@ATACollegePrep – AUSTIN TENNIS ACADEMY

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20 ATA Players Earn Their Place at USTA L1 National Clay Court Championships

The Austin Tennis Academy is proud to announce 20 of our junior players qualified for the prestigious USTA L1 National Clay Court Championships, representing the pinnacle of junior tennis competition in the United States. This remarkable achievement spans across eight divisions, showcasing the depth and excellence of ATAs program.

National Qualifiers

Boys 12: Kush Purohit
Girls 12: Tabitha Wasserman
Boys 14: Andy Fan, Joey Wang, Quinn Deshazo
Girls 14: Stella Chambers, Penn Bailey
Boys 16: Gavin Golod, Finn Ashley
Girls 16: Lila Fuller, Annika Wriedt, Maddie Wasserman
Boys 18: William McEwan, Hayden Williams, Jonathan Seder, Alexander Wriedt, Martin Fernandez, Jaren Scarborough
Girls 18: Aya Manning, Ashley Petrauskas

The Journey to Excellence

Qualifying for a USTA L1 National Championship is no small feat. These 20 athletes have demonstrated exceptional dedication, countless hours of training, and remarkable resilience in the face of both victories and setbacks. Each player has embraced the grind of daily practice, the pressure of tournament competition, and the mental fortitude required to compete at the highest levels of junior tennis.

Their journey to nationals represents more than just tennis success; it embodies the character development, work ethic, and competitive spirit that defines what it means to be part of the ATA Pack. Through grueling training sessions, challenging matches, and moments of both triumph and adversity, these players have learned to do what Coach Newman always tells them: “embrace the suck.” They’ve proven they belong on the national stage not just through their victories, but through their willingness to face adversity head-on and grow stronger from every challenge.

A Special Thank You to ATA’s Tennis Parents

Behind every successful junior athlete stands a family that has made extraordinary sacrifices. To the parents of our national qualifiers, your unwavering support has been the foundation of this achievement. The early morning drives to tournaments, the countless hours spent courtside, the emotional support during tough losses, and the celebration of victories – none of this would be possible without your dedication.

You’ve invested not just financially, but emotionally and physically in your children’s tennis dreams. You’ve rearranged schedules, planned family life around tournament calendars, and provided the stability that allows young athletes to pursue excellence. Your commitment to your child’s development extends far beyond tennis, and we see the values you’ve instilled reflected in how they compete and carry themselves both on and off the court.

The sacrifices you’ve made – from family vacations that become tennis tournaments to supporting your child’s passion even when the path gets difficult – have created the foundation for this national-level success, is a testament to your belief in their potential and your willingness to support their journey.

The ATA Pack Behind the Champions

Success at this level is never achieved in isolation. ATA’s coaching staff, led by an experienced team of professionals, has worked tirelessly to develop not just skilled tennis players, but complete athletes and strong individuals. Each of ATA’s national qualifiers has a Primary Coach who serves as the coordinator for their individual program, ensuring every aspect of their development is strategically planned and executed. Every technical adjustment, strategic discussion, and mental preparation session has been tailored to each player’s specific needs and goals in preparation for national competition.

Coach Dio Miranda has been instrumental in the gym and on the field, focusing on prehab and rehab with his holistic philosophy of “Coaching people who happen to play sports.” His approach goes beyond just physical conditioning – he develops the complete athlete while nurturing the person, ensuring players have both the physical foundation and mental resilience needed to compete at the highest levels.

In the pro shop, Andrew Rohlfs provided the invaluable expertise of a master racquet technician, customizing racquets to ensure they match perfectly in weight, balance, and grip size. His meticulous attention to detail means ATA players never have to worry about equipment inconsistencies; they know every racquet in their bag feels identical, giving them the confidence that comes from knowing their equipment is dialed in perfectly for peak performance.

