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July 23, 2007
ATA Hosts Spenco Open June 15-17--Academy Students Compete in 17 Draws
The June Spenco Open enjoyed a mostly clear weekend, missing nearly all of the unseasonably relentless summer Texas rain to complete a great tournament. In 17 draws, Austin Tennis Academy students competed on their home courts as hosts to juniors from across Texas. Several ATA students won draws while many great matches were played. This tournament is one of 4 the ATA hosts to give our players the advantage of playing on their home courts and sleeping in their own beds while pursuing their tennis results.
In the boys 10s singles draw (1) seed Seung Min Kim advanced to finals, beating Adrian Castognola on his way. In the final, Kim battled Payton Holden, winner of three matches. Holden outlasted Kim, winning 9-8(3) in the final. Zach Knezevich gave a great effort playing in the 10s draw as an 8 year old.
In the qualified boys 12s draw, Josh Minor lost a very close 10-8 in the third match to Tristan Wise. Minor then won the 12s singles back-draw without dropping a set. In the same division, Conor O’Meara defeated Matthew Chappel in the first round. In the girls 12s qualified draw, Maggie O’Meara won two matches without dropping a set on her way to the Spenco 12s title. Maggie defeated Ashley Stallard 6-2, 6-4 in the final. Meg Cahill fought hard, nearly winning the back-draw 12s title, falling in the super-breaker.
In non-qualified girls 12s action, Carli Knezevich fell to finalist Abigail Chiu in her first match. Knezevich went on to win the back-draw in convincing fashion, 6-0, 6-0 in the final. In one of her first USTA tournaments, Remi Immler nearly won a back-draw match, falling to Lauren Legg 10-8 in the super-breaker. Molly Fisher fell in the final to Abigail Chiu, while Savannah Brilliant fell to both main-draw champ Chiu and back-draw champion Knezevich.
In the boys 14s qualified draw, Charlie Shin won five matches to win the draw. Shin played well to consecutively beat ATA teammates Josh Hagar in the semi-final 6-0, 6-4 and Matthew Sparks 6-0, 2-6, 6-1 to take the title. On his way to the final, Sparks won four matches, employing timely play to advance by super-breaker win 3 times. Colton Malesovas won a well fought match in the super-breaker over (5) seed Andres Hasfura before falling to Josh Hagar in straight sets. Fitzhugh Mullins won three matches, advancing to the semi-finals where he fell to Sparks in a battle: 6-7(2) 6-2, 7-5. Cliff Brookshire won two back-draw matches after dropping a close opening round match. Greyson Brilliant lost a close first round match 10-7 in the super-breaker. A strong athlete with a basketball background, Jaxon Immler played hard in his first USTA experience, competing in the 14s non-qualified division. Garrett Callen and Justin Rowley played a close semi-final match with Callen prevailing in the Super-breaker. Callen fell to draw winner Brian Chang in the final. Even keel Luke Brown outlasted a game Daniel Howell in the first round 3-6, 6-4, 11-9.
Brittany Brewster lost a marathon first round 14s qualified match to Lynsey Maciolek, then rebounded to win two back-draw matches for the back-draw title. Brewster lost her first round match 10-6 in the super-breaker.
Cameron Relic won the 16s qualified draw, coming from behind to defeat Kyle Grandin 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. Esteban Kaufmann won two matches before falling to Nicholas Ellis in two close sets. Blake Daniels won a one-sided first round match. (6) seed Nathan Cooner then took Daniels down in three sets. Daniel Wang lost a second round match in 3 close sets.
In girls 16s qualified action, Grace Mullins fell in the first round to draw champion Andrene Dabaghi. Mullins then advanced to win the back-draw title with a solid performance over Kate Cahill. After dropping her first match, Kate Cahill rebounded to win three matches on her way to the back-draw final. Claire Cahill won two main-draw matches, including a three set win in the second round. Jessica Waite played hard in two close matches. Christine Schatz gave a great effort in her first round match, a 3 set loss to Stephanie Maldonando. Schatz rebounded to make Kate Cahill play her best tennis in the back-draw. Laura Servise won her first round match 4-6, 7-6(6), 10-8. Servise put forth a similar stellar effort in a narrow second round loss.
The boys 18s qualified draw featured higher level tennis. Jonathan Stockdale won two matches before falling to eventual champion Warren Thayer. Richard Corbyn won a close first round match over Patricio Carregha, 10-8 in the super-breaker.
Congratulations to all Austin Tennis Academy competitors and everyone who played in the Spenco Open! Also, thanks to Spenco for their continued commitment to Texas junior tennis. The Austin Tennis Academy looks forward to another great Spenco Open later this Fall.
