@ATACollegePrep – Page 2 – AUSTIN TENNIS ACADEMY

Train Your Brain Sessions Begin In June

Looking for ways to keep your child engaged over the summer? ATA College Prep can help with our Train Your Brain Summer Sessions being offered at CP which include several enrichment and refresher courses. Whether your child is looking to get ahead, strengthen foundational skills, or keep their mind engaged during the summer days, ATACP will feed their love of learning.

As with all ATACP courses, they are taught by inspirational and dedicated expert instructors. Classes are limited in size (2-6 students). Each class is $350 for a 4-week, 8-hour session. Offerings vary each session. In addition to these small group sessions, individual tutoring is available in all academic subjects (subject to teacher availability and scheduling). * Note that session dates may vary slightly depending on student registration.

T o see the full schedule of classes for both Enrichment Sessions, simply click here. To register for any of the courses, email Carol Hagar, Head of School, @ carol.hagar@austintennisacademy.com and be sure to include your child’s name, session(s), days, and time in your email.

ATA College Prep Student Commended

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. ATA College Prep student Sasha Malysheva is one of less than 5{37ef6ac642fae6f93f343032eb62785d28fa7a25a4a4f0267a12512c541c53a9} of those test takes to receive a commendation. Malysheva’s score ranks her among one of the 50,000 highest-scoring students in the nation on the 2020 PSAT qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholar awards.

“Sasha, this recognition, along with the many other accolades that you have already acquired that honor unique aspects of your being, is a tribute to your long-term dedication to your studies, your work ethic, and your perseverance,” said Carol Hagar, Head of School. “Thank you for being such a heartful and powerful example for your mentees and our entire community.”

Semi-finalists and Finalists for the scholarship competition will be announced in September and if Sasha qualifies, she will be asked to complete an application and essays to compete for college scholarship merit awards. Each year, only about 7,500 students are selected to become scholarship winners.

CATA Scholarships Available For Seniors

Capital Area Tennis Association awards several scholarships every year to graduating senior tennis players. CATA is currently offering two types of scholarships: a general CATA Scholarship and the Ricardo Flores Scholarship. The general scholarship is open for any graduating senior tennis player to apply. The Ricardo Flores Scholarship is a needs-based scholarship for graduating senior tennis players of Hispanic descent.

Last year CATA awarded $17,250 to 23 tennis players from over 15 different high schools in the area.

The deadline to apply for the CATA scholarships is March 1st.

Click this link to get more information as well as submit an application for one of the scholarships which represent a great way for high school senior tennis players to receive extra help toward attending college.

Let Us Answer Your Questions

This year, maybe more than ever thanks to COVID19, students and parents have lots of questions as well as concerns about going back to school and physically being in classrooms. Head of School Carol Hagar, and her College Prep staff, want to provide as much information upfront as possible.

Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions. Simply click on the link to watch a video with Carol Hagar answering that specific question.

What will school be like this year in light of COVID19?

When will classes begin for College Prep?

Will there be safety protocols in place?

What type of system is used to manage classes, communication, and other elements for each student?

What does having a school-year theme mean and what is the theme?

What is CP’s focus on health and nutrition?

How are technology and digital devices used?

Catching Up With…

After nearly 20 years, ATA has many alumni who continue to play a big role in our community, which Coach Newman calls ‘The Pack’. In this article, we check in with one of the first to attend ATA and go to ATA College Prep.

What is your name and where do you currently live? My name is Josh Hagar and I live in Chicago, IL

Which years did you attend ATA and/or ATA CP? ATA from 2006-2012, and ATA College Prep since its inception until I graduated, so 2007 through 2012.

Where did you attend college? University of Notre Dame

What are you doing now? I work for an up-and-coming wealth management technology firm based in Chicago called GeoWealth.