Let’s not forget the role their teammates played in helping these 19 players qualify. The daily training environment at ATA, where players push each other to improve, support each other through challenges, and celebrate each other’s successes, has been instrumental in preparing ATA’s national qualifiers. The hitting partners who provided countless hours of practice, the training partners who elevated the level of every drill, and the teammates who created the competitive environment that breeds excellence – they all deserve recognition for their contribution to this success.

Looking Ahead

As these 20 players prepare to compete at the USTA L1 National Clay Court Championships, they carry with them not just their individual skills and preparation, but the support of the entire ATA Pack. They represent the values ATA holds dear: hard work, resilience, sportsmanship, and the pursuit of excellence.

We couldn’t be prouder of what they’ve accomplished to reach this point, and we’re excited to see them represent Austin Tennis Academy on the national stage. Regardless of results, they’ve already achieved something remarkable by earning their place among the nation’s best junior players.

Good luck to each of our national qualifiers – the entire ATA Pack is behind you!

The USTA L1 National Clay Court Championships represent the highest level of junior tournament competition in the United States. Players must earn their qualification through exceptional performance in regional and sectional tournaments throughout the year.

COLLEGE PREP STUDENTS NAMED OUTSTANDING SCHOLARS

ATA College Prep is proud to announce and congratulate six of its students for being named outstanding scholars by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and College Board.

Fate MacAlasdair, Cole Kilian and Michael Malyshev have been Commended by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. They are among the 50,000 (out of 1.5 million) highest-scoring students in the nation on the 2023 PSAT. MacAlasdair and Malyshev have also been named as semi-finalists in this year’s scholarship competition scoring among the top 16,000 student test-takers in the nation.

The following CP students have been named as AP Scholars as a result of their excellent performance on AP exams. Marcus McWilliams and Jonathan Seder have been awarded as AP Scholars. Fate MacAlasdair has been awarded as an AP Scholar with Honors. Elliot Wasserman, Cole Kilian, and Michael Malyshev have been named as AP Scholars with Distinction.

These recognitions are a tribute to these students’ long-term dedication to study, work ethic, and perseverance. In addition to these student awards, College Board has named ATA College Prep to the 2023 AP School Honor Roll, with a Silver distinction. Founding Director Carol Hagar said, “We are proud of each of our students and instructors that comprise this amazing community of life-long learners.”

ATA PLAYER RECOGNIZED DURING TOURNAMENT

When you earn your way into the L1 National Clay Court Championships, you know you are going to have to grind. The surface is slow, the points are long, and, at least in the main draw, there is the prospect of having to play a full third set. This year 16 ATA players achieved the honor to compete in the annual event held each July. For one of these competitors, Fate MacAlasdair, this year’s event will likely stand out for a lifetime!

On the very first day of competition, Fate played and won the longest match of his life. Coach Newman remarked, “Most junior tennis players never play a three hour match, let alone a four hour and 15 minute match.” Through the scorching heat and stifling humidity, Fate fought valiantly against an equally-matched opponent. After the final ball was struck, Fate and his opponent came to the net exhausted and shook hands. Fate had won the match which went to three tie breaks, 6-7, 7-6, 7-6. For his efforts, Fate was awarded Player of the Day status for the B18 draw.

When asked about the accolade, Fate said, “It meant a lot to be recognized after such a long, first round match and I am grateful for the tournament organizers and my team.” Coach Newman is aware it wasn’t a chance happening saying, “Most players would not have made it through the sort of intensity and heat. Fate’s preparation over the past year has been outstanding! He has hardly ever missed a practice or fitness session. That year long preparation, as well as three hour practices this summer, put him in a position to be able to win such a challenging match. I’m super proud of the work he’s put in”

The legendary football coach Vince Lombardi is known to have said, ‘Luck is when hard work meets opportunity.’ We at ATA are glad Fate did the work without knowing exactly when, or even if, this moment would come!

ATA COLLEGE PREP INDUCTS INAUGURAL NHS MEMBERS

2023 marks the inaugural year of the ATA College Prep Chapter of the National Honor Society, and with that comes the induction of its first and founding members. The National Honor Society is one of the oldest, largest, and most widely recognized co-curricular student organizations in American high schools.