Posted by Jim at 8:34 PM | TrackBack
North Richland Hills Champ Major Zone Update: Waite, Wang Super Qualify, Many Great Results
Austin Tennis Academy players and coaches traveled to the Dallas suburb of North Richland Hills to compete in the July Champ Major Zone. ATA students played courageously and with good sportsmanship.
10 year olds Dylan and Zane Ritter competed in the boys 12s draw. Dylan Ritter won two main draw matches, including a 10-8 super-breaker win over Benjamin Wegendt in the second round. Zane Ritter played every point hard in a close two set loss 7-6(4), 7-5 to Hank Golman. After singles, the Ritter brothers teamed up to win the doubles title 8-2 over Jones and Powers in the final. Rohan Makhija lost his opening round but played with remarkable grit and a great attitude in a back-draw loss. Playing in Houston, Benjamin Williamson competed hard, losing two matches.
In boys 16s action, Pierce Huchton won two main-draw matches, including an upset win over (3) seed Hong Suh 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. Cliff Brookshire lost his opening match, then rebounded to win two matches and the back-draw title. In boys 16s, Daniel Wang won three matches, including a come from behind 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(6) semi-final win to secure his SuperChamp qualification. In the 18s draw, Richard Corbyn won a close contest 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-2 to earn a semi-final spot. Corbyn then fell in two close sets to draw champion Brad Nixon.
In girls 12s action, Allie Carlisle won a close 10-8 in the Super-breaker match before falling narrowly in her next match. Meg Cahill played hard and with good sportsmanship in two matches. In the girls 16s draws, Jessica Waite lost her first round match 10-5 in the super-breaker. Waite rallied to roll through the back-draw without dropping a set. Jessica’s three wins in North Richland Hills secures her SuperChamp qualification.
Similarly to Waite’s run, Christine Schatz dropped a close three setter to start her tournament, then rallied to win three back-draw matches. In her final match, Christine forced Catherine Hunter to a third set, with Hunter taking the final frame 6-3. Victoria Noetzel lost the first set of her first round match 0-6. Victoria rallied to win the second set 6-3 and the super-breaker 11-9, a remarkable turnaround win. Zoe Kearl won her opening match 6-1, 6-0 before falling to Claire Bulkely 6-0, 6-1.
Congratulations to Jessica Waite, Daniel Wang and all the Austin Tennis Academy competitors. The ATA players and coaching staff look forward to another great Champ Major Zone in Corpus Christi in August.
Posted by Jim at 8:24 PM | TrackBack
Amarillo/San Antonio SuperChamps: ATA Competes in the Heart of Texas Section Season
Austin Tennis Academy students enjoy their busiest season through July and August. As the junior tennis season and the outside temperatures heat up, ATA students travel across Texas, competing in important Sectional events.
Amarillo hosted the 12s and 14s SuperChamps. In girls 14s singles action, Brittany Brewster won her first round 6-2, 6-0 over Delaney Schroeder. Brewster then fell in three sets in the second round. In boys 14s, Charlie Shin defeated Octavio Canibe 6-2, 6-3, then lost to (9) seed Adrian Garza in two sets. Matthew Sparks won a war, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, then fell to (5) seed Eric Hutchinson in straight sets. Sandor Csimma lost a close three set match in the back-draw, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Colton Malesovas played a tough first round match, falling in three sets to Naveen Fernando.
The 16s and 18s SuperChamps competed in San Antonio. Jeff Offerdahl lost 7-6(5), 6-1 to Jacob Straus in the first round. Offerdahl then found his best game, winning five consecutive matches without losing a set to win the back-draw. Esteban Kaufmann fell twice in three sets, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 to Daniel Kil in the first round. Kaufmann then nearly won a great contest, outlasted by Austin Garrard 2-6, 7-6(4), 10-8. In 18s action, Jonathan Stockdale defeated Will Benesh 6-4, 6-2 in the first round.
In girls 16s action, (3) seed Jill Saunders advanced to the finals without losing a set, including a semi-final 7-6(4), 6-0 win over Casey Johnson. ATA teammates Hailey Posas and Claire Cahill faced off in the back-draw. Posas outlasted Claire in a 3 set dual. Hailey went on to win one more match before falling in the quarter-finals of the back-draw. Shannon McLellan fell in the second round to Cristina Lopez. Kate Cahill fell in two close sets to Kendra Casey. In the 18s, Mary Bain opened with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Emily Lampman. Bain then fell to (5) seed Sophie Lanatta 6-3, 6-1.
Austin Tennis Academy looks forward to another great SuperChamp Major Zone in August in Tyler. Congratulations to all competitors in the Amarillo and San Antonio Super-Champ Major Zone.