If you could go back to your junior tennis career, would there be anything you would do differently or would tell your younger self? I was fortunate to have great mentors in my junior career, for which I am forever thankful, so there is not too much I regret. These mentors include my parents, the ATA coaching staff, and countless others. That said, I would challenge my younger self to always enjoy the ebbs and flows that make the junior development process what it is. It’s easy to get discouraged in low moments, but throughout your career you will win plenty of matches (which are cause for celebration) and you will have dozens of setbacks, whether it be losses, injuries, or the like. They all play a crucial role in your personal development, so enjoy the good times and embrace the difficult moments – see those as challenges and opportunities to grow. In hindsight, I am fondest of my highlights just as much as I am my setbacks.

What was your most memorable moment or significant highlight in college and/or playing college tennis? A few come to mind, but beating the #1 team in the country at home during my junior year and playing in the NCAA tournaments (team and individual) top the list.

Looking back, what would you say is the biggest impact your time at ATA has had on your life? I’m paraphrasing, but Lou Holtz once said about Notre Dame: “for those who have been, they need no explanation. For those who have not, no explanation will suffice.” Of all the tennis programs I have visited in the world, I have never seen one that exhibits the qualities that the ATA community has. Not only does the culture promote excellence in all facets of life, but it also encourages students to be selfless with each other, give back to those less fortunate, and represent something bigger than themselves. I do my best to embody those qualities on a daily basis, but it’s hard to put into words what the biggest impact ATA has had on my life. No explanation will truly suffice.

Who is/was your favorite professional tennis player? It’s tough not to say Federer, but I’ve always been most impressed by Djokovic.

Do you still play tennis, even compete? I don’t compete anymore, but I do coach college-bound junior players in the Chicago area.

What’s the best piece of advice given to you by one of your coaches? Judge the result, but trust the process.

Did you have any superstitions in your junior/collegiate tennis career and if so, what were they? Not particularly. After playing in fairly difficult environments, you learn to adapt to whatever is thrown your way. I never put much energy into superstitions.

What’s one piece of advice you would give to junior players regarding going through the college selection process? Three pieces of advice in no particular order: do your research, don’t rush the decision, and make finding the right fit your #1 priority

ATA Alum Joins The Texas Longhorns

Payton Holden, an all-conference honoree from Princeton University and an Austin native, will join with the Longhorns as a graduate transfer for the 2020-21 season, head coach Bruce Berque announced today. Holden earned his bachelor’s degree from Princeton in economics.

“During his four years at Princeton, Payton excelled both in the classroom and on the court, distinguishing himself as one of the better doubles players in the country,” Berque said. “His coaches at Princeton speak glowingly of his leadership, and we are thrilled that he will bring his skills and experience back to Austin for his final year of college tennis, and to pursue a master’s degree in accounting at the McCombs School of Business. We can’t wait to get started with Payton and the rest of the team in August.”

“I am really excited to come back to Austin and become a Longhorn,” Holden said. “I’m extremely grateful to have the opportunity to continue my education and athletics at such an amazing school.”

Holden has been spending quite a bit of time on court at ATA so far this summer hitting with junior players and working on his own game.

This past season, Holden was ranked by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) in doubles with partner Ryan Seggerman, spending six weeks in the top 10, peaking at No. 6 in February and finishing at No. 16. Holden led Princeton in doubles wins, finishing with a 26-8 overall record, including 15-3 in dual matches, as he and Seggerman defeated six ranked doubles teams. Holden went 4-4 in singles with a 4-0 record in dual matches.

Due to the shortened season, the Ivy League did not issue its annual conference awards, however Princeton was on pace for one of its better finishes in school history. The Tigers began the season with a 14-4 record that included wins over No. 31 Middle Tennessee State, No. 44 Auburn and No. 46 Arizona with two of their losses coming to top-20 opponents in No. 14 NC State and No. 19 Ole Miss.