The induction ceremony will recognize eight students as founding members of ATA College Prep’s NHS Chapter, joining more than 1.4 million students across the country who are members of the NHS. ATA College Prep NHS inductees include: Cole Kilian, Fate MacAlasdair, Michael Malyshev, Aya Manning, Marcus McWilliams, Riley Mueller, Caiden Riebold, and Jonathan Seder.

Membership in local NHS chapters, such as ATA College Prep, is an honor bestowed upon a student by a Faculty Council and is based on the four pillars of NHS: scholarship, character, leadership, and service. Once selected, members have the responsibility to continue to demonstrate these qualities.

The purpose the NHS is to create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of secondary schools.

KENNA ERICKSON SIGNS WITH LSU

Austin Tennis Academy and ATA College Prep will soon be sending off one of their youngest players ever to attend college. That send off for Kenna Erickson begins with her Signing Ceremony, which are seen as a rite of passage for players moving out of juniors and into collegiate competition.

You’re invited to be part of the celebration happening the evening of Thursday, October 16. The signing ceremony will begin at 6:30 PM on Court 6 at Austin Tennis Academy. These ceremonies are special not only for the named player, but also inspirational for other players in the Academy as well as the entire ATA community.

Erickson will be 16 years old when she graduates in December from ATA College Prep; then in January she will head to Baton Rouge to play D1 tennis on the Women’s team at Louisiana State University.

OPENING DAY BRINGS MORE THAN A VICTORY FOR ATA PLAYER

Turning 17 couldn’t have turned out any sweeter for Elliot Wasserman while playing on opening day at the Boys 18 USTA Clay Court Championships in Florida. Not only did he break what he calls the birthday curse at Clay Nationals, but he won a third-set tiebreaker to upset the number six seed player, and he was named Baptist Health Boys 18 Player of the Day.

“It feels nice. I broke the birthday curse,” said Wasserman, who lost on his birthday each of the past two years in the 16s National Clay Courts tournament in Palm Beach County.

“Elliot Wasserman continues to be one of the hardest workers at the Austin Tennis Academy,” says Coach Jack Newman, Owner/CEO, Austin Tennis Academy. “His upset of a seed at clay courts is not surprising. He pays the price every day to be ready for that sort of opportunity.”

Click here to read the entire article written about Wasserman’s pressure-packed victory.

5 SENIORS TO GRADUATE FROM ATA COLLEGE PREP

Members of the graduating Class of 2023 will receive their high school diplomas coming up Wednesday, May 24. The five seniors include: Dakota Clark, Nico Jamison, Hannah Kinder, Katie King, and Ben Kotzen.

Commencement will take place on the grounds of the Austin Tennis Academy at 6800 Spanish Oaks Club Drive in Austin. Doors open at 6:00 PM for viewing of the senior tables with the graduation ceremony beginning at 6:30 PM. There will be a dessert reception immediately following the ceremony.

ATA RECOGNIZED AT STATE CAPITOL

A field trip to the Texas State Capitol by Austin Tennis Academy College Prep students and staff turned into something a little more special than just an ordinary outing. While at the capitol building in downtown Austin, CP students heard Representative Vikki Goodwin (D – District 47) read aloud in the House chambers a resolution recognizing ATA and its contributions to the area for more than two decades.

Resolution recognizing and honoring Austin Tennis Academy

DON’T MISS ‘EM! MARK YOUR CALENDAR

The end of the school year always brings with it two big events for Austin Tennis Academy: ATA College Prep Commencement and the End Of Year Party. Both events will be held back-to-back the week leading into Memorial Day weekend.

First up, graduation for the five seniors who make up CP’s Class of 2023: Dakota Clark, Hannah Kinder, Katie King, Ben Kotzen, and Nico Jamison. Commencement will take place Wednesday evening, May 24, on the grounds at ATA.

The following evening ~Thursday, May 25 ~ will be the End of Year Party where winners of this year’s Academy Awards will be announced. This event also takes place at ATA.

