ATA College Prep – Guest Speaker Series

Throughout the year, ATA College Prep brings in guest speakers who impact our students with thoughtful words of wisdom and inspiration. Often, the stories they tell spark future studies, compassion for others, and ideas for community service projects.

Recent speakers have included: Dr. Reginald Baptiste (cardiothoracic surgeon) and Mrs. Oksana Malesheva (physicist, first generation immigrant, and entrepreneur). Both shared amazing stories about how they grew into and continue to grow in their chosen life passions.

Last Wednesday in Leadership, ATACP students heard from ATA alumnus, Carla Rosenberg, as she shared some of the lessons she learned from tennis that she utilizes in her adult life as a successful entrepreneur. Listed here are her top 15 lessons.

1. Understanding winning and losing

2. Be coachable

3. Be prepared

4. Be decisive

5. You grow the most when you are uncomfortable.

6. Develop others

7. Integrity

8. The power of adjacency

9. Step up when the occasion arises

10. Produce results

11. Everything sends a signal

12. No one is perfect

13. Be flexible

14. Do the little things really well

15. Visualization

Take a look at her full speech:

Excellence is never an accident; it is always the result of HIGH INTENTION, DETERMINED EFFORT, and SKILLED EXECUTION. ~Carla Rosenberg

ATA Hosts, Coaches, Participates in USTA Early Development Camp

This past weekend, Austin Tennis Academy hosted the first Orange Ball USTA Early Development Camp of 2017. ATA coaches John Schoenmakers and Chad Loup joined other area coaches to create a collaborative environment for these Austin-area Orange Ball players. Many ATA athletes participated: Murari Ambati, Sklar Phillips, Pace Phillips, Sienna Sweeney, Anya Vikram, Tenzin Zorilla, Charles McEwan, Shaye Grant and Dane Grant.

EDC’s are a USTA Player Development National Camp Structure that aims to provide opportunities for the top U10 athletes and players in similar areas to train together.

Early Development Orange Ball Camps include a progression of themes that help with overall tennis and athletic development of the young players involved, and also include an informative and interactive parent presentation.

“The EDC is a great introduction into the Team USA training pathway of USTA player Development,” said Coach Loup. “We look forward to seeing these youngsters in our Academy one day, and even in Team USA National PD camps.”

The Trip to the Big Apple By ATA CP’s Harrison Chiu

The Trip to The Big Apple

By: Harrison Chiu

It is very challenging nowadays to succeed in a field which you have not had any exposure or experience in. Many recent graduates from college are currently struggling to find the jobs that they want because they don’t have any experience. What future employers really want to see in future employees is some sort of experience, record, or exposure so they can be adequately prepared to excel in that job.

Over Spring Break, Alejandro Rodriguez (another ATA College Prep Student) and I were fortunate enough to have a life-changing internship at Morgan Stanley in New York City. We were interning at the Morgan Stanley Wealth Management group called the Scotto-Sorenson Group.

We arrived on the evening of Monday, March 13th, and immediately went to dinner with our host, Mr. Trapness, father of ATA CP alum Camilla Trapness. We didn’t realize this before getting in, but there were serious warnings of an incoming blizzard that was supposed to hit Manhattan the following day. Sure enough, blizzard Stella did hit, which turned traveling to the office into a nightmare. Alejandro and I first took the subway for nine blocks of the trip, but we still had at least three more to make it. Walking in the huge blizzard and seeing everyone wearing at least five layers, some snow boots, and gloves, Alejandro and I were just a couple of freezing teenagers in suits and dress shoes trying to make it in the office by 8 AM.

We arrived at Morgan Stanley with only six other people in the office at 7:56 AM. A financial advisor from their group came to meet us in the main room, and he brought us into their office, where we met the rest of the team. Alejandro and I were asked to shadow a little bit of everyone’s job, as each person plays a different yet pivotal role on the team. We joined conference calls with hedge fund managers and people in the oil industry, and we also partook in a meeting with a smaller company presenting their business model to some of the analysts on the floor. Apart from doing usual intern things, such as going to get the team coffee and lunch, taking care of their printing and copying, and delivering checks next door, Alejandro and I got to experience the feel of a major workforce on Wall Street first hand. The experience of listening to the team deal with their clients and each other is something I would never be able to get in a classroom setting, just like Mike Scotto, leader of the team says.

The Scotto-Sorensen group is one of the biggest teams at Morgan Stanley, managing $2 billion of assets. In wealth management, their job is to take funds from clients and invest those to reach their client’s financial goals, for which they make a fee and a fraction of the returns on investment. Brokers need to know the market and have to excel at communicating with their clients. After talking with a few guys from the team like financial advisor Mark McCooey, he says that knowing how to invest for income, mastering salesmanship and having clear communication with your clients are just a few of the major skills required for the job. Alejandro and I agreed that, if we are going to work in finance, the investment side of the business seems more appealing than the brokerage side.

