In The Classroom – Page 4 – AUSTIN TENNIS ACADEMY

CP Grad Bartlett Brings Energy, Work-Ethic To Hilltoppers

ATA College Prep alum and St. Edward’s University freshman Chase Bartlett wrapped up his first college semester maintaining his high academic standard, earning a 4.0 GPA and claiming a spot on the President’s Honor Roll through 7 classes on the Hilltop.

“While not at all surprised, I am incredibly proud of Chase’s accomplishments and his continued diligence during his first year at St. Ed’s,” ATACP Director Carol Hagar said. “His insatiable curiosity, his dedicated work ethic, and his copious positive demeanor embody the ideal scholar-athlete. Chase was an excellent leader while at ATACP and it is a beautiful thing to see him carry that forth into his college community.”

His work ethic was also evident on the court, as he’s spent the majority of his winter break participating in practices and fitness workouts with his former teammates at ATA preparing for the upcoming season.

“Chase Bartlett’s willingness to be humble and work hard continues when he returns to ATA from college,” ATA CEO Jack Newman said. “This past few weeks he has been in practice a lot. Just like when he trained at ATA full time, for him it’s never about who he is practicing with, it’s about what he brings to the practice. He brings a high level of energy and of course a high level of tennis. He doesn’t come with the attitude that he’s too good for the kids in the academy, he comes with that attitude of wanting to be there and wanting to get a great workout. I think this draws a high level of work and effort from his younger teammates. Consequently everyone gets an amazing practice.”

As a team, Bartlett and his fellow Hilltoppers set the goals to finish top 10 in the country this year while earning the highest GPA out of any athletic team at St. Edwards.

“I’m super excited about this upcoming season because I want to see the work that the Hilltoppers put in the fall season pay off,” Chase said. “A lot of guys (myself included) pushed literally to our physical limit. I remember one practice when the other freshman and I won a relay race against our other teammates and then both of us proceeded to leave the courts and throw up. That happened a few times this season.”

While the team logged long hours working together through the Fall, being apart through the holiday season makes continuing the momentum a challenge for each individually.

“It’s really helpful to have ATA,” Chase said. “During a one-month long break it’s important to keep training to maintain what we worked for in the fall, and for that you need a place to train. I like going to all of the academy practices and fitness sessions because when I was in high school/middle school it was really motivating to see what older, more-experienced people can do.”

As far as his academic success at the college level, Chase again looked back to his ATA College Prep roots.

“ATA College Prep really prepared me well. CP taught me both the time-management skills and academic foundations that are necessary for success at the college level.”

Follow along while Chase and the Hilltoppers begin the season in the coming weeks. The St. Ed’s Men’s and Women’s teams are scheduled to play multiple matches on the ATA courts, offering many opportunities to see college-level tennis right here while supporting some ATA alums, including Charlie Shin, Men’s and Women’s head coaches Estevam Strecker and Kendall Brooks, as well as Bartlett.

Next up:

St Ed’s vs ATA All Stars – Jan 27^th 4pm

St. Ed’s vs Southwestern U – Feb 3^rd 4pm

St. Ed’s vs UTRGV – Feb 11^th 2pm

Hagar Voted Irish Captain, Joins Distinguished Group Of ATA Alums

ATA College Prep graduate and life-long Austin Tennis Academy member Josh Hagar was recently voted Captain of the Notre Dame Men’s Tennis Team. Entering his senior season, Josh joins teammate Eddy Covalschi as co-captains at the helm of a strong Fighting Irish squad.

“Being voted a captain is an accomplishment I’ll remember forever,” Hagar said. “To be voted a leader of the team by my peers is the highest compliment I can think of. It’s one thing to accomplish something on the court or in the classroom, but to be recognized by my teammates, who know me better than anybody, to me that speaks volumes.”

Hagar joins a distinguished group of Austin Tennis Academy alums who went on to serve as Captain of their college tennis teams.

“It’s very humbling to join the list of past ATA players named captain of their team,” Josh said. “They embody the culture of ATA, which translates very well to a college team environment. It speaks to how important character, work ethic, and other off-court attributes are at ATA.”

