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.”

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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