As soon as start times for each of the events have been finalized, this article will be updated to include that information.

NEW COACH JOINS ATA STAFF

Another alumnus returns to Austin Tennis Academy as the newest member of the ATA coaching staff. Jake Rother begins coaching duties on January 29th, more than a decade after attending ATA and ATA College Prep while in high school. Not only does Rother return to ATA, the move also brings him back to his home state of Texas.

For the past three years, Rother has been running the Barnes Junior Academy; held the Head Pro position at the Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego, California; and served as a hitting partner for ATP/WTA players competing in Open Pro events held at Barnes TC. One recent professional highlight: Rother coached quad wheelchair legend David Wagner at the 2022 US Open to the semis in singles and the finals in doubles.

Born and raised in San Antonio, Rother played college tennis at Tyler Junior College; named JUCO All- American in singles and doubles; and helped his team win the National Championship in 2013. After his sophomore year, Rother transferred to UTSA, and helped his new team win the C-USA title in 2015. After graduating from college, Rother coached on a collegiate level at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Montana State men’s team, as well as the Harvard men’s team.

Welcome aboard, Coach Jake!

ATA FEATURED ON YAHOO!FINANCE

The vision, practices and results for junior players attending Austin Tennis Academy and ATA College Prep are discussed in an online article published today, December 15, on Yahoo!Finance.

Click here to read the article.

YOU’RE INVITED

Signing Ceremonies, at Austin Tennis Academy, are a rite of passage for our junior tennis players ~ a milestone signifying a major goal has been accomplished after years of hard work. On Wednesday, Nico Jamison, will officially sign his letter of intent to play D1 college tennis at Cleveland State University. His signing ceremony is the first for ATA of the 2022-23 school year.

Jamison’s signing ceremony will be held at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, November 9, at ATA. There will be guest speakers, plenty of laughs, a few tears, lots of inspiration, and of course cake.

ATA ALUMNI SHINE ON NATIONAL STAGE

Two of Austin Tennis Academy’s alumni are basking in the afterglow from playing on one of the biggest stages in collegiate tennis. Bailey Forgus and Annika Pandey attend the University of Chicago, and this year, both the university’s mens and women’s tennis teams made it to the finals on the road to the 2022 NCAA Division III national title. The mens team made history – earning the school’s first NCAA Division III national championship – while for the second time in 10 years, the women’s team finished as NCAA runners-up.

Annika Pandey, a senior and ATA alumna, was one of the captains on the women’s team. “Playing for a national championship as a senior was nearly an indescribable feeling because it meant that all our hard work over the past 4 years was finally paying off in a tangible way,” said Pandey. “Competing towards such a goal with my teammates and best friends was an immense privilege.”

Head Coach Jay Tee credits what he calls ‘unbelievable leadership from Pandey and the other seniors’ for keeping the team focused, determined, and together. Just like any proud mentor or leader, it’s not surprising to hear what Pandey calls her biggest highlight. “My favorite memory from the tournament was watching our freshmen lead the way and battle to clinch our quarterfinal and semifinal matches,” said Pandey. “They have come so far since the beginning of the season; and it’s been an honor to witness their growth. I can’t wait to see what they accomplish in the coming years, and I know a national championship is on the way for them.”

Meanwhile rising senior and ATA alumnus Baily Forgus is getting to experience what it feels like to win a national championship. Forgus was one of the captains on mens team that made not only team history, but also school history. “What made playing for a national championship so special was seeing our team come so far from the beginning of the year,” said Forgus. “After having two seasons cut short because of Covid, we didn’t have a clear identity at the start of the season. With every up and down of the year it became a little more defined. I don’t think we came fully together as a team until the NCAA tournament, where everyone knew their role and did everything they could to help the team win. It was amazing to see us come out on top after having to make huge improvements during the year.”

