, who played for Notre Dame and now serves as Chief Investment Officer for A Glimmer of Hope Foundation, talked about learning how to rebound from failure since most tennis players lose frequently. This resiliency has helped Santiago in his professional career. Whitney Waters, who earned All-American honors at University of Redlands and currently serves as the Director of Marketing for AlertMedia, shared how learning how to lose with humility has been invaluable given the fact that you lose deals in business. Blake Davis, who played in the starting line-up all four years at Florida State and now serves as an analyst for Elberon Investment Fund, talked about how the competitiveness that was his biggest strength in tennis has also allowed him to enjoy professional success. Blake got the attention of the ATA students by telling a poignant story about his first job out of college with Wells Fargo’s Investment Banking division. Blake shared that despite the fact that the vast majority of the people who were in the year-long training program were Ivy League graduates, more than 50{37ef6ac642fae6f93f343032eb62785d28fa7a25a4a4f0267a12512c541c53a9} of his colleagues could not handle the rigorous demands of the program and either quit or were fired. Blake attributed his competitiveness and desire to win at everything he did for allowing him to succeed in the training program, while many of the Ivy League graduates couldn’t handle it.
The panelists also shared their most significant takeaways from being in the ATA program that have benefitted them after their tennis careers ended. Santiago Montoya mentioned how his discipline was shaped at ATA and is now infused in his core. Santiago, like several other panelists, also talked about the goal setting he learned under Coach Newman. Whitney Waters emphasized learning to put the process of pursuing excellence in tennis over result outcomes, as well as the real life applications in terms of learning to appreciate the journey. Claire Cahill, who earned All-American honors at Washington & Lee and currently serves as a Business Analyst for Bazaarvoice, told an inspiring story of how she had to come back to her ATA roots to get her college tennis career moving in the right direction. Following Claire’s sophomore year at Washington & Lee in which she did not play in the starting line-up, Claire decided she needed to step up her commitment and return to her disciplined training habits by spending the entire summer doing morning and afternoon practices at ATA under the guidance of Coach Newman. The net result of Claire’s hard work and dedication was earning All-American honors at the end of her junior year after playing in the doubles and singles line-up the entire season. Claire attributed her remarkable turnaround to the hard work she put in at ATA the summer before her junior year.
Many of the alumni members said the thing they valued the most from their experience at ATA was the life-long friendships they formed there. ATA coach Brandon Davis, whose collegiate career at the University of Illinois was highlighted by reaching the NCAA Finals in 2007, shared that “the friends I made at ATA are still my best friends and we have been in each other’s weddings.” Brandon also urged the current players to take advantage of the opportunity to create their own special relationships during their time at ATA.
The most poignant example of a lasting relationship that began at ATA was that of alumni members Whitney Waters and Ryan Berber who recently announced their engagement.
Given the inspiring nature of the stories shared by the alumni members that reinforce the life lessons the ATA coaching staff is trying to instill in our students, there will be more of these panel discussions in the future.
ATA College Prep Students Debate Policy, Develop Skills
The ATA College Prep Policy Debate unfolded last Friday, with many of CP’s juniors and seniors clashing over the topic of ‘Increasing Military Presence In The Middle East’.
“Debate and public speaking are primary components in an education that matches our mission of developing compassionate, communicative leaders,” said Head of School Carol Hagar. “During their years here, all CP students produce both informal oral presentations and formal ones, as in the recent policy debate. I was impressed with the overall level of research, preparation and poised delivery from each our students.”
The debate, which followed the standard guidelines outlined by the National Christian Forensics And Communications Association, centered on the issue of whether or not the United States should allocate more military resources of all kinds to the Middle East as a solution to the growing instability in the region. CP Junior Alejandro Rodriguez argued for the Negative Team.
“I had a lot of fun in both taking the debate course and doing the actual debate,” Alejandro said. “Because of our topic, I felt like I got to engage in something that is current and relevant, and I got to greatly expand my knowledge on the subject. I really enjoyed the final debate because it was kind of a culmination of what we had researched and practiced for a whole semester and it was cool to see how we all did after so much preparation. The amount of reading we did was really high and in depth and it was a good experience to prepare me for future classes/endeavors.”
Ms. Yousef, who has a background teaching social studies, speech, and theatre, got into debate because to her it is a combination of all of those.