Here are a few of the former ATA and ATA College Prep graduates who went on serve as team captain:

Trey Phillips – University of Texas

Blake Davis – Florida State University

Claire Cahill – Washington & Lee University

Santiago Montoya – Notre Dame

Brent D’Amico – Notre Dame

Lindsey Periera – University of Virginia

Matthew Bain – Texas A&M

Brandon Davis – University of Illinois

Whitney Waters – Redlands

Brent Werbeck – Boise State

Adam Slagter – Penn State

Jenn Wencel Werbeck – Boise State

Roger Gubser – The University of Texas

Kendall Dabaghi – Duke – Not Captain, but was President of his Class and Fulbright Scholar

Josh Hagar – Notre Dame

“It is exciting to see Josh Hagar named captain of the Notre Dame men’s tennis team,” Josh’s long-time coach and CEO of ATA Jack Newman said.

“Over 25 ATA players have been captains of their tennis teams. This is the accomplishment of which I am most proud.”

Designed Learning Experiences – The Math Mindset

It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer. ~Einstein

Neuro-targeted teaching methodologies are implemented by ATACP instructors throughout the curriculum to build stamina and perseverance in our student-athletes. Primary goals are encouraging students to think critically and creatively, to develop and explore new topics of interest, to be willing to take risks, and to build confidence through failing and trying again. Much like Thomas Edison’s and Albert Einstein’s approaches to inventing, a failed attempt is simply another opportunity to gain new knowledge and master a better understanding for the next attempt.

In the following article, math instructor, Linda Dobbs, explains ATACP’s growth mindset approach to problem-solving.

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First day of classes at ATACP. Algebra and PreAlgebra students enter the room. Pumped up to be learning new math skills? Unfortunately, not. The disclaimers begin. “I can’t do math.” “Math is hard.” “When will I use this stuff, anyway?” What to do?

Teach a new mindset. One component of this year’s Algebra and PreAlgebra classes is a weekly problem-solving session inspired by Jo Boaler’s Mathematical Mindsets (Jossey-Bass, 2016). The book explores the commonly uneasy relationship that many people, child and adult, have with mathematics and proposes ways of altering attitudes toward math. In particular, six questions from the book have helped shape the ATACP problem-solving sessions.

Can you open the task to encourage multiple methods, pathways, and representations? Instead of teaching a single method of solution for each problem, we present problems that encourage multiple approaches.
Can you make it an inquiry task? Instead of asking the student to reproduce a particular technique for figuring out a type of problem, we present a problem that encourages new ideas from the students.
Can you ask the problem before the method? Rather than present problems paired with solutions, we present a problem that allows students to arrive at the method through exploration.
Can you add a visual component? Instead of simply writing equations, we incorporate drawings, color, and movement as a problem-solving tool.
Can you make it low floor and high ceiling? Instead of one problem fits all, we create problems that have easy entry (low floor success) but can provide increasing challenges (high ceiling success).
Can you add the requirement to convince and reason? Instead of demonstrating the ability for rote memorization and formulaic solution, we ask the student to show WHY the math works.

Throughout this semester, each week problems are placed in front of the students that incorporate these goals. The Create a Jack-o-Lantern exercise met many of these goals. Students were given a set number of eyes, noses, and mouths and asked to explore how many unique jack-o-lanterns they could create. Parameters were changed, and the students were asked to figure out how the changes impacted their jack-o-lantern total. The students were exploring permutations and combinations, but without knowing that was a mathematical concept with established solution methods. (Q3) They approached the solution in a variety of ways (Q1) Some of them drew choice trees, some of them drew jack-o-lantern faces, some of them zigzagged lines through the elements on their worksheet.(Q4) The task began with small numbers and relatively simple combinations, but continued with more features and qualifications.(Q5)

Another challenge involved exploring Voronoi diagrams, a way of partitioning a plane into subsets. The students were given a grid and 2 points (pizza parlors) and asked to partition the grid so that each location in the partition was closer to that partition’s pizza parlor than any other pizza parlor. They were then asked to place the points to create equal partitions. Then they moved on the 3 points. The students were given no system for a solution and they worked together in teams. They had to convince each other that their solutions were accurate. Since they did not expect to receive a solution method, they created their own amazing solutions.