During the 2018-19 season, Holden helped Princeton tie a school record with 20 team wins. He was named a first-team All-Ivy League doubles honoree with Seggerman, reaching as high as No. 17 in the ITA rankings in mid-April. The duo qualified for the NCAA Doubles Championships and defeated No. 4 Oli Nolan and Henry Patten of UNC-Asheville in the first round, which was Princeton’s first win in the event since 2001. Holden and Seggerman faced five top-40 doubles opponents in Ivy play and defeated four of them, highlighted by a win over No. 7 Charlie Broom and David Horneffer of Dartmouth. Overall, Holden registered a 17-14 doubles record, including a 15-9 mark in dual matches, and a 6-7 singles record, including 4-3 in dual match play.

The previous season, Holden helped Princeton to 18 team wins, going 12-10 overall in singles with a 10-8 record in dual matches, and 17-11 overall in doubles with a 16-9 dual match mark. While as a freshman, he led the team with 20 overall singles wins, including eight in dual match play, and ranked No. 101 in February of that year. He also led the team with 25 doubles wins, going 13-10 in dual matches.

Prior to Princeton, the Austin native attended the Austin Tennis Academy and ATA College Prep, and ranked as the No. 1 player in Texas in U12s, U14s, U16s, U18s. He was a Junior Team Tennis National Champion and five-star recruit according to TennisRecruiting.net.

Log In Today @ 4:00 PM

On the heels of yesterday’s announcement that USTA tournaments will start back up in July and registration for Texas junior tournaments will open just after midnight Monday morning, Coach Brian Notis wants to provide guidance and clarification to the ATA community. Today at 4:00 PM, Coach Notis will hold a virtual meeting on Zoom for parents and players.

This will be a quick 30-minute meeting with Coach Notis presenting 10-15 minutes worth of important information with the remainder of time to answer questions. Below is a list of topics to be covered:

July USTA tournaments – SCMZ, CMZ, Challengers – what opportunities are available to our players? How do we take full advantage of those opportunities?
New rules in 2020
Limited Draw Sizes
- Age-Up
- Doubles (No doubles in July)
- What’s happening in August? Sept? Etc.
Value of UTR tournaments going forward
National tournaments
Transitioning to 2021
Questions

An email was sent out early this morning from Coach Newman which provided the link for this afternoon’s virtual meeting. Parents and players should check their emails to retrieve that link.

You’re Invited to Attend Virtual Graduation Ceremony

Graduation will be held Thursday, June 11, for Austin Tennis Academy College Prep’s Class of 2020. In light of the COVID19 pandemic, ATA CP seniors will participate in a live, virtual ceremony while gathering with their family members at home.

Technology will be used to bring the seniors, family members, and friends together in a live, virtual setting to watch and hear graduate addresses, guest speakers, commemorative videos, diploma presentations, tassel turning, and the passage of leadership to the class of 2021.

All you have to do to get a front row seat to the festivities, right from your very own home, is click on this Zoom Webinar link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86324969689

The evening kicks off at 6 PM CST with an Art Exhibit followed by the official graduation ceremony beginning at 6:45 PM.

Train Your Brain Over The Summer With ATA College Prep

Summer is the perfect time for your child to study new things or firm up areas which need improvement, and that’s exactly why ATA College Prep is launching its Train Your Brain summer sessions loaded with enrichment and refresher courses as well as a full Geometry course for original high school credit.

The Geometry for High School Credit begins June 1 and runs through August 7. Enrichment Session #1 delivers ten courses, ranging from Chinese to AP Physics to Trashbots, and kicks off the week of June 15. Enrichment Session # 2 unveils 10 totally different classes and gets underway the week of July 13. Click here to see the complete list of courses.

All classes are limited in size, and will be available via Zoom or held on campus with protocols in place for physical safety and distancing. To register for any of the classes being offered by ATA College Prep, send an email to Carol.Hagar@austintennisacademy.com. In your email, be sure to include your child’s name, the name of the session(s), as well as days and time.

ATA’s May Newsletter Is In Your Inbox

ATA’s latest newsletter went out late this afternoon. The digital document is loaded with, among other things, information about summer tennis, summer courses being provided by ATA College Prep, a preview of graduation ceremonies for ATACP seniors, and the Alumni Spotlight featuring Jeffrey Offerdahl.