You never know where life may take you. Everyone in the office had a unique path that got them to where they are now. John Sorensen, the co-founder of the group, got a low-ranked job and made his way up, but it all started from his being a young intern at Morgan Stanley. Mark McCooey was working on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange for many years before the growth of technology drove his decision to go into Wealth Management. Jimmy Janecek, a younger financial advisor apart of the team, was a former basketball player for NYU, and he was extremely interested in sports journalism and broadcasting. After a long time of contemplation, he chose to go where he had previous experience because of an internship and started working for Morgan Stanley. Some always saw themselves working in finance, but for others, it came as a surprise.

What I take away most about the four-day internship was that no matter what, successful people surround themselves with people who can elevate their level as well as elevate the teams. A strong team camaraderie is essential. To be honest, a desk job doesn’t sound that appealing to me, but when you have a great team culture like they have, it makes the experience a much more enjoyable and efficient one. Also, as Alejandro says, he “got exposure of the inner working of the financial world and realized the social importance of the industry.” Going out for dinner together at Bobby Vans steakhouse was a tremendous experience. The atmosphere was hilarious and charismatic, but when they needed to get things done, they did. We got to meet many people, and knowing those people will “build a network which will help [us] a ton so [we] can call upon them in the future,” Alejandro says. Although they are widely known as the loudest room on the floor who break the most rules out of anyone, they define finance.

ATA College Prep’s Chiu, Rodriguez Named CATA Players Of The Year

Each year, the Capital Area Tennis Association (CATA) recognizes outstanding junior tennis players with a variety of awards. The tennis community comes together for an evening at the CATA Junior Awards Banquet to celebrate the winners of each distinction.

At this year’s banquet, ATA College Prep seniors Abigail Chiu and Alejandro Rodriguez will both be recognized as winners of female and male CATA Player of the Year for 2016/2017.

“I was honestly surprised when I heard I won,” Alejandro said. “So many high level players have received this award in the past, and to now be in that grouping is really special.”

A big part of the CATA awards is the example the winners have and continue to set for the younger tennis players throughout the Texas tennis community. While their paths to success speak for themselves as examples, Abi and Alej offered a few words directly for the younger student-athletes.

“To the up-and-coming juniors, my advice would be to find the right people to be in your corner,” Abigail said. “When you find the right people, you find yourself enjoying the process more, and that has always been the most important thing to me.”

For Alejandro’s advice to the younger generation, the focus is on the future.

“For me, I think the most important thing for up and coming juniors to learn is how to translate lessons from the court to all of the other areas of their lives. If you can apply the discipline, hard work, and resiliency that tennis teaches onto other areas of life, you can really excel at whatever it is you choose to do.”

While these are individual distinctions, winning the same award as seniors, and doing it together, makes it extra special for such close friends.

“It’s great to be able to win this with Abigail because I have seen first-hand the hard work and discipline she puts in to reach the level of success she has,” Alejandro said. “We have shared many great memories in the past, and with college approaching so quickly it is very special to create another one like this.”

This year, the CATA Junior Awards Banquet will be on Sunday, April 30 at the Crown Plaza Hotel. In looking back, both Abi and Alej again recognized the support system around them as a key factor in their success.

“I would of course have to credit my personal coaches: Brandon, Doug, and Dio for being the main three key people since I was 13 years old,” Abigail said. “Everyone has sacrificed, and put in their efforts towards me and my journey, but nobody more than those three.”

Alejandro agreed.

“Tennis might be a sport an individual sport but there is no way to make it all by yourself. I wouldn’t have achieved nearly as much without the amazing coaching staff at ATA. My primary coaches Brandon Davis and Dio Miranda have both been an incredible source of wisdom to tap into, my parents have been infallible in their support, and my teammates at the academy are a constant source of motivation. It really is a team effort.”

Congratulate Abigail and Alejandro the next time you see them before they head off to Dartmouth and UChicago!

The College Process Parent Meeting: RESOURCES

Last week, ATA College Prep Director Carol Hagar and ATA CEO Jack Newman hosted a Student and Parent Meeting for anyone interested in learning more about the college process. 50plus parents and many students filled the ATA Fitness Center to hear the presentation and ask questions.

In case you missed the evening, below are copies of the documents covered throughout the presentation.

ATA College Prep grad Hunter Bleser is now competing for the University of Virginia

Admissions Process: What are colleges looking for?

