Austin Tennis Academy News

April 23, 2009

Seven ATA Athletes Enter the Easter Bowl National Championships; Curry Takes Sixth

Since its debut in 1968, the Easter Bowl has been the pinnacle showcase for American junior tennis. Legends of the game like Sampras, Agassi, Davenport and Capriati have competed in the Easter Bowl National Championships. This year, seven of Austin Tennis Academy’s top junior athletes traveled to California to battle the nations best, and leave their lasting imprint on this historic event.

Chase Curry claimed four straight wins in his boy’s 16s draw, earning him a place in the final eight. In the round of 32, he outplayed A. Steinroeder, from Concord, MA, 6-0, 6-2. Next he face Utah’s K. Cullimore. Curry competed for the win, 6-1, 6-3 to log his pace in the quarter finals and secure a sixth place finish overall.

Brooke Hughes defeated Napa, California’s I. Heidenreich 7-6, 6-2 in her first round match. She then faced the seventeen-seeded H. Rochin out of Arizona. Hughes held her ground for a 6-3, 7-5 victory, reserving her spot in the round of 32.

Taylor Shamshiri opened play with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Tennessee’s Sean Karl. Next, he faced the number seven-seeded Dennis Mkrtchian from Reseda, California. Shamshiri fought for the first set 6-4. Mkrtchian responded by taking the second set in a tiebreaker, 6-7(4), and the decisive third set, 6-3.

Jeffrey Offerdahl defeated Carson Jones from Macon, CA in his first round match, 6-2, 6-0. Next, he defeated Erik Norland from Bloomington, MN 6-3, 6-3 to earn a spot in the round of 32.

Morgan Barnhill beat Indiana’s Macie Elliot 7-5, 6-1 in her first round match. She then faced the five seed S Gealer out of Los Angeles. Barnhill claimed the first set before falling in an epic match, 6-4, 4-6, 4-6.

Brittany Brewster drew the number seventeen seed, A Benotto Wood from Ojai, CA, first round. After dropping the first set, Brewster battled back to take the second and level the match. Wood ultimately took the third set and the match, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1. Brewster responded positively, however, earning two tough wins in the consolation draw. She then faced the twelve seed A. Osabuohien, again leveling the match after two sets, while falling just short in the third, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.

Blake Davis also traveled to California to compete against the nations best in the boy’s 18s Easter Bowl ITF Tennis Championships. In the first round he faced Filipp Pogostkin from Granite Bay, CA. Davis defeated him 6-3, 6-1 to earn his spot in the round of 32. There, he fell to Raymond Sarmiento, 6-2, 6-4, who defeated the number one seed first round.

"This group of ATA players are on the cusp of big breakthroughs" said ATA Head Coach Jack Newman. "Each had opportunities to beat higher ranked players and will do so in the future. Look for each of them to make moves this summer at the national hardcourts and national claycourt events."

These junior athletes proved by their successes that they are worthy of competing among the nations best. They have set themselves apart through an uncommon dedication to preparation that will only be more important going forward. Look for these athletes to build on their improvements each day at practice, and again showcase their hard work in tournaments to come.

Back to News Summary