This is the fifth edition since launching the ATA Newsletter back in January and is sent to members of the ATA community. However, if didn’t receive your copy be sure to look in your junk mail folder and mark the newsletter as coming from a safe sender. If you would like to be added to our mailing list, send you request to media@austintennisacademy.com and we’ll get you added.

Click here to view ATA’s May Newsletter.

A Glimpse Inside Summer Offerings For ATA & ATA College Prep

Even though a few details are still being ironed out when it comes to what Austin Tennis Academy will be serving up in lieu of summer camps, things are far enough along to give a little preview of what’s coming this summer for tennis as well as classes being offered by ATA College Prep.

From the beginning of the shutdown caused by Covid19, ATA has proven its ability to react, adapt, and create from scratch innovative ways to help junior players continue to move forward – first from home and then finding a way to safely conduct practices on court. Numerous parents have expressed their appreciation to Coach Jack Newman for his strong leadership, as well as a proactive approach by him and all the coaches for creating new virtual programming which not only kept kids engaged, but also held them accountable during these challenging times.

While practices have moved back on court, physical distancing and other safety protocols remain a top priority. And those realities of what you might call the ‘new normal’ are driving how ATA will operate this summer. Just about everything will be different from past summers; from the size of group practices to the number of coaches involved to a new name for our summer camps. It’s all being revamped.

SUMMER TENNIS

Instead of camps, we’re calling them Summer Semis. And that should give you some idea of the kid-to-coach ratio ATA plans to use this summer. A professional coach will be on each court working with only 4-5 children in order to maintain recommended physical distancing. There will be two different levels offered in the mornings: QuickStart Summer Semis for 6-8 year olds and Orange/Green Summer Semis for 8-11 year olds. The afternoon Summer Semis sessions will be for Academy-level players. Along with providing an environment that’s as safe as possible, smaller group sizes translate into more playing time and more one-on-one attention which yield greater progress in skill development. And let’s not forget about fun. Our coaches make learning and playing tennis fun!

SUMMER EDUCATIONAL COURSES

ATA College Prep plans to provide two ‘Train Your Brain’ sessions over the summer months. Whether your child wants to get ahead, strengthen foundational skills, or keep their mind engaged, ATACP will feed their love of learning.

There will be at least 9 classes offered during the first ‘Train Your Brain’ session from June 15-July 9 and probably 10 classes during the second ‘Train Your Brain’ session from July 13-August 6. There will also be a full Geometry course for original high school credit (instructor approval required) which will run from June 1 – August 7. Each of the courses will be taught by expert instructors, limited in size (2-6 students), and available via Zoom or on campus with protocols in place for physical safety and distancing.

ATA has a lot going on this summer. Full details on tennis sessions and academic courses should be released by early next week (week of May 18). On-line registration will open at the same time.

ATA College Prep Students Invited to Sputnik ATX’s Demo Day

ATA College Prep students have been invited to hear and critique pitches being made by five start-ups to Sputnik ATX, a business accelerator based in Austin. This year, in light of COVID19, students will watch the pitches via a Zoom webinar on Thursday, May 14, instead of attending in person.

“This is an excellent opportunity for ATACP students to review new business ideas, observe public speaking and pitch methodologies, and learn what it takes to be an entrepreneur,” said Carol Hagar, Head of School.

Here’s the list of companies making their pitches to Sputnik ATX for investment:
+ Mod Tech Labs: Movie production studios spend countless dollars and man-hours on 3D visual effects. Mod Tech Labs eliminates those costs using AI to make 3D easy to produce.
+ RxThat: RxThat was founded by physicians and experts in pharmacy operations to make prescriptions more transparent and clinical operations more efficient.
+ Trashbots: Trashbots helps K-12 educators teach hands-on STEM affordably. Their kit includes a programmable robot, software to learn coding, and ready-to-go lessons for students and teachers.
+ Kanthaka: Kanthaka brings personal trainers and one-on-one yoga instructors to any location on demand. Through the Kanthaka app, exercisers can summon a highly vetted instructor within as little as 90 minutes
+ FuelGems: Fuel Gems’ proprietary, patented additive increases engine efficiency, fuel savings, and engine life while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. Only 1 to 5 grams of nanoparticles are needed to treat 260 gallons of fuel, making this the most powerful additive on the market.