Coach Jack Newman, just like Coach Tee, is reveling in the growth and leadership of his players. He’s watched Forgus and Pandey spread their wings over the past few years at the University of Chicago after leaving Austin Tennis Academy. “Both Annika and Bailey played key roles in building the team culture at the University of Chicago,” said Coach Newman. “They did the extra, different things that set them apart from their peers.” Anyone who’s spent any time at all around Coach Newman’s junior tennis academy knows those are lessons he wants and hopes every player takes with them when it’s time to move on from ATA.

Congratulations Annika and Bailey, as well as Coach Tee and each of the players on the 2022 men and women’s teams at the University of Chicago.

COMMENCEMENT 2022

Join us in celebrating Sasha Malysheva and Jordan Phillips on Wednesday, May 25, when these two young ladies graduate from ATA College Prep.

The evening kicks off with an Art Exhibit and Reception at 6:45 pm with the commencement ceremony starting at 7:15 pm. A dessert reception will immediately follow the ceremony.

The evening’s activities take place at the Austin Tennis Academy located at 6800 Spanish Oaks Club Drive in Austin, Texas.

SAVE THESE DATES IN 2022

This year is moving quickly, and there are some important events on the Austin Tennis Academy’s calendar that we wanted to tell you about in advance so you can save the dates. Here’s the list:

MAY 25 – ATA COLLEGE PREP GRADUATION

MAY 26 – ATA END OF YEAR PARTY

OCTOBER 28 – SHOOTOUT 2022 PLAYER PARTY

OCTOBER 29 – SHOOTOUT 2022

Of course, we will be sending out more information about each of these events in the coming weeks. Keep an eye out for those emails and posts, and of course, we hope to see you at each one of these events!

EVENT POSTPONED

FEB 27 UPDATE:
The Signing Ceremony scheduled for Monday, Feb 28 has been postponed; a new date will be announced soon to celebrate with Jordan Phillips and James Cockrell.

Jordan committed to play for the Women’s Tennis team at Colorado College, located in Colorado Springs, in the fall.

Meanwhile, James will play for the Mens Tennis team at Boston College, located in Chestnut Hill – a Boston suburb.

Signing Ceremonies are a ‘rite of passage’, if you will, for so many ATA players as they transition from junior tennis to collegiate tennis.

Here’s The 4-1-1 On Shootout 2021

Shootout 2021, ATA’s annual fundraising event for Austin Athletics Scholarship Foundation, kicks off Friday night and will run through Saturday afternoon. We’re thrilled that we are able to hold the entire event in person this year on the grounds at Austin Tennis Academy. Here’s the rundown for Friday and Saturday.

Friday Night’s Player Party
6:00 PM: Cocktails, Hors D’oeuvres and Auction
7:00 PM: Dinner
7:45 PM: Shootout Show

The Players Party is being held in a giant party tent being erected Wednesday in the open ground space adjacent to Court 12. Attendees will park in ATA’s parking lot, follow the sidewalk that goes in front of the pro shop to get to Court 12 and then follow the lights/lit path to the tent. Once inside, you’ll find the bar serving various drinks, including our signature drink for the evening, The Honey Deuce (we snagged this one from the US Open where it’s been the most popular cocktail for the past 15 years), hors d’oeuvres, and tables loaded with auction items for you to check out and bid on.

Dinner will be served at 7 PM and then Coach Jack Newman will kick off the program at 7:45. He’s going to do his best to not only make sure everyone has a great time, but also wrap up everything before too late since many of you will be playing tennis the next morning.

Saturday Tennis
Saturday morning kicks off with breakfast served and warmup on court at 8:00 AM. Matches will begin at 9:00 with eight different teams competing for the coveted Shootout title. Bidding can still be done on the auction items out in the party tent. In fact, that’s where you’ll find Deb Cahill selling those ‘oh so valuable Point Chips’ that players want to make sure they possess on court during their matches; spectators will want to have some ‘Point Chips’ of their own to help spur on their team to victory. Lunch will be ready starting at 11:30. Coach Newman expects the matches to wrap by at least 2 PM when the winning team will be announced.