Students still can find math hard or irrelevant. However, over the semester, their mindsets have begun to change. They have become increasingly comfortable attacking problems. They spend less time trying to figure out the “right way” to solve a problem and more time finding their own solution. They are even, at times, enjoying math.

This is an excellent example of inspiring students to utilize computational, critical, and creative thinking strategies – all proven through recent research to increase logic, confidence, and resiliency. ATACP is neuro teaching for the future.

Designed Learning Experiences – Surprising Stoichiometry

ATA College Prep instructors strive to develop dynamic and stimulating content that is relevant to each student. Learning experiences are designed to engage students through information while adding intellectual, creative, emotional, and physical layers. Focusing on the goals of opening students’ minds and equipping them with the tools to succeed academically, lessons address the HOW and WHY of each learning activity in addition to the WHAT. This article is the first in a series titled Designed Learning Experiences and will feature unique activities that take place within the CP classrooms.

In example, the students in Mr. Rutherford’s Chemistry class use “stoichiometry” (quantitative chemistry) to predict the amount of baking soda needed to fully neutralize a certain amount of vinegar.

Mr. Rutherford explains, “The kids did the math and then tried measuring in the amount of baking soda they predicted (Alex added it so quickly that the fizz overflowed)… and found, to their surprise, that they had predicted way, way more baking soda than necessary because they didn’t realize that “vinegar” is really mostly water and contains only a small amount of acetic acid (the active ingredient).”

Using skills of analysis, prediction, experimentation and calculation, students adjusted their math for the observed revelation, tried again, and correctly predicted the amount of baking soda that would complete the process.

“An important piece of teaching the sciences is surprise,” explained Mr. Rutherford. “By the time kids are in secondary school, they already feel like they have a pretty good intuitive sense of how the world works. Experiments and demonstrations in which something surprising happens shake them out of their complacency and allow them to feel a little wonder and mystery, which is the motivation for studying science. It’s also very satisfying for them to resolve the mystery and incorporate new information into an updated worldview, which is a decent summary of the scientific process.”

Check back in the coming weeks for more examples of the Designed Learning Experiences at ATA College Prep.

Last Year’s Seniors Check In From College

Each Fall, the previous year’s Seniors and current college Freshman send us an update of how things are going. Below, please enjoy the check in’s from Payton Holden at Princeton, Jake Berber at Claremont, Hunter Bleser at the University of Virginia, and Chase Bartlett from St. Edward’s University.

JAKE BERBER – CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE

Thinking back on my time at ATA, I can’t help from getting a smile on my face. It’s such a special place and you’ve done an incredible job at making it a place of such family. As I’m writing you from my room in Wohlford Hall, room 111, there are a few things that come to mind when I think about what I would love to tell the current players at ATA.

First of all, try your best to make life long friendships. Personally, I was blessed with an incredible class of 2016 and I consistently keep in touch with many of my fellow peers. Obviously, the tennis is unbelievable and is the reason why everyone is there, however, the people there are just as special. Take some time to worry less about how poorly you are hitting your forehand and actually ask someone how their day/week/life is going.

Second of all, try your best to get to know the coaches. They may be annoying at times but each and every one of them has an incredible story to tell. Some of my favorite tournament trips were when I was rooming with a coach because they’re all extremely interesting and smart people.

Lastly, enjoy the amount of free time that you have now. Even if you are feeling overwhelmed with school, tennis, or whatever is taking up your time, trust me, it only gets more hectic. For the last 3 weeks, I had 6-8 am practice Monday-Thursday and midterms all of last week. Start working on your time management skills now before you get to college so that you aren’t feeling as if you have negative time to work with once you get here.