Along with hearing pitches from each of the five companies, students will also get to ask questions during the Q&A period of each presentation as well as provide feedback and share their thoughts directly with representatives from Sputnik ATX.

Multiple Awards Earned By ATA College Prep Alum

Leadership and how to be a good leader is one of the core lessons coaches at Austin Tennis Academy and teachers at ATA College Prep want their students to learn; and those lessons were not lost on Chase Bartlett. As he gets ready to graduate from St. Edward’s University, Bartlett is being recognized for his leadership on the tennis court as well as on campus.

SEU Athletics announced Chase Bartlett is the recipient of its OUTSTANDING MALE SENIOR AWARD. According to the university, an education from St. Edward’s stands for a tradition in academic excellence, diversity, collaboration and service to others. The Athletics Department wants to enable student-athletes to represent those traditions through academic excellence, teamwork, leadership, good sportsmanship, the courage to take risks and community service. The outstanding senior award is presented to the male and female student-athlete who has best personified the sum of these values.

“Chase is the dream athlete,” said Men’s Tennis Head Coach Estevam Strecker. “He is coachable while being extremely hands-on with his own success. His ability to dissect his own game and apply the information into a plan is unparalleled. He is a great team leader, being vocal when he needs to and being a great listener when asked. For the past four years, Chase has made a huge positive difference in the program and his legacy will be felt for years to come.”

Bartlett’s leadership on campus has been widely noted. He was elected president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for the last two years. He also completed over 150 hours of community service during his time as an SEU student.

SEU Athletics also announced that Bartlett earned the 2020 Emma Lou Linn Outstanding Scholar Athlete Award for having the highest cumulative GPA among all graduating male student athletes at SEU. He’ll graduate with a 3.99 GPA.

Back in April, Bartlett received the University’s 2020 Presidential Award along with eleven other students. The Presidential Award is given to outstanding seniors from the undergraduate, graduate and New College programs who embody the principles of the university’s Holy Cross tradition and mission, and have demonstrated excellence in leadership, academic performance and service to the university and other communities.

The Frisco native was named an ITA Scholar-Athlete all four years. Bartlett was a member of St. Edward’s Honors Program, Martin’s Scholar’s Program, Religious Studies Honors Society and Alpha Phi Omega.

On the court, Bartlett guided the men’s tennis program to a No. 6 ranking in a shortened 2019-20 season. He earned two All-America honors this spring, receiving mention for his abilities in both singles and doubles competition. He helped the Hilltoppers to two conference titles and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. Bartlett also qualified for the ITA National Tournament twice.

ATA College Prep Hasn’t Missed A Beat

In a few short weeks, the school year will be officially over for students who attend Austin Tennis Academy College Prep. Seniors will get to participate in their graduation ceremony; teachers will issue ‘regular’ final grades; students and teachers alike will begin their summer vacations. Unfortunately, those will not be the same scenarios experienced by millions of school kids across Texas, or even the rest of the country, due to the sweeping shut down caused by the Novel Coronavirus.

“Impressively, we have not missed a beat,” said Carol Hagar, Head of School. In spite of the shutdown, ATA College Prep students have not missed any classes. That feat can be attributed to the nimbleness of Hagar and her staff, as well as a bit of fortunate timing. On March 23, when the shelter in place order was issued, CP was on Spring Break and before leaving for the nearly three-week break (just in case) students were required to take home all of their books and supplies.

As soon as it became clear students would not be able to physically return to school, the CP staff wasted no time coming up with a game plan for continuing classes remotely. Thanks to the staff’s resourcefulness and use of current technology, making the move from teaching in the classroom to teaching at home was a seamless one. “Because we had been utilizing live streaming of classes for traveling students, most were familiar with the technology,” said Hagar. “We did a few tutorials for Zoom, GoogleDocs, and FlipGrid; and these tools have kept our community connected emotionally and intellectually, even though we are apart physically.”

