February 8, 2008
Corpus Christi 16s and 18s SCMZ, Spring Heats Up for ATA, 18s for Offerdahl
As the spring Texas Section season moves towards the annual Texas Summer Grand Slam culmination, Super Champ Major Zone results are the major factor determining SuperNational qualification. With that prestigious goal in mind, some Austin Tennis Academy juniors clawed their way into contention at the 16s and 18s CORPUS CHRISTI OMNI CLASSIC. ATA Head Coach Jack Newman and Academy Coach Estevam Strecker were on-site in Corpus Christi.
Taylor Shamshiri won several back-draw matches, bouncing back from a close 1-6, 7-5, 6-1 first round loss to Devan Maharaj. In the back-draw quarter-final round, Taylor beat Nicholas Isbell 7-6(5), 7-6(5) in what ATA Coach Strecker described as a “high quality match. In other 16s action Conor O’Rourke proved he is a “more complete mental and physical player,” than he was only months ago, said Coach Strecker; Conor won four matches, beating (2) seed Hunter Goertz in straight sets and Ernest Trinh 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 to make the semi-final round. Matthew Sparks won two back-draw matches, beating Ryan Cash 6-2, 6-1 in his second win of the weekend.
After battling an early 2008 illness, Claire Cahill “put herself back into the Nationals conversation”, said Head Coach Newman. First, Claire avenged a January loss to Kristen Brikmanis, winning 4-6, 7-5, 6-0, then beat Jessica Gonzalez 6-0, 6-0 for her second main-draw win of the weekend. Zoe Kearl “competed, she didn’t just play hard, she played smart”, an important addition to her game according to Head Coach Newman. “With her ability to move well and hit powerful ground-strokes,” Kate Cahill can beat very good players, said Coach Newman. Kate played two matches and will look to build on her progress in March.
Due to his recent success in boys’ 16s, 15 year old Jeff Offerdahl played in the 18s division in Corpus Christi, winning the draw in his first Major Zone competition in 18s. Jeff beat (2) seed Roger Anderson in the final round 1-6, 6-0, 6-3. When necessary, Jeffrey “notched it up, he found a higher level”, said Coach Newman. Jon Stockdale won two main-draw rounds, beating Jorge Aguilar 6-1, 6-3, before a third round main-draw match-up with Offerdahl. In girls’ 18s action, Mary Bain won her first round, beating Heather Brien 6-3, 6-2 in the main-draw. Blair Jones competed in two matches. Head Coach Newman said Jessica Waite showed a “fighting attitude in her second match”.
Congratulations to all who competed in the 16s and 18s CORPUS CHRISTI OMNI CLASSIC. ATA will look to build on these great results at the March AUSTIN SUPER CHAMPIONSHIP MAJOR ZONE March 14th-17th. Register now, the deadline for entry is February 24th.
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