[embeddoc url=”http://www.austintennisacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Admissions-Process-What-are-colleges-looking-for-Harvard-1.pdf” download=”all”]

College And The Perfect Mix:

[embeddoc url=”http://www.austintennisacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/College-and-the-Perfect-Mix-1.pdf” download=”all”]

Dating Rituals of Elite College Recruiting:

[embeddoc url=”http://www.austintennisacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Dating-Rituals-of-Elite-College-Recruiting-1.pdf” download=”all”]

NCAA Tennis Recruiting Calendar:

[embeddoc url=”http://www.austintennisacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NCAA-Tennis-RECRUITING-CALENDAR.pdf” download=”all”]

Veteran Coach Chad Loup Joins ATA’s All-Star Coaching Staff

Austin Tennis Academy has hired veteran junior coach Chad Loup to become the latest addition to its all-star coaching staff, CEO Jack Newman announced last week.

“ATA is fortunate to have been able to hire Chad Loup, whose experiences include being a head tennis professional, a highly ranked player, as well as someone who is plugged into the Texas and USTA tennis communities,” Newman said. “His skill set will allow him to help ATA in all elements of our programs. His high energy coaching will be appreciated by any student he works with.”

Chad grew up playing competitive tennis in Humble, Texas. While studying Economics at the University of Texas, he worked for the Competitive Department of USTA Texas until 2011. Chad administered Regional Training Center Player Development Camps, as well as recruited coaches and players for USTA National Teams.

Coach Loup celebrates with ATACP’s Callie Creath during the 2016 ATA Scholarship Shootout

In 2011, Chad left the USTA to coach full time at Lost Creek Country Club, where he helped develop a junior program that was a leader in Ten and Under Tennis in Texas. Chad has served on numerous USTA Texas committees, including the Executive Committee and the Junior Tennis Council.

“I am thrilled to join the Austin Tennis Academy,” Loup said. “I have worked directly with ATA players, coaches, and parents for many years due to my involvement with USTA Player Development, as a Zonals Coach, and as a Tournament Director. Joining this team has been a wonderful transition because of my close relationships with the great staff here and the players who I have been fortunate enough to watch grow up.”

Outside of tennis and cheering for Houston pro sports teams, Chad keeps himself busy with a number of hobbies. On a weekend off, you might find Chad playing golf, seeing live music, catching a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse, trying new restaurants, camping, going to his families ranch, scuba diving, wake surfing, or just spending as much time as possible with his family and friends.

“I am so thankful for how kind and welcoming all of the ATA players and parents have already been, and I look forward to building new relationships within the community,” Chad said.

Coach Loup will work with most or all of the programs, ages and skill levels while he gets up and running at ATA.

“I plan to use my diverse tennis background to simply complement what I believe is one of the most experienced and passionate team of coaches in the country,” Loup said. “Mostly, I am looking forward to helping spread the ATA mission, and helping the players here grow as people and citizens of significance, as well as myself.”

ATA Parent & Student Meeting – The College Process

Next Tuesday evening, ATA CEO Jack Newman and ATA College Prep Director Carol Hagar will present an introduction to the college process for the student-athlete and parent. The presentation will begin at 6 pm, finishing with an open Q&A session.

“If you are the parent of a sophomore or junior who would like to play college tennis, or any high age student who is interested in learning more about how the college process works, please join us for an informational meeting,” ATA CEO Jack Newman said.

One of Austin Tennis Academy’s major goals as an organization is to help its players maximize their college choice. Academy and CP students have access to expert resources, services, and guidance to help each navigate the college recruiting and application processes.

“Each year, college-bound student-athletes should assess their goals and associated actions to determine if they are on track to lead to the desired futures,” Hagar said. “We offer educational workshops like this each year for parents and students to learn more and to ask questions about future possibilities.”

ATA has a proven track record of helping players to obtain college scholarships or to leverage their college choice. The community, led by Newman and Hagar, has earned tremendous success at helping players attend some of the most elite colleges and universities in the nation. Recent grads have gone on to Notre Dame, Princeton, Amherst, Pomona College, Claremont McKenna, University of Virginia, University of Chicago, Dartmouth as well as the Air Force and Naval Academies and several more.

We look forward to seeing you on the evening of the 28th in the ATA Fitness Center!

ATA Community Celebrates Chiu, Rodriguez, Hamilton at Signing Ceremony

The Austin Tennis Academy community came together last Wednesday evening to celebrate three ATA College Prep seniors: Abigail Chiu, Alejandro Rodriguez and Wilson Hamilton.

“This is one of ATA’s most important rituals,” ATA CEO Jack Newman said.

Newman explained that these rituals serve many purposes: they help make big changes – like transitioning to college – a little more manageable, they allow for the transmission of values and beliefs from our seniors to all of the JD and JA kids sitting up front, they contribute to the program identity, and they facilitate coordination between players, families and our community.

“I am certain that Abigail Chiu sat up here when she was very young and watched signing ceremonies, just like these kids are today,” Newman said.