“The beauty of Zoom is that students and instructors can still see each other and participate in the personal, meaningful conversations and Socratic dialog that is such a powerful part of our community culture and curriculum.” Along with keeping the community connected, there was another area Hagar and CP teachers believed critical for their students. ‘We chose to keep the same class schedule and to stay in the normal rhythm that we had all become accustomed to which has also helped with the ease of transition,” said Hagar. “As a school, we continue to meet in the mornings for Leadership and current events, and each student has a writing coach they can regularly connect with as they work through their research.”

CP made the transition to virtual classes a month ago, and so far, things have been running smoothly. Academic content will be completed as planned and on schedule; feedback from parents and students has been positive and appreciative; and, by all accounts, CP will finish the school year strong.

Those accomplishments trigger a sense of pride for the CP team, however, the revelations that surface during challenging times may provide the greatest insight into the ‘real’ work they do. “The personal connection and care inherent in this community of leaders have developed attributes in our students that are carrying them through this challenging period and that is a glimpse into how they will handle bigger challenges later in life.’ said Hagar. “Honesty, resiliency, positivity, work ethic, and eagerness to excel are all within them and because of that, we will keep moving forward regardless of temporary obstacles.”

ATA Master Calendar Added To Website

Finding out what events are happening when at Austin Tennis Academy just became a little bit easier.

We’ve added an ATA Master Calendar to our website. To get to it, simply place your cursor over the ‘About’ tab, located near the top, and a drop-down menu will appear; ATA Master Calendar is the third item in that list. Just click on it.

Some items, such as tournaments, are listed as all-day events, while other items are noted by a specific time. Clicking on any event, opens a window that sometimes will contain additional information or helpful links.

The ATA Master Calendar does not replace the CP Calendar. However, events listed on the CP Calendar are also listed in the ATA Master Calendar.

Events are continuously being added to the calendar or updated, so feel free to check it often.

HOW DO YOU HANDLE ADVERSITY – LIKE A PRISONER, SETTLER, OR A PIONEER?

BY DAVID BENZEL

Any cyclist will tell you that riding downhill or downwind is a lot of fun. It’s possible to go fast with little effort. However, if your life depended on the strength and endurance of someone on a bicycle to reach emergency help in the shortest time possible, you’d want to choose a cyclist who has spent a lot of time riding uphill or into the wind. They are the ones who have overcome the adversity of incline and resistance and are therefore the strongest cyclists. The trials of their training have given them an edge, both physically and psychologically.

However, not everyone responds to adversity the same way.

There are generally three camps of people when it comes to facing adversity. And the different responses can help to explain the varying degrees of success experienced.

There are Prisoners, Settlers, and Pioneers. Let’s take a brief look at each one.

Prisoners

Are most likely to GIVE up
Are conquered by fear, controlled by anger, and captured by circumstances
Use language like “I can’t” and “It’s impossible”
Perform at minimum levels, or just enough to get by

Settlers

Are most likely to COVER up
Are satisfied with today, and with themselves. They are happy to be comfortable
Use language like “It’s good enough” and “That’s as far as I can go”
Will give some effort, show some drive, meet the minimum requirements, but never excel

Pioneers

Are most likely to CLIMB up
Learn continuously, changing strategies & habits, and strive to meet the needs of the team or the cause
Use language like “I choose to…” “We can…” and “Just do it”
Show a sense of urgency, embrace challenges, and are always driven to improve

Where do most of your reactions to adversity fall? How about the people on your team?

In the book, Adversity Quotient, Dr. Paul Stoltz identifies three factors at the root of most responses. They are genetics, upbringing, and faith. And he asks these questions to help establish how much each aspect influences you.