The Shootout never disappoints! There’s still time if you haven’t purchased your ticket to play or attend Friday night’s party. Click here to get in on all the fun!! For those who can’t attend in person, Friday night’s party will be streamed live on ATA’s YouTube channel. Click here for that livestream link.

Thank You to our Sponsors!
KickStand Communications
Salvation Pizza
Wilson
Coach Kevin Realty
Ron Yates Winery
Spicewood Vineyards

Commendation for ATA College Prep Student Athlete

For the second year in a row, ATA College Prep student Sasha Malysheva is being recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program. She received a commendation for being one of the 50,000 highest-scoring students in the country on the PSAT.

Every year, more than 4.5 million high school juniors take the PSAT which enters them into the National Merit Scholarship program, a national academic competition for high school students to provide financial aid to attend college. Malysheva is one of less than 5{37ef6ac642fae6f93f343032eb62785d28fa7a25a4a4f0267a12512c541c53a9} of those test takers to receive a commendation. Congratulations!

Get Your Bid In For Shootout 2021 Auction

There are a lot of exciting things happening in Austin coming up in October. One of them is our 21st Annual Shootout raising money for Austin Athletics Scholarship Foundation. Another is the final round of qualifying matches for the World Cup between USA and Jamaica.

To kick off festivities for Shootout 2021, we’re launching an early bird auction which happens to be all about one of the hottest tickets in town ~ TEAM USA vs JAMAICA. We’ve got 4 tickets to the match where Team USA competes to stay in the hunt for the World Cup.

This auction item includes 4 tickets to the USA vs JAM match on October 7 at 6:30 pm. Bidding begins tomorrow (Monday, Sept 27) at 6:00 AM and will run through 11:59 PM on Sunday, October 3.

To place a bid, simply click here. Plus, you can get your family and friends to text ‘GIVEAASF’ to 855-202-2100 to get the link to this auction. The highest bidder will be notified automatically. Tickets will be transferred to the winner electronically.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to cheer on Team USA and raise money for AASF.

ATA Alumnus Joins Teaching and Coaching Staff

Liam Leddy, who attended Austin Tennis Academy and ATA College Prep more than 10 years ago, is back, however, this time Leddy takes on the role of an instructor at College Prep. “Liam and my son Josh shared their childhood as close friends in school and in sports,” said Carol Hagar, Head of School. “I have always appreciated Liam’s curiosity, creativity, quick wit, quirkiness, and love of learning, and his pragmatic approach to most topics lends itself to very interesting and entertaining discourse. It is exciting and humbling for him to join his alma mater as a young professional, teacher, and coach and I look forward to our students’ learning with him.”

Along with teaching responsibilities in the fall, Leddy will take on some coaching as well. “There’s nothing better than having someone complete the circle,” said Coach Jack Newman. “Liam started off as a student, went on to be an awesome student at the University of Chicago, has spent some time in the real world, and now is back with us as a teacher and a coach. Nothing better. He knows the culture. He knows what to expect.”

Leddy grew up in the Austin area, and admits he’s excited to be back as a teacher. ”I hope to bring pragmatism, harsh reality, and a lot of dry humor to student-athletes,” said Leddy. “Also knowledge, obviously, or, rather, the tools they need to seek out, vet, and retain knowledge on their own.”

When asked what has stuck with him since his time as a student-athlete at ATA Leddy responded, “I learned a great deal at ATA, but the lessons that have stuck with me the longest are: 1) Not every moment is the right moment to question authority 2) Discomfort is a prerequisite for growth 3) Energy and attention must be focused on what can be controlled, not what cannot be.”

Leddy becomes the sixth student to return to ATA as a coach and/or teacher. Among those alumni: Shane Berber, Tommy Collins, Brandon Davis, AJ Garcia, and Ashley Weinhold. He holds a Bachelor’s in Economics from University of Chicago, a Master’s in Education from Dominican University (the one in Illinois, not the one in California) and a Master’s in Data Science from the Harvard Extension School.

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