The evening unfolded with the community celebrating the seniors one at a time, with a pair of coaches talking on behalf of the student, followed by a speech from each of the soon-to-be graduates. The group started with Wilson Hamilton who committed to Trinity University. Coach Luka, Wilson’s primary coach, said a few words on his behalf:

After Coach Luka’s speech and another by Coach Newman, Wilson addressed the group with his own personal message:

After Wilson signed his papers, the focus switched to Alejandro Rodriguez, who committed to the University of Chicago. Here is his message to the community:

After Alej signed his papers, Coach Dio and Coach Doug Davis spoke on behalf of Abigail Chiu, who committed to Dartmouth University. Here is Abigail’s speech to the group:

After all of the memories, thank-you’s, tears, and cheers, the community stuck around to share three cakes together – each decorated with one of the three logos of the schools celebrated throughout the evening.

For three seniors whose families all moved to Austin to be able to attend the Austin Tennis Academy, there was one common thread, one lasting sentiment in the speeches – it is the people, the community, the relationships that make the Austin Tennis Academy a special place.

“Tennis is a sport that will only take you so far, and if there is one thing I learned through the process, it’s that it is not about all of the titles you win, but rather about the people you get to experience it all with. If I think back to my happiest moments, it isn’t winning a Gold ball, it was getting to play with this amazing team,” Abigail said.

Texas Cup – ATA v Lakes – Recap, Pictures, Stories

This past weekend, ATA welcomed the Lakes Tennis Academy from the Dallas area for a Texas-Cup-style dual match. ATA came out on top 49-46 in one of the closest Texas Cups in the history of the 17-year competition.

“That was an absolutely epic weekend of competition!” Coach Brandon Davis said.

The Texas Cup format is similar to college tennis – very exciting, loud, spectator friendly tennis that feels more like a rowdy football game. The top 12 boys and girls from both academies played against each other in a round-robin format within 3 tiered groups of 4 that total 96 matches over 2 days.

Unlimited on-court coaching is allowed, with noisemakers, war paint, roaming bands of fans that impact matches like never seen in normal tennis events.

Academy, JA, JD, QS players, parents, and friends were there to support well into the evening in cold temperatures!

During Academy practice on Tuesday afternoon, the group paused for cake and ice cream after sharing positive, exciting, encouraging stories to celebrate the accomplishment.

Here are some of the highlights:

…Bottom 4 guys, Bailey, Garrett, Blaine, and Kyler, went undefeated – the first time in Texas Cup history a group goes 16-0….

…Marcus also went undefeated….

…overcoming match points that weren’t converted only to win in the third set…

…Daniela overcame two first-set losses to win twice…

‘I loved seeing Kyler go 4-0 – he really thrived in that environment.’

‘Abigail G really encouraged me and helped me pull in out when I was having a tough match.’

“I just loved the guest coaches. 1 little guy comes on to AJ’s match and at the end of the changeover says, ‘remember, it’s about having fun.’ AJ went on to win 4 straight games. I had multiple parents of those guys tell me that you guys are their real idols – that they look up to you guys, and you did a great job.”

‘You know how loud Max was on Saturday because he showed up Sunday with zero voice but still was there supporting through the last match.”

“I loved seeing our kids in uniforms – it was a sea of black and a sea of red – we were so connected – so together. It was amazing to see.”

“I am so proud of our players and coaches for all of the work and spirit they put in throughout the weekend!” Coach Davis said. “All of the credit goes to them. A truly inspiring performance by all.”

Live Webinar On Helping Kids Manage Stress in Sports – SIGN UP

Below please find more information about your invitation to a live webinar hosted by our friend David Benzel titled HELPING CHILDREN MANAGE STRESS IN SPORTS. The webinar will take place on Tuesday, March 21 at 9p.m. EST and will last 45 minutes plus Q&A. Register below!

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Invitation to a Growing Champions for Life

Live Webinar – hosted by David Benzel

Helping Children Manage Stress in Sports

Tuesday

March 21, 2017

9 p.m. Eastern

45 minutes plus Q&A

Register Now to reserve your spot for this FREE event

All athletes endure stress in sports, but why do some children have less, or handle what they have so much better than others? Identify the primary stressors in your child’s life, at school, in sports, and socially. Learn about the hidden resources your children already have available. Discover how to use three strategies for coping with sport-related stress and greatly reduce the side effects of not dealing with stress properly. Your child’s body, mind, and spirit will thank you later!

You will learn how to:

Identify primary stressors.
Use effective strategies for coping with stress and reduce the negative effects.
Gain the necessary skills for embracing stress so as to live a productive, satisfying, and happy life in a complex world.

David will connect the key life skills of the lesson with winning on the field, and in life. The PowerPoint materials are loaded with practical information worth saving for future reference.

Do you know someone who could benefit from this webinar? Feel free to forward this invitation on to them.