Did your parents supply you with enough of the Pioneer genes that you automatically respond to adversity by working hard to overcome whatever it is?
Did your childhood environment provide you with real-life examples of people triumphing over their obstacles so that your response is “I am the kind of person that does that too.”?
Have you developed a positive, optimistic, hope-filled belief that the right attitude, coupled with hard work, always pays off with a victory or a lesson learned?

As a leader, you don’t have control over “nature and nurture” that your followers experienced growing up. However, you can provide a simple PROCESS to grow their faith in the PIONEER response. This mindset will equip them with the tools to face adversity like a pioneer.

Teach them to have this internal conversation when faced with adversity:

1. Listen to your first response and ask yourself, “Does this kind of thinking help me generate a Pioneer approach to this obstacle, or is it a pity party?”

2. Next, ask yourself, “How can I reframe this or look at it differently to gain a new perspective?”

3. Finally, say to yourself, “I wonder what options are available to me that will propel us over, around, or through this obstacle.” To wonder is to activate the creative part of your brain, where “Ah-ha” type ideas come from.

ATA’s Scholarship Shootout to serve up plenty of food, forehands and FUNdraising

There are plenty of exciting events held during the fall around Austin, and the ATA Pro-Am Scholarship Shootout is among them. This will be the 19th year for the annual fundraiser, which will be held October 25-26.

The Shootout is a Calcutta doubles tournament which brings together ATA’s patrons, students, and coaches for a day of fun and friendly competition. There will be a number of alum (names to be released soon) who return to play in the Shootout as well. The event also includes a silent auction, live auction, and a team auction.

All money raised during the two-day event benefits Austin Athletic Scholarship Foundation, a 501(c)3 which supports dedicated and deserving student athletes in their quest to achieve excellence through the sport of tennis and in life.

If you are not able to attend the Shootout, and would like to make a one-time donation, or become a perpetual donor, click here. Thank you in advance for helping today’s dreamers become tomorrow’s visionaries.

ATA Alum To Compete In ITA All-American Championships

Princeton Senior (and ATA alum) Payton Holden is one of three members of Princeton’s men’s tennis team selected to take part in the ITA All-American Championships coming up in October in Tulsa, OK.

Holden qualified for the main doubles draw, as well as the qualifying singles draw. The qualifying singles competition will begin October 7, while main doubles play will begin October 9. This will be Holden’s first trip to the ITA All-American Championships.

Congratulations Payton!

ATA Alums Kerrigan, Wright, Bartlett Honored For College Success

Over the past few weeks, a number of ATA’s graduates have earned awards and recognitions for their accomplishments at the next level.

ATA College Prep graduate Kristin Kerrigan, an Air Force Academy Freshman, earned Female Rookie Of The Year in the first annual Bolt Awards – recognizing top performers across all sports as voted on by the cadets.

Georgia Wright, a freshman at Washington & Lee, earned Old Dominion Athletic Conference Rookie Of The Year. Georgia logged 12 wins in singles and 15 in doubles while helping her team to the ODAC conference title.

Chase Bartlett, an ATA College Prep graduate and current St. Edward’s University junior, earned the 2019 Heartland Conference Player of the Year award. Chase rebounded after being sidelined by an injury to end the year ranked top 40 nationally in both singles and doubles.

Congratulations to these three outstanding athletes as well as all of the other ATA grads who are currently competing at the college level!

ATA Upgrades College Prep Classrooms

Over Spring Break, you might have noticed a bit of construction in the Fitness Center. Over those weeks, we made some changes to improve the ATA College Prep classrooms to meet the needs of the growing program.

First, we moved the wall, adding about 8 feet to each of the original spaces. With new carpet, paint, A/C units, replaced whiteboards, and relocated electronics, the space has undergone a major enhancement.

“The classrooms feel brand new,” said Tommy Collins, CP’s Humanities Lead. “The added space makes the rooms brighter and provides enough room for everyone to spread out comfortably.”

The two upgraded classrooms pair with the dedicated school building across campus that houses 3 other classrooms, a common area, and teacher offices. Check out the new spaces the next time you are in the ATA Fitness Center!

123 4 5