September 3, 2008
ATA Juniors Earn Impressive Wins Against Texas' Best at Excellence
The USTA Texas Section Super Championship Excellence offers the highest concentration of top super-championship players of any Texas tournament. With only the top 28 ranked eligible players invited from each division, Excellence represents a rare opportunity to compete against Texas’ very best. This year ATA’s representation was strong, with twelve players traveling to Dallas to compete. Coach Newman, Coach Moros and Coach Notis traveled with the team.
In the days leading up to Excellence, Taylor Shamshiri was still an alternate for the boys 16's draw, unsure if he would be selected to compete. When his name was finally called, however, he pounced on the opportunity. Taylor qualified for the main draw easily, where he fought for a three set win in the main draw first round. After going down to the number four seed, Shamshiri rebounded to log his second win of the weekend over a top ten ranked player and defending sectional champion, beating ATA’s Chase Curry 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Curry, the number one seed in the boys 16's, ended his weekend with two wins and two losses.
Also earning spots in the qualifying rounds, Chris Dale and Austin Mayo gained valuable experience playing two matches each.
Because of his strong results, Jeff Offerdahl had the option of stepping up from 16's and trying to qualify in the 18's draw, and he seized that opportunity. Jeff won his first two matches to qualify. The Main draw was an “incredible draw of 16 excellent players,” Coach Newman said. He faced one of the top players in the state first round David Holiner, who was the eventual champion.
Josh Hager, the third seed in the 14's, earned a win over Tad Humpal 6-0, 7-5 before going down in a battle, 4-6 in the third set. He went on to earn a win over the defending sectional champion Harrison Adams 6-3, 6-0 in the Consolation North draw final.
In the girls 14's, Brittney Brewster qualified to the main draw with two victories giving up a combined 3 games. She then battled the three seed and eventual finalist in a close three set loss.
Brooke Hughes played the 2 seeded and eventual champion Kelli Hine to three sets first round, before logging two wins on her way to the consolation final.
Claire Cahill and Morgan Barnhill represented ATA with pride, each earning second round victories.
In the girls 12's, Maggie Omeara beat Anna Dickens 7-6(4), 6-2. She went on to win the Main Consolation Southwest draw, 6-1, 7-6(6) in the final. Allie Burak also competed in the 12's division, gaining valuable high level experience.
The Texas Section Super Championship Excellence this past weekend represented an opportunity to showcase summer improvement and gain valuable experience against the best in the state. The ATA junior athletes represented themselves well, proving they belong, while learning what it will take to translate their success to a national and collegiate level. Next up for the 12's and 14's is the Abilene SCMZ, and the Waco SCMZ for the 16's and 18's.
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