Hope all is well back home,

Jake

PAYTON HOLDEN – PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

“The tennis aspect of Princeton is very tough and hectic. Practices are always super fun, loud and competitive. My practice schedule for the fall is MWF 7:15am lifts with 4-7pm practice and Tuesday Thursday practices from 1:30-3:30ish. Then on top of that, in order to receive our warm ups (Sweat pants and sweatshirts) we have to complete certain things in our free time. For instance, to earn one of our pairs of sweats we have to play 4 singles sets, 4 doubles sets and 5 extra ab workouts on our own time. As far as tournaments go, I have played 3 out the 5 fall tournaments we have scheduled this fall. College tournaments in the fall feel equivalent to matches at grand slam; technically it is an individual tournament but the cheering and support is still extremely high. One of the highlights of the fall thus far has been the ITA grass court tournament. Luckily I was able to compete against players from Michigan and TCU in the first ever collegiate grass court tournament. Overall, ATA and more specifically ATACP prepared me very well for the rigorous practice and tournament schedule, it also taught me how to manage my time on the road, which is a crucial skill to have for college tennis.

Academically it is challenging but not impossible. As long as I am diligent with my work and study consistently it isn’t too bad. This semester I am taking Spanish, Micro-Econ, Calculus and a Writing Seminar. CP classes prepared me very well for all of my classes, I feel like I know all of the pre-requisite material needed for all of my classes.

One piece of advice I would give the younger players is to really focus on doing the little things, especially when they are tired. For instance, I wish I had done all of my homework right after practice/dinner when I was still tired, because there is hardly a second here where I feel “ready” or “energized” to do work. Often I am super tired and just have to grind through it.

Well I hope everyone has a great and best of luck to everyone,

Payton”

HUNTER BLESER – UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

Hey ATA!

I am about to finish up my sixth week at school now and I just wanted to check in with yall and let you know a little bit about what college is really like and what ATA has taught me.

First off, time management is the major key component when trying to balance your academic and athletic life at school. You will not only have to schedule your days around classes and practice, but you will also have to take into consideration tutoring, conditioning, weight training, homework, etc. Those free hours that you have between classes at CP now, use them to get homework or readings done early. Make this a habit so that you when you move off into the next chapter of your life you won’t be overwhelmed.

Secondly, take advantage of CP’s environment and work on your communication skills. Professors and coaches really appreciate and idolize someone who communicates with them 24/7. Get in the habit now of “over communicating”. I promise it will help you out in the long run!

Lastly, take advantage of the advice and instruction your coaches at ATA are offering. They truly want the best for you and want to see you succeed in your endeavors. It may seem somewhat annoying now, but trust me, when you get to school, you’ll miss having them there every step of the way. The coaches and staff at ATA are truly your second family, whether you realize this or not right now. Love your family, because soon you’ll have to leave the nest and grow up.

I hope you guys are doing great! I still keep track of almost all of your results not twitter! Feel free to call, email, or text me if you guys have any questions about the college process or need some advice about anything! Can’t wait to see you guys here in a few months! Miss y’all like crazy!

Take care,
Hunter Bleser
Wahoow

CHASE BARTLETT – ST. EDWARD’S UNIVERSITY

Hey Coach,

Midterms are coming up, and since it’s almost halfway through the year I thought I would give you an update on how college life at St.Edwards has been so far. Fall semester has been interesting so far – I have changed roommates (my first roommate would get back at 4am on weeknights and wake me up, and I think he was selling drugs out of the room when I wasn’t there) and I now live with a good friend on the tennis team. Life is very similar to college-prep life. I set my alarm for 6:50am when I was in CP, and I still set my alarm at 6:50am in college. I feel like CP was a very smooth transition into a liberal-arts college – some of my classes are around 14 students, which is actually pretty similar to Coach Tommy’s English class. Additionally, the content is similar; this year there is an emphasis on community, which is really similar to CP’s focus on what it means to be a good citizen.

I’m not going to say that I find St. Edwards easy – I find it very challenging actually – but, I do think that it is do-able. I’m pretty happy with my choice of school; I think that going to a different school just because of a brand-name diploma would have been a bad choice, because the work load here is hard enough already and because I can’t imagine how much of a “better education” would be possible. I have a 4.0GPA so far, and have worked very hard to do so (I study between 3-5 hours daily). I get assigned about 8 writing assignments per week, and about 200 pages of readings. It seems like a lot, but when you get in college and you HAVE to do your work to get A’s, you figure out that there is a lot of time in the day that usually goes to unimportant things.

