Hello all,

Hope all is going well for you back in Austin. I thought I’d give you a little insight into life at DePaul University for a first-year student. The first few weeks have been a little hectic trying to adjust to a new schedule new people. The hardest thing that I’ve found about the differences between college and living with Coach Newman is that I don’t know what to do with all of my free time. Don’t get me wrong, I’m keeping plenty busy, but just know that no matter where you go to school, nothing will be more demanding then the College Prep program.

Colton Malesovas will pursue his academic and athletic goals at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. After extensively researching colleges all over the country, Colton confidently concluded that Whitman was the place for him.

“I decided that a small liberal arts school with very strong academics and a respectable and ranked D-3 tennis program were the most important qualities,” Colton said. “Once I knew what I was looking for, I was able to narrow it down.”

Colton first heard about Whitman when his college councelor suggested it as a good fit for his academic desires. He also looked into Pomona College, Claremont-McKenna, Washington & Lee and Sewanee.

“Coach Jeff Northam’s attitude and commitment towards recruiting me as a player ultimately set Whitman apart,” Colton said. “Once I took my visit to the school, I was completely sold. Both Coach Northam and his entire team were extremely welcoming and made me feel right at home in a place that is very, very far from my own home. “

Whitman is an independent liberal arts and sciences undergraduate college in the scenic southeastern corner of Washington. It has an enrollment of 1450 students, with a 9:1 student to teacher ratio. 

“They have an extremely modern and extensive science department that allows pre-meds and science majors to do in depth studies as undergrads,” Colton said. “Because Whitman is only a college and has no post-grad programs, kids are able to do research along side their professors as early as freshman year. I’m really looking forward to taking advantage of that rare opportunity.”

The Whitman men’s tennis team finished last season with a 20-4 record and ranked 20th in the nation. The have a 3-2 record to start the 2011 season, with their home opener this Saturday.

“Whitman has a competitive team that finished the year with a good ranking in D-3, so I’m really excited to come in, play in the lineup, and improve the team,” Colton said.

Colton explained that his time at ATA has prepared him for any challenge he may face while in college; that the demanding schedule and support system taught him to get through difficult times in tennis, and he will be able to apply that to what he faces going forward.

“I’ve learned how to fight through problems both physically and mentally to the best of my ability because of ATA,” Colton said. “I’ve also learned how to balance my time around a tough practice schedule through ATA. The rigorous training schedule coupled with my tough workload at St. Stephen’s has been a REALLY big challenge at times, and I’ve had to make adjustments in order to achieve a level of success that I am comfortable with. I know that Whitman will challenge me in both academics and athletics, but I also realize that it won’t be a new challenge. In a way, I’ve already done it.”

Austin Tennis Academy senior Jeff Offerdahl announced this week that he will join the Vanderbilt University Commodores after finishing his final year at St. Steven’s Episcopal School.

“The visit ultimately set Vanderbilt apart from other schools,” Jeff said. “It was my favorite visit because it had all I was looking for, which was a cohesive team that I could really see myself getting along with, a coach that I felt could develop me as a player the best (also a great, young, experienced assistant), and a campus that I really could see myself fitting into.”

This decision is the culmination of months of research and hard work beginning with an unofficial visit this past summer. Jeff and his parents traveled to Nashville to see the Vanderbilt campus and he immediately loved it. He also considered schools like Duke, UNC, Illinois and Notre Dame, before landing on Vandy.

“Vanderbilt has the combination of great tennis and great academics that Jeff is looking for,” said Jeff’s lifelong coach, Jack Newman. “Also, Coach D. at Vandy is one of the best developers in the country.”

Coach Newman explained that the choice to attend Vanderbilt came on the back end of a long college selection process beginning a year ago with emails to coaches, lots of phone conversations, unofficial visits and competing in front of coaches at national events.

“Jeff had 10 meetings with coaches at Kalamazoo after he was out of the tournament to help set up and pick 5 official visits,” Coach Newman said. “He visited all of the schools, evaluated them on 17 factors, and picked Vandy.”

Jeff is currently the number 3 ranked player in Texas, compiling a singles record of 34-5, and the number 14 ranked player in the nation, with a record of 93-28. Jeff joins a Commodores team that finished the year ranked 38th in the country and seeded 3rd in the region.

“I am most excited about having an immediate impact on the team,” Jeff said. “So far, 4 other recruits other than myself have committed. I am ecstatic to take this program, along with the other recruits from the class of 2015, to the next level and to heights it’s never been to, like winning a national championship. I also look forward to developing into the best player I can become with the help of Coach Duvenhage, who I know is going to help me quite a bit.”

Jeff is set to graduate from St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in May before enrolling at Vanderbilt in August. He explained how his time at St. Stephen’s has prepared him for the challenges of college academics.

“I know Vandy is a tremendous academic institution, so I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Jeff said.

Jeff has been part of the Austin Tennis Academy since it’s beginning. Coach Newman and the rest of the staff have watched him grow and mature into the young man he is today.

“His work ethic will bring up every player on the Vandy team,” Coach Newman said. “Jeff brings a level of intangibles as a player, competitor and teammate that made him highly recruited by many coaches in the country.”

A main goal of the ATA Academy program is to make players’ last practices and workouts at ATA just as challenging as the first practices in college.

“I think ATA has done a great job preparing me for college,” Jeff said. “I have been on 5 visits and see what the practices are like. The intensity of ATA practices and fitness sessions are not that far off. For some, college tennis might be a whole new level of practice and competing. But I feel that ATA has done a tremendous job pushing me to my potential, whether the coaches being on me in practice or in fitness, or to Coach Newman helping me in school and other personal things.”