Thank you for participating and for helping Growing Champions for Life promote a healthy environment for growing confident principle-centered competitors.

David Benzel, Founder
Growing Champions for Life

(352) 267-5344

www.growingchampionsforlife.com

If you no longer wish to receive our emails, click the link below:

Unsubscribe

David Benzel PO Box 632 Groveland, Florida 34736 United States (352) 267-5344

ATA To Host Lakes Tennis Academy in Texas Cup Duel

This weekend, the Austin Tennis Academy will serve it up against the Lakes Tennis Academy in a Texas Cup style match on the ATA courts.

ATA’s top 4 players will compete against the Lakes’ top 4 in a round robin, ATA’s 2nd 4 vs. Lakes’ 2nd 4 and ATA’s third 4 vs Lakes’ third 4, for a total of 96 matches. Play begins Saturday 9am.

“This is a very exciting, loud, spectator friendly tennis match that feels like a football game,” said ATA Head Coach Doug Davis. “Please come out and support the team!”

Matches will go from 9am-3-4pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

All players in QS, JD, JA, Academy and CP are encouraged to attend to support the team, even if they are not in the starting lineup.

“This should be an incredibly motivating event for our younger competitors,” Coach Jack Newman said.

CP Students Visit Public Art On UT Campus

Today, ATACP students toured the University of Texas campus to view a few public art installations recently procured by the newly developed Landmarks Division.

“I really enjoyed getting to see pieces of modern art on campus this morning,” said Alejandro Rodriguez, a senior at CP headed to UChicago in the Fall. “It was very interesting to see how sometimes, the environment around a piece of art dictates the way in which that artwork will be created. I was blown away by some of the creative displayed by the artists, who took ordinary objects and presented them in a way that creatively showcased many different attributes.”

The students saw everything from a monochromatic sculpture made from 70 canoes to unique portraits of Austinites that eventually will be installed in the Dell medical school building.

This field trip was part of a larger unit at CP focused on the purpose and meaning of public art. Soon, the students own artistic creations will be on display in and around the CP campus.

“My favorite piece was called Monochrome of Austin, and it consisted of 70 canoes, 30plus feet in the air, leaning over the street,” Alejandro said. “It was incredible.”

A few more photos from the day:

KK, Jack and Wilson discuss their favorite portraits.

The students check out the perspective from inside one of the pieces of art.

Sasha and Caroline taking in the scene together.

ATA, AGOH partner for major water project, latest step in pattern of giving back

The Austin Tennis Academy (ATA) and A Glimmer of Hope Foundation (Glimmer) recently completed a project that provides the largest solar powered water supply development in the entire region of Tigray. The project, unfolding over about 3 years, delivers 9 water points and 3 cattle troughs to the Ethiopian villagers of Gonok who previously spent hours daily collecting only contaminated water.

This is the latest from a longstanding partnership between ATA and Glimmer. Since 2005, the ATA community has contributed more than $500,000 to AGOH towards a $1 million pledge.

Above is a picture of the solar panels that power the submersible pump that pumps the water that is 90 meters below the earth up to the reservoir.

“One of the founding principles when laying the framework for the Austin Tennis Academy was that students would be exposed to a series of life lessons,” ATA CEO Jack Newman said. “One of the most important life lessons is giving back to your community and giving to those less fortunate than yourself.”

Above is the Gonok reservoir that stores and distributes the water that is pumped from the deep borehole.

The latest water supply project made an immediate impact on the lives of the local community members in Gonok. Abeba, pictured below, used to spend approximately two hours per day fetching contaminated water from an unprotected spring at the bottom of a gorge. Now, one of the 9 water points is less than 100 yards from her home where she lives with her husband and children.

Above is a photo of Abeba (“Flower”) at her water point that is located 100 yards from her home. Abeba helped Breck Spencer on his “Walk for Water” in Gonok in the summer of 2010.

Another access point brings water to the Gonok Complete Primary School (Grades 1-8).

“The water point at the school is a game changer,” said Eric Schmidhauser, Director of Philanthropy at Glimmer. “Instead of students having to bring small water containers to school filled with dirty water from the unprotected spring about 1.5 kilometers from the school, they now have clean water available at the water point with its six faucets to accommodate hundreds of thirsty students.”

Beyond clean drinking water, the students are also able to practice proper hygiene that they learn in school at the hand washing station. In addition, female students now have more time for school since they no longer have to join their mothers on the walk for water to the bottom of the gorge and back in the mornings or afternoons.

Overall, the ATA community contributed about $150,000 to this project, with nearly 2/3rds coming directly from the ATA business. While that money could have gone towards any number of upgrades in the facility, ATA’s dedication to those founding principles makes giving back a continues priority.

Above is the exterior wall of the Gonok School, which has been decorated by paintings made by the teachers to serve as educational tools.