“I teach debate for two reasons: it offers skills that can be an asset in many careers and I enjoy watching students grow in ability and confidence. Debate develops skills in critical thinking, research, organization, persuasion, and writing affirmative cases and negative briefs on US policy. This type of research and organization can translate into many fields. The recent exhibition debate before judges gave the students an excellent opportunity to try their arguments and realize how much they have learned. They have spent many hours researching the resolution, which called for more US military presence in volatile regions and studying the rules of policy debate. I think everyone stood up to the task and should be proud of their performance.”
Congratulations to all of the College Prep students who participated in the 2016 CP Policy Debate!
Meet CP Teacher And Award-Winning Actress Taylor Flanagan
For the past 41 years, the B. Iden Payne Awards have recognized outstanding work from the theatre community in Austin. Among the honorees this year, the award for Outstanding Featured Actress went to Taylor Flanagan for her performance as young Gabrielle York in When The Rain Stops Falling. On top of putting on award-winning performances, Taylor leads the Theatre and Spanish classes at ATA College Prep.
“Taylor is a quick study and has been able to effectively play multiple roles at College Prep – from registrar to event planner to general organizer to an inspirational Spanish teacher,” said CP Director Carol Hagar. “But it is in her roles as Theatre teacher, director and actress that we see her fully represented. Her ability to integrate the arts into each of her classes not only increases student enjoyment of the class, but also stimulates brain targets, memory retrieval, and the neuroscience of learning. As an extension of applied learning and exposure to the arts, we look forward to CP students attending Austin’s production of Dracula and seeing Mrs. Flanagan perform live and on stage.”
Taylor adds this accolade to an already impressive resume in Austin theatre. She won her first Payne award for Outstanding Youth Performer for her role in The Visit. She also starred in dance-based show Parents/Kids Dance Party, as well as scripted shows like Casket of Passing Fancy, All Too Human, Sun and Moon, and dozens more.
“I am really touched that people were affected enough by this show and my performance to give them special recognition,” Taylor said. “And I was extremely honored to be nominated alongside the other actresses in my category. Being named in the same category as these women was a big deal for me.”
While it’s been a busy year for her on stage – she played Mina in Dracula at The Vortex last month – Taylor’s foundations in theatre date back to classes when she was 5 years old growing up in Austin. Around that time she met Carol Hagar.
“I’ve known Carol since I can remember,” Taylor said. “We were a part of the same homeschooling community (Austin Area Homeschoolers). This group was really close-knit, so I grew up with a huge extended family of peers, teachers and mentors. I also grew up taking theatre classes with her kids, so she’s been there for some of my most embarrassing and exhilarating moments onstage. And now, as my boss, she continues to see me through some of my greatest challenges and successes on a daily basis.”
The two qualities that resonate from Taylor’s background with Carol are also what feed her continued passion for theatre: opportunities to learn and shared community.
“Every play is an opportunity to learn something new. I have learned so much in rehearsal: projection, stage combat, dialects, Shakespearean verse, history, psychology, geography, singing, memorization techniques, different ways people overcome hardship, marketing tactics, stretching, empathy, golf, recipes for fake blood, you name it,” Taylor said. “I love the connection you make with your team and the wonderful conversations that theatre can spark with people.”
On top of leading Theatre at CP, Taylor also teaches Spanish. She was initially drawn to the language so she could communicate with all of the Spanish speakers in Austin, but dove in on a scholarly level in college.
“I did various study abroad programs in Spanish-speaking countries and taught Spanish-speaking children in elementary schools in Peru, Guatemala and right here in Austin before I started teaching Spanish as a foreign language at ATA CP,” Taylor said.
Taylor brings a passionate dedication to her students through her engaging and warm personality. It is no surprise that as she thrives in her role as a teacher, those two core characteristics are still common themes in her life: learning and community.
“CP sees everyone as a whole person,” Taylor said. “I’ve seen it in our approach to our students, but I’ve also felt it as a teacher here. The CP environment regularly helps me look beyond my degree and certifications to learn, grow, and share more of my potential as a teacher and as a person. It is a very empowering place to work and I am extremely grateful for my College Prep family.”
Tonight, Taylor begins rehearsals for her next role in As You Like It with Shrewd Productions at Trinity Street Theatre running Feb 19-March 5th. Learn more here.
ATA CP Senior Erik Kerrigan Commits To University Of Chicago
ATA College Prep Senior Erik Kerrigan announced to his classmates and teachers last week that he plans to attend the University Of Chicago next fall – the number 4-ranked national university and the number 3-ranked NCAA Division III tennis program in the country.
“I am looking forward to stretching my mind and expanding my horizons at one of the top 5 universities in the world,” Erik said.
Earlier this month, Erik was also named a Commended Student in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program.
