Austin Tennis Academy News

March 6, 2007

ATA Qualifies Six New Champs and SuperChamps at March Tournaments

The Austin Tennis Academy qualified 6 players to Champs and Superchamps Statewide over windy weekend in ZAT and Champ Major Zone tournaments.

The ATA posted a great weekend in the San Antonio ZAT and the Georgetown Champ Major Zone. Several ATA players accomplished big goals, qualifying for the next level in Texas Section junior tennis.

At the Georgetown Champ MZ Shannon McLellan, Chase Kocher and Colton Malesovas won their draws, qualifying to Super-Champs. They all fought through tough opposition, three set matches and relentless wind. The swirling weekend wind favored the more mentally tough players, McLellan, Kocher and Malesovas proved their mettle in often frustrating conditions. Kocher's final opponent withdrew after 1 game with a pulled muscle, not the way Chase likes to win it, but he moves his athletic skills up to superchamp 16s for the next tournament. Shannon won her third set in the finals 6-0.

Austin Tennis Academy players dominated the Champs girls 16s draws, with 5 quarterfinalists, 4 semifinalists and 2 finalists. As they push towards Super-Champ status, the “16s girls are breaking through” said ATA Coach Cristina Moros. Christine Schatz beat #4 seed Kayla Garcia to make the semifinals before falling to fellow ATA competitor Claire Cahill. Kate Cahill beat Jessica Waite on her way to a semifinal showing. In the opening round, Shannon McLellan defeated teammate Adrian Turner 6-4, 6-2. McLellan and Claire Cahill both defeated one seeds on their way to separate draw finals. Shannon moved to superchamp 16s and Claire Cahill, who made two finals in two months will be moving up next month as she needs one more point to super qualify.

It is always an interesting and unpredictable dynamic, playing a teammate or regular practice partner in tournament competition. However, it is an important learning experience as it regularly occurs from 10s to the ATP tour. While ATA girls 16s competed against each other often, the ATA boys 12s advance without facing one another. Casey Shaw, in his first champ tourney, won his first round main draw before making the #1 seed in his draw go the distance in a second round loss. Josh Minor won his first round and lost a tough three set battle in the second round. Matthew Lee and Sled Allen competed well to make the main draw quarterfinal round in boys 12s. Ian Kocher advanced to the back draw quarterfinal round before falling. Greyson Brilliant won the boys 12s consolation draw he was in. Brilliant was “very professional and mature in his approach to the competition,” commented Coach Newman.

Eliot Blatt won the finals of the B14 consolation, leaving him 1 point short of superchamps. He will make short work of that goal in April. To make the final, both Blatt and Brilliant played great tennis.

Jonathan Stockdale also competed with maturity this weekend. Though he fell to Will Benesh in the quarters, J Stock fought courageously, making strides in tactics and strategy along the way. In a 3 set win over Bobby Spiller, Stockdale relentlessly attacked the grinder’s game, finishing big points authoritatively at the net. His willingness to play big points big puts Stockdale in position to compete at a high collegiate level.

The San Antonio ZAT results mirrored ATA’s success in Georgetown, with qualifiers and break through matches across many draws, genders and age groups. Meg Cahill, Charlie Shin and Drew Weinstock qualified for Championship level, while Will Douglass’ finalist honors draws him one single point shy of Champ 12s. In a non-qualifier tournament, Seung Min Kim won the boys 10s draw. Jessica Clouse was a main draw semifinalist, losing to the eventual winner 8-10 in a third set tiebreaker. Jessica has made fantastic progress the past few months. Luke Brown advanced to the semifinals of consolation in one of his first ZAT experiences.

In the 16s, Ford Rylander captured the consolation crown, while Pierce Kelley made the quarters of boys 12s. Other quarterfinalists in San Antonio were Carli Knezevich and Savannah Brilliant.

Back to News Summary