“The most powerful way to teach someone something is to show them,” Newman said. “By making a donation to A Glimmer Of Hope we not only talk the talk but also walk the walk of that life lesson of giving back.”

For Newman personally, much of the inspiration behind this value of giving back comes from a couple of trips to Ethiopia, one before starting ATA and one a few years after.

This is the handwashing station in front of the building that houses toilets on the Gonok School campus.

“Each of those trips resulted in a greater appreciation for all of the material and immaterial benefits that I enjoy being a citizen of this country,” Newman said. “It struck me as the greatest luck of the draw to have been born here rather than there. By making a commitment to Glimmer and by helping our students understand they’re lucky place in the universe, I hope to be a part of the balancing of the universe. By helping those with the least amount of resources, basic things like water, education and basic health care, it resonates with me that I am doing what I can.”

Many ATA students have felt compelled to contribute to this and other Glimmer campaigns, starting with Josh Hagar’s launch of Playing For Glimmer in 2008. More recently, Breck and Katherine Spencer raised awareness and funds through the Walk For Water and Bake For Gonok campaigns, while many other student-athletes continue to raise money and offer support in their own creative ways.Newman is currently preparing for his third trip to Africa in the coming weeks, when he will have the chance to visit the

Newman is currently preparing for his third trip to Africa in the coming weeks, when he will have the chance to visit the Gonok village and see first hand the global change to which ATA has contributed. Fittingly, he will travel with Ryan Berber and Santiago Montoya, both ATA alums who were there over 10 years ago when the founders set this lofty goal, and who are now past tennis and focused on their own ambitious goals.

The elevated pipeline in the photo is the beginning of 8 kilometers of pipeline that brings the clean water from the deep borehole well to 9 different water points that are spread out in the communities that make up Gonok, as well as 3 cattle troughs.

“When we started the Austin Tennis Academy we made a pledge to raise $1 million over 20 years on behalf of Glimmer. Big, hairy, outrageous goals like the million-dollar pledge also says something to our students about their own goals: SHOOT HIGH.”

To those who know him best, Newman displays a steadfast focus on what is best for his students and lives that out in every aspect of his life. Maybe nobody on the planet knows him better than Donna Berber, CEO and Founder of A Glimmer Of Hope.

“Coach Newman’s continued dedication to supporting the needs of the most vulnerable in our world is integral to the community he has built at ATA emphasizing the importance of giving back. Jack’s focus on giving has been steadfast since the early years of ATA, inspiring his students to become global changemakers who have compassion for those living in abject poverty in rural Ethiopia.”

Benzel: Teaching Kids to Manage Their Thoughts

Check out the latest from our friend David Benzel! And, take advantage of his upcoming webinar!

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Invitation to a Growing Champions for Life

Live Webinar – hosted by David Benzel

Teaching Kids to Manage Their Thoughts

Thursday

February 16, 2017

9 p.m. Eastern

45 minutes plus Q&A

Register Now to reserve your spot for this FREE event

Your child’s brain is very busy. It’s cranking out thousands of thoughts per day at lightning fast speed. Perhaps you’ve learned how to control your thoughts as an adult, but most children find themselves reacting to thoughts minute by minute and suffering needlessly from their own negativity. We must teach them that they are capable of managing those thoughts. This webinar is designed to help you teach some fundamental strategies to your children on this important topic.

You will learn how to:

Become the observer to your thoughts
Understand the relationship between thoughts and feelings
Replace unwanted or unproductive thoughts with healthier ones
Teach your children to choose powerful thoughts for sports and school

David will connect the key life skills of the lesson with winning on the field, and in life. The PowerPoint materials are loaded with practical information worth saving for future reference.

Do you know someone who could benefit from this webinar? Feel free to forward this invitation on to them.

Thank you for participating and for helping Growing Champions for Life promote a healthy environment for growing confident principle-centered competitors.

David Benzel, Founder
Growing Champions for Life

(352) 267-5344

www.growingchampionsforlife.com

If you no longer wish to receive our emails, click the link below:

Unsubscribe

David Benzel PO Box 632 Groveland, Florida 34736 United States (352) 267-5344

Rifkin Discusses Impact of Nutrition, Hydration and Sleep

Yesterday during Academy practice, ATA’s Josh Rifkin discussed the basics of how nutrition, hydration, and sleep give players the energy needed for training and recovery to be able to reach peak performance more consistently.

“It’s simple, if the physical and mental demands of your body are not met with the proper fuel, hydration and recovery to support what your asking of it, your energy and functioning will suffer which consequently has a major impact on the level of your tennis performance,” Rifkin said.

Take a look at his presentation below:

[embeddoc url=”http://www.austintennisacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/ATA-Nutrition-Presentation.pptx” download=”none” viewer=”microsoft”]

Help ATA’s Georgia Wright Contribute To A Great Cause

Georgia Wright has served up hard work around ATA for years as she has set and reached goals in her development as a high-level tennis player. Now, Georgia is hard at work towards another goal: contributing to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).