About 34,000 Commended Students were recognized this year for their exceptional academic promise. Commended students placed among the to 5{37ef6ac642fae6f93f343032eb62785d28fa7a25a4a4f0267a12512c541c53a9} of more that 1.5 million students who entered the competition by taking the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
“I felt very prepared for the test,” Erik said. “The best way to do well on these tests is to do enough practice that you have effectively seen any kind of problem that will be asked.”
Erik specifically appreciated the guidance he received from ATA CP’s math and science specialist, Bryan Rutherford.
“Mr. Rutherford did a fantastic job when I came to him asking for help. He provided me with practice materials and was willing to take some of his free time to go over problems with me.”
Erik has been part of the ATA program for 6 years, and began ATA CP as a sophomore. Since beginning College Prep, Erik has become one of the best tennis players in the state. He is learning the importance of managing his time and his energy, thinking creatively and mastering problem solving, all of which are important preparation for a successful collegiate scholar-athlete.
“The biggest positives about CP for me include small classes, easy to access teachers, and lack of busywork,” Erik said. “All work assigned will help you grow, not just take up time.”
Erik’s daily routine at CP begins with a morning workout 7:45-9:30AM. He steps off the court and into school, selects a taco for breakfast and prepares for his CP Leadership meeting. Following a college block schedule, he moves from Computer Science to Debate to English Literature to Government to French on MW&F, and from Linear Algebra to Anatomy & Physiology on T & Th. His private lessons and fitness programming are interwoven throughout his days. Often, he finished with afternoon practice from 4-6PM and fitness from 6-7PM.
“I like that at CP, you can always find your teachers for help, and that classes don’t assign a lot of homework simply to take up time, they assign what needs to be known.”
This rigorous academic load is designed to prepare Erik and the other students for what comes next at a top-tier academic school. The intensity of two-a-day workouts, small group intensives, and individualized lessons are preparing him for elite college fitness training.
Erik will join a Men’s Varsity team at UChicago that competes in the NCAA DIII and consistently finishes in the top 5 nationally.
“I am looking forward to the challenge of making the lineup at a team contending for a National title, and being a leader on that team going forward.”
According to U.S. News & World Reports, the University of Chicago ties with Stanford and Columbia as the number 4-ranked national university. Erik will predictably step into a competitive environment with some of the brightest young adults in the world, including future teammate and ATA CP alum Liam Leddy.
“We’re very excited to have Erik joining us next year,” Liam said. “While I will have graduated by the time Erik gets to campus, it’s nice to know that ATA CP will still have representation on the team and at the university. I know that Erik will better the team, and UChicago will better him on and, most importantly, off the court.”
While the experience of living away from family and having a new setting around him are exciting, ultimately, it is the people he will spend his time with that set U of Chicago apart from other options.
“I think the combination of being near a big city, coupled with a great group of guys on the team, and a laid back coach made it a perfect combination for me.”
Inside An ATA College Prep Morning Practice
The ATA College Prep students take the courts at 7:45am for morning workouts every day. The group, typically led by ATA’s Head Coach Doug Davis, will practice until 9:30, when they grab some breakfast and transition to their first class at 9:45am.
While most will end the day with normal Academy practice from 4-7pm after a full day of classes, the morning practice presents an additional opportunity for the CP student-athletes to focus on specific goals and get individual attention.
Recently, morning practices have been structured with half the group in live-ball situations, while the other half works through three drill courts that are the same each day until the goal is met.
“There are foundational shots and patterns worked on the least in typical daily practice,” Coach Davis said. “We are focused on those shots and patterns that will benefit our players significantly, and we’re focused on them long enough so they can master them.”
The three drill-courts:
- 3-Shot Combo: Transition shot, with the first volley hit through the court and second volley angled off.
- Serving court
“Of course a serve court, because serving is just so important,” Davis said.
- Inside-Out Forehand Pattern court
“These are fundamentally important enough that we need to master them and we as coaches are dedicated to sticking with them until then,” Davis said.
Each court has a coach and typically no more than a handful of players at one time. This small ratio allows for the most possible individual attention and the fastest progress.
“We are starting to see results in tournaments,” Davis said.
Chase Bartlett, a senior at CP, agreed that the focused attention is paying off.
“I definitely feel better in transition specifically since focusing on it in practice,” Chase said. “I feel much more comfortable executing transitions and coming to the net recently. And, my inside-out forehand followed by drop shot is getting really good,” Chase said with a smirk as he headed to class.
ATA CP Senior Payton Holden Commits To Princeton University
ATA College Prep Senior Payton Holden recently announced that he plans to pursue his academic and athletic careers at Princeton University – the number 1 ranked national university – next fall.
“The main thing that drew me to Princeton was the high academic level,” Payton said. “No one in my family has ever attended the Ivy and I think it will be a life-changing experience.”
Payton first came to ATA nearly nine years ago, learning QuickStart tennis skills and having fun with the game. Today, Payton is amid his 5th year in the ATA College Prep program, has blossomed into a top national-level tennis player and is a standout student in a challenging academic environment.
“Payton Holden is the sort of young man ATA and ATA College Prep were designed to help,” Coach Jack Newman said. “He struck his first ball as a wide-eyed 9 year old and has been a top US junior tennis competitor the entire 9 years since. With his latest accomplishment of committing to Princeton University, Payton joins the ranks of ATA players who have used their tennis and academics to leverage their college choice. He joins former students like Jeff Offerdahl (Vanderbilt), Grayson Broadus and Josh Hagar (Notre Dame), Spencer Chiu (Pomona) and Camilla Trapness (Amherst) in an exciting adventure of college tennis and academics.”
Athletically, Payton will join a Princeton Tigers team that competes in the Ivy League alongside schools like Harvard and Yale. The group finished 2015 ranked 36 in the nation, logging a record of 19-8.
“I am so excited for the team aspect of college tennis,” Payton said. “Anyone who knows me will say that I am a people-person, and being with a group of 10-12 guys all working towards the same goal will create something special in the end.”
Academically, Princeton is the number 1 ranked national university according to U.S. News & World Reports. For Payton, it is the opportunity to grow that he is most excited about.
“I am excited to have my mind blown,” he said. “School will be extremely difficult and I am excited to see how I handle it and how it changes me as a person.”
Payton started this school year as a junior, but decided to graduate early when the opportunity became available. This is one example of how CP works to maximize students’ college opportunities through individualization and planning.
“One of our foundational principles is to provide opportunities that help a child move from where he is to where he wants to go,” CP Director Carol Hagar said. “Because of our flexible learning schedule and individual academic planning, Payton was able to explore advanced placement, high school credit courses at a very young age. He began typical high school freshman courses during his 7th grade year at CP and has been able to continue at an accelerated pace. Now he is exercising his option to graduate a year early and attend the school of his dreams, Princeton University.”
In his years at CP, it is learning to get the most out of himself that stands out to Payton as what will stick with him moving forward.
“ATA CP has taught me the responsibility to manage my own time,” Payton said. “Its schedule is similar to a college schedule, so it has made me comfortable with learning certain topics on my own between classes and completing school work while on the road.”
While Payton logged long hours to earn his place at Princeton, he gives credit to his long-time coach, Jack Newman, for the long-term plan and ultimately opening the door.
“Coach Newman is a college process guru,” Payton said. “He knows everyone, but more importantly every coach knows who he is and respects him as a coach. He has a very good reputation with college coaches and it allows him to get his students more opportunities.”
Beyond forehands and physics, Payton will head to Princeton armed with other tools that he also credits to his time at ATA.
“ATA has taught me a strong work ethic and to enjoy the struggles on and off the court,” Payton said. “When you encounter any adversity and overcome it, you grow as a person/player.”
Congratulations, Payton, and go Tigers! Join the community at ATA on Nov 11th to celebrate Payton at his official Signing Ceremony party.
UT Neuroscientist To Speak To CP Students Tuesday
Dr. Kimberley Raab-Graham, a Professor of Neuroscience and a Principal Investigator in the Center for Learning and Memory at the University of Texas in Austin, will speak to the ATA College Prep students and teachers on campus this Tuesday.
“Dr. Raab-Graham and her graduate students will give a presentation to our students describing some of their work, and how our memory works,” CP teacher Summer Messer said. “Students will also be broken into small groups for learning activities.”
Her group researches molecular mechanisms used during learning and memory, focusing on how synapses transform the makeup of protein in a site-specific manner in response to changes in the activities of neurons. Their goal is to discover how different cellular mechanisms are manipulated in mental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.
Dr. Raab-Graham’s research has been published in several scientific journals including Molecular Psychiatry, Neurobiology of Disease, and Journal of Cell Biology.
“We are excited for the opportunity to host and hear from Neuroscientists performing cutting edge research in their field,” Messer said.
For more information on Dr. Raab-Graham and her research go to https://clm.utexas.edu/krglab.
ATA College Prep Senior Hunter Bleser Commits To U Of Virginia
Hunter Bleser, a senior at ATA College Prep, recently accepted a full scholarship offer from the University of Virginia, where she will extend her academic and athletic careers beginning next fall.
“Virginia, for me, hit a home run in every aspect that I was looking for in a college,” Hunter said. “They have an incredible athletic program and are one of the top ranked schools in the country academically.
The University of Virginia was ranked the number 3 best public university in the United States according to the 2016 U.S. News and World Report rankings. Founded by Thomas Jefferson as a research university in Charlottesville, UVA enrolls about 15 thousand undergraduates and another 6 thousand graduates on campus.
“I’m excited to push my mind to its full capabilities and to have the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the brightest people out there,” said Hunter.
On the court, Hunter will look to contribute to a Cavalier team that finished the 2015 season ranked 9th in the country. Athletically, Hunter said she is most excited to push her limits and improve.
“To have the long days where I know I’m going to be completely exhausted when I get back to my room every night and to have the practices where I feel like I’m going to die. That to me is the best part.”
Her choice ultimately came down to the University of Kansas and the University of Minnesota besides UVA. For Hunter, Virginia presented the best opportunity to excel to her full potential both academically and athletically, which is what she is most looking forward to at the next level.
“Initially though, I would have to say the academics are what drew me to it. The great athletics program was just icing on the cake,” Hunter said.
Hunter joined the ATA College Prep program the summer before her senior year. She has thrived in a program that focuses on direct preparation for the environment of high-level academics and athletics into which its students will move.
“ATA CP is different from my previous school because it is more accommodating to my busy schedule but in a college set up. The longer classes and the block schedule really makes you work harder and focus more than my previous school did. The teachers here are more understanding with my busy schedule but they make a point not to take it easy on me just because of that. ATA CP definitely gets you ready for a more college-like setting than your typical public school.”
Preparation for and guidance through the college process is a pillar of ATA CP, and was something that stood out to Hunter.
“ATA tremendously helped me in my college process. They explained to me what exactly it is coaches are looking for and encouraged me to play my game just the way it is. They also went above and beyond with helping me get connected to my dream school. I truly owe this program everything and these coaches everything!”
For Lucie Schmidhauser, her primary coach at ATA, Hunter deserves all the credit.
“Hunter impressed me from the start with her willingness to do whatever it takes to get better as a tennis player. She has a big upside that will allow her to be a successful collegiate tennis player at the University of Virginia. Her height, huge forehand and aggressive gamestyle will make her a force to be reckoned with at the highest levels of collegiate play. Hunter is also very coachable, humble and hard-working and these qualities will serve her well in the future, on and off the court.”
ATA College Prep Director Carol Hagar also praised Hunter.
“I am incredibly proud of Hunter! She came to ATA CP in full force and has taken full advantage of all that is offered here. Her positive attitude, academic diligence, and compassion for her classmates will definitely complement her future successes at UVA.”
Congratulations, Hunter!
ATA College Prep: Growing Excellence
Several years ago, as Josh began to invest more time in tennis, and I in the ATA community, I began to envision an educational support system that could better equip Josh for a college future that included tennis. I combined my academic philosophy and love of education with Josh’s love for tennis, and together with Coach Newman’s established ATA vision, we created the seeds of the community school, which is now ATA College Prep.
English I/II with Ms Wheat
During the past 7 years, these seeds continue to grow and flourish through many branches. ATA CP is now a fully accredited private school with 12 dedicated instructors. Our curriculum continues to evolve as rapidly as our students’ minds. Our graduates continue to leverage excellent college placement. And our facilities continue to improve to better serve the community.
Spanish class with Ms Flanagan
This summer, the ATA CP classroom facility was moved onto the ATA campus. As with many transitions, it brought along with it growing pains. Offices, pro shop, people and equipment were displaced and scattered in construction. But with the focus of the overarching vision and mission, and guidance of the ATA leadership, the community is in full bloom once again. Courts boast beautiful new surfaces; ATA CP classrooms are light and bright; the new pro shop offers a welcoming front to our members and visitors at the south entrance of the fitness center, which is redesigned for maximum efficiency.
Kristin and Callie practice vocabulary
The Austin Tennis Academy is a community of coaches, teachers, parents, and student athletes committed to living the sport of tennis. The ATA facilities and our entire staff continue to improve so that we may offer the very best in developing tennis, academics and character in junior student athletes and future citizens of significance.
Abigail annotates Emerson as Payton dives into his textbook.
By: Carol Hagar, Director, ATA College Prep
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
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.