Tennis is good; the guys on the team are a lot of fun to be around, and Coach Strecker cares a ton about us and our program, which I think is the most important thing for a coach to have. Fall season was okay for me and for our team, I won one tournament in singles and doubles, but had to pull out of one because I had some sort of virus which lasted a week, and I went into regionals without having trained more than once. I’ve seen the level of competition though – I definitely belong here and have a strong shot at winning regionals next year. Training is interesting though, we are only allowed 25-something days of official practice (which means that we have been doing a ton of running and a ton of lifting). I have probably only spent 6 hrs on court for the past week or two, which is tough. I would tell anyone who is in CP right now to enjoy court time and have fun with it, because it’s much more pleasant to play tennis for 5 hours a day than to run until you throw up or write papers until your eyes hurt.

Overall, school has been good. I’m pretty happy with my choice so far, and hopefully I can hold on to my 4.0 through midterms!

Hope you are doing well and that everything is going well at the academy.

Chase Bartlett

College Prep Students Entered In Children’s Business Fair

The Kids in Business class at ATA College Prep introduces students to entrepreneurial practices and processes, business and marketing plans, and allows them to develop their own products for sale. Implemented through project-based learning, students have free-reign of choice and are guided by exploration and careful questioning to redirect.

“Project-based learning is a powerful and enjoyable way to develop metacognitive skills – such as confidence, decision-making, self-regulation, and autonomy – which are known to increase motivation and self-directed learning,” said ATACP Director Carol Hagar.

Products and businesses designed by entrepreneurial CP students:

JAK’S

JAK’S creates colorful spin art on vinyl records. You can design your own by picking your colors or buy a colorful record that is already made. Also, vinyl record bowls will be for sale. They make great pots for succulents! Come help support Austin Pets Alive and get homemade dog treats!

-Jordan, Abigail and Keana

SCS Designs

SCS Designs makes handcrafted colorful decor for your home. We have a variety of decorated letters that you can hang or stand up, painted canvases with inspirational words and coasters with colorful designs. Come out and help us support A Glimmer of Hope with each purchase made!

-Sasha, Caroline and Sydney

ATACP students Abigail, Sasha, Sydney, Jordan, Keana and Caroline invite YOU to visit and shop their stores this Saturday at the Children’s Business Fair at Pease Mansion, 1606 Niles Road, Saturday, October 25th 10:00am – 12:30pm.

Please come out and show your support for this entrepreneurial event. The students have designed, created and will be marketing unique products. You will be amazed!

Around The Classrooms At ATA College Prep

We are well into the school year at ATA College Prep! From the first test in Psychology, to presentations in English, vocabulary in Spanish, French and Chinese, to origin stories in History, the ATA CP staff is striving daily to challenge the students academically while inciting the curiosity within each. Here are a few pictures from around the classrooms.

The MS English group worked through a fun creative group writing activity. Each student wrote the first paragraph of a short-fiction story where he or she set the scene and introduced a character, then passed their story to the right. Each student contributed one paragraph with different parameters to each story such that at the end, the class had nine complete short stories with a section from each student to share with the group.

The Algebra and PreAlgebra classes used pennies to test the strength of spaghetti strands (first one strand, then two, etc.). The purpose was to discover a linear relationship through experimentation.

The History students got outside to work on their class timeline projects.

Max and Jack lead a team chant at the end of morning practice last week.

Check back here for more pictures and updates from around the campus and as always, see more on our Facebook page!

A Look Inside The Start of ATA College Prep

The ATA College Prep school year is underway! While barely two weeks in, so much has already unfolded. Beginning with Orientation, the students and teachers of the 2016-2017 school year set off on what is sure to be an amazing journey.

At orientation, students enjoyed team building activities and games to get to know each other a little better. After a shortened version of the class schedule to meet with teachers and get accustomed to room assignments, the group enjoyed a trip to the Austin Panic Room. After, they stopped at local favorite Gordough’s for lunch.

Director of ATA College Prep Carol Hagar was excited about what she witnessed at Orientation.

“In the two days of orientation, I witnessed the following character attributes from the CP students: kindness to others, respect for others’ ideas and opinions, willingness to try new things, excellent abilities to work together in a group, and an eagerness to learn.”