The South Central Austin Chapter of the LLS recently nominated Georgia as a candidate for their 1^st annual Student of the Year fundraising challenge, and she happily accepted.

“I could not be more excited to make a difference in the lives of patients across the country by raising money with family and friends like you for LLS!” Georgia said. “This cause is very close to my heart because my cousin Wendy is a survivor of Hodgkin’s disease.”

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is an amazing non-profit organization whose fundraisers help provide research for blood cancers (Hodgkin’s disease, myeloma, leukemia, and lymphoma). LLS offers support for patients, survivors, their families, and even helps to advance the science behind other cancers through its research. LLS has funded over $1 Billion in research towards a medical cure.

100{37ef6ac642fae6f93f343032eb62785d28fa7a25a4a4f0267a12512c541c53a9} of each dollar donated goes to LLS and is also a vote for Georgia and her team, which is comprised of ATA’s – Callie Creath, Brennan Foreman, Hannah Harrod, Kristin Kerrigan, Steffi Pitts, and Avery Schiffman.

Go to this link to read more about it.

Go to this link to donate and see her campaign page.

“THANK YOU for your support for a great cause and of both me and my Team in this fundraising challenge,” Georgia said. “PLEASE pass along and also feel free to post link on Social media. Super easy to share with friends on Facebook from the donation page.”

ATA All Stars Set To Dual St. Edward’s Men Tomorrow

A team of the top players in the Academy are set to take on the St. Edward’s University men’s team tomorrow at 4pm at ATA. The ATA All Stars will take the court against the Hilltoppers for 2 out of 3 sets of doubles followed by an 8-game pro set of singles.

“Having ATA players get the opportunity to play a college dual match against a real college team is invaluable,” Coach Jack Newman said. “Players can get a taste of what college tennis is really like on their home courts.”

The teams will square off in up to 5 lines of doubles and 10 lines of singles. Come out tomorrow around 4pm to see an exciting college-style dual match! Cheer on the ATA players while they compete against Hilltopper head coach Estevam Strecker, freshman Chase Bartlett and senior Charlie Shin.

What Does Your Child Imagine for this Life? – David Benzel

Check out the latest newsletter from our friend David Benzel, founder of Growing Champions for Life!

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Message from David

What Does Your Child Imagine for this Life?

As far as we know, human beings are the only mammals in the kingdom with an imagination. It makes us pretty unique. We have the ability to “see” something before it actually exists. We can imagine a light bulb before it’s invented, or even a lunar landing module, or an iPhone. Those things are invented…because someone believed it in their mind so the rest of us could see it with our eyes.

We can also imagine situations and circumstances before they exist. We can “see” in the theater of our minds things like triumph or defeat; being included or being excluded; behaving confidently or behaving fearfully. We’re capable of imaging almost any scenario, positive or negative. The manifestation of each scenario into a reality is just as likely, or more so, than the light bulb, lunar landing module, or the iPhone. Do our children realize the power of the brain, or that their imagination is within their control?

The human brain is a powerful tool due to its complexity and billions of connections (synopses), allowing thousands of thoughts per day at lightning speed. The good news is that we are the directors and producers of the movies we run in our head, even if it doesn’t seem that way sometimes. The part your child might not understand is that the sub-conscious mind does not evaluate the imagined scenarios as good or bad, healthy or unhealthy…it just accepts the movie scene and looks for ways to turn that fantasy into fact.

It’s a fact that in the absence of a positive desire, aspiration, or goal, the mind tends to imagine negative outcomes based on fears. The question is, do your children assume there’s no harm in dwelling on the negative or forecasting doom? Are they privately building a thought-life around negativity or “awfulizing?” — the downward spiral of thoughts in which one awful event always leads to a worse awful event, on and on! The bad news, and the good news, is synopses that fire together stay together, thus developing patterns of thinking for all occasions.

To inspire your children to make better choices with their built-in-movie theater, ask them to imagine the kind of thinking that must go on in the minds of people who invent things, or discover medical and technological breakthroughs, or who win academic and athletic scholarships. Thomas Troward once said, “The law of floatation was not discovered by the contemplation of the sinking of things.” If our kids understood the power of the brain, they would never allow themselves a negative thought. It’s our responsibility as parents to encourage our children to imagine progress in sports for themselves; to imagine healthy friendships; to picture a completed project or a successful final exam. They are capable of choosing a mental image of what self-discipline, patience, or forgiveness looks like before they are called upon to deliver it. Challenge your children to visualize what performing under pressure would feel like, sound like, and look like. Given the choice – which we all have – why would we ever imagine anything but victory for ourselves? “As a man thinketh, so he is.” – Solomon

Bonus Video Feature:

To Push or Not to Push

Please click here to watch To Push or Not to Push and complete your weekly Game Plan page so you can develop the skills for creating a natural learning environment.

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Plan Ahead For Spring Break Tennis Camp At ATA

This Spring Break, your child can take advantage of the Austin Tennis Academy’s tennis camps to progress at a rapid rate. These camps are designed to provide the greatest development of your child’s physical, mental, technical, and tactical performance levels. Sign up now for a full week or a single day!

Sessions

March 13-17, 2017

Times

QuickStart Camp 9:00am – 10:30am (age 5-8)
Morning Camp 9:00am – 12:00pm
Tournament Tough Training Camp 1:00pm – 4:00pm

Cost

QuickStart Camp $175/week ($40/day drop-in)
Morning Camp $300/week ($80/day drop-in)
Tournament Tough Training Camp $375/week ($90/day drop-in)

QuickStart Camp

9:00am – 10:30am ($175 per week or $40 per day)
The QuickStart tennis format used by the Austin Tennis Academy gives kids the opportunity to rally a ball over the net and learn to play points as quickly as possible – all in a fun environment. Our coaches recognize the importance of starting kids off well, and with success. The ATA was instrumental in developing this groundbreaking nationwide program and served as the pilot program for the USTA. This program uses the appropriate size racquet, court and ball to allow kids to do more – faster! Suggested Age: 5-8 years old.

Morning Camp

9:00am – 12:00pm ($300 per week or $80 per day)
Players will improve their game by learning fundamental skills, practicing game situations, and improving overall movement. Using the latest techniques and international innovations, players learn valuable athletic skills for tennis and other sports.

Afternoon “Tournament Tough” Camp

1:00pm-4:00pm ($375 per week or $90 per day)
Tournament players will improve their game by using competitive game situations, technical training and point play, as well as movement and flexibility training. This camp is limited to Champ and Superchamp-level. ATA Academy players will be training at this time.

Policies

Registration must be made online.
Payment in advance is required to reserve your slot.
ATA camps are held rain or shine. Indoor sessions are held in the event of inclement weather.
No refunds or make-ups for days missed.
Weekly rate applies to that particular week only (no carryover).
Medical Release and Hold Harmless must be filled out online.
Lunch may be purchased if ordered in advance for $7.
Players may leave credit card on file to cover pro shop purchases, lunch, etc.
Private housing may be available. Email info@austintennisacademy.com to inquire.
Early drop-off and late pick-up is available upon request for $50 per week.

Hagar’s Former Student Named Rhodes Scholar

Mikaila Smith, a former homeschool student of ATA College Prep Director Carol Hagar, member of ATA College Prep in 7th and 8th grade, and a lifetime Austinite, recently earned her spot as a Rhodes Scholar.

“I have been working with (and been a fan of) Mikaila since she was about 8 years old and it didn’t take me long to determine she was my vote for a future US president,” said Hagar. “I always tell children they can do and be anything they decide to put their intention and attention toward, Mikaila always took that to heart and continues to take advantage of every opportunity that comes her way.”

Mikaila is a Presidential scholar at the University of Texas with majors in social entrepreneurship and nonprofit management and Chinese. She joins 31 other Americans from across the country who earned the Rhodes Scholar designation over thousands of applicants from more than 320 American colleges and universities.

“I take it as an incredible opportunity and responsibility,” Mikaila said. “I am more committed and determined than ever to give back to my communities, to continue to work on issues I am passionate about, and to support the people around me. I feel honored and humbled, and I take this platform and opportunity very seriously as a way to engage with the world around me and work hard to contribute to the advancement of the issues I care about.”

Mikaila has always had a passion for reading, exploring, and helping others. She is multi-lingual, has championed several philanthropic efforts, is a certified yoga instructor, and currently working in New York at the United Nations before departing to Oxford in the fall to continue her studies.

“I am so very proud of this compassionate powerhouse,” said Hagar. “I know that she will continue to develop solutions, make things happen, and positively impact our world.”

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ATA College Prep grad Hunter Bleser is now competing for the University of Virginia

Coach Loup celebrates with ATACP’s Callie Creath during the 2016 ATA Scholarship Shootout

Invitation to a Growing Champions for Life Live Webinar – hosted by David Benzel

Helping Children Manage Stress in Sports

Invitation to a Growing Champions for Life Live Webinar – hosted by David Benzel

Teaching Kids to Manage Their Thoughts

To Push or Not to Push

Sessions

Times

Cost

QuickStart Camp

Morning Camp

Afternoon “Tournament Tough” Camp

Policies

Invitation to a Growing Champions for Life

Live Webinar – hosted by David Benzel

Invitation to a Growing Champions for Life

Live Webinar – hosted by David Benzel