The group starts each day with tennis and fitness before transitioning to breakfast and classes. Below, Mac locks in on a forehand volley during a game of ‘105’.

ATA’s Dio Miranda discusses the importance of nutrition with the group and offers some tips on how to improve.

Mrs. Linda and her math class pause for a quick picture.

Psychology students begin work on a self-awareness project.

Students have ample time throughout the week to collaborate and receive additional support during daily group Study Halls.

To see more pictures from the beginning of the year at ATA College Prep now and throughout the year, check out our Facebook page!

ATA College Application & Essay Workshop, Aug 2-5

Dear ATA Seniors:

As the summer leads to its hottest moments, I am sure you are all working toward your end-of-summer goals, making plans for the future, and thinking about what college might look like for YOU. You are about to embark on your last year of high school, and then off to college. This is an amazing time in your life. It is also a very busy time in your life. It is a time of transitioning into young adulthood with new responsibilities. With classes, work, tennis tournaments, college searches, applications, essays, keeping up with responsibilities and chores, you may feel as if you have too little time to accomplish it all during the hours of the day.

Instead of feeling overwhelmed, begin your senior year with less stress. Take some time this summer to knock out your college application and essays.
Register for the College Application and Essay Writing Workshop
Aug 2-5, Tuesday-Friday
10:30am-12:30pm
at ATA College Prep

A course fee of $350 will be billed directly to your ATA account.

You will receive personal attention in completing the Common Application and receive advice and guidance on your Personal Essay. You will also research colleges and gain insight into the best matches based on your personal criteria. This workshop is intended for rising seniors, but rising juniors may also benefit from the college search and writing exercises.

Includes:
Introductory Counseling Session
Personalized Interactive College Search
Crafting an Introductory Letter to Coaches
Review of the Common Application
Selecting Recommenders
Brainstorming Session for Personal Statement & Essays
Practicing Interview Skills for phone and on-campus visits

I recognize many of you will be traveling during all or part of this time, but you are welcome to take advantage of the days you are here and then follow up with private or small group sessions available during the fall.

Remember that all of the work you have invested up to this point is going to pay off and that you are going to find the perfect college experience.

Contact Carol.Hagar@AustinTennisAcademy.com for additional information and to register.

Looking forward!

Carol Hagar
ATA College Prep
512.423.1105

Newman Leads Group On College Tour and Showcase

A group of ATA College Prep and Academy student-athletes recently returned from a trip that began with a tour of multiple college campuses and finished with a College Showcase in front of dozens of top coaches.

ATA CEO Jack Newman led the group and served his standard role as grand maestro of the college placement and recruiting process for each ATA player throughout.

“Visiting college campuses allows the ATA students a chance to get a feel for the campus, meet the team and coaches, while giving them perspective to compare other schools against,” said Newman. “The major positive is that these kids become real people to the coaches, rather than a name and a ranking.”

The group visited Wesleyan University, Amherst College, Vassar College and Yale University, which also hosted the showcase.

“On a visit you can fall in love with the campus, or the city and decide that that is school you want to go to,” said ATA College Prep Junior Annika Pandey. “When visiting you get an overall feel of what life would be like as a student there, and that can make or break your decision to attend that school.”

The college showcase itself is designed to give student athletes a chance to compete in front of the top college coaches and academic schools in the country.

“Playing in front of coaches is always a lot of fun for me, you get to demonstrate how hard you’ve worked since the last time they saw you, and you get to showcase the type of energy and competitiveness you would bring to a college team,” said ATA College Prep Senior Alejandro Rodriguez. “I also had a lot of fun hanging out with my teammates at the showcase- I think college coaches took note of how close knit our group was and it speaks to the culture of the ATA program.”

Entrants play 3 singles matches against players of similar level and 2 doubles matches with a random partner.

“I really enjoyed playing good doubles in front of the Dartmouth and Brown coaches, and talking to the Harvard, Cornell, Pomona and Johns Hopkins coaches, among others, after the showcase,” said Pandey. “I also liked hanging out with my ATA teammates in between matches, and having them cheer me on when I played, and when I cheered them on when they played.”

While the student-athletes are doing their best on the court to present themselves as desirable recruits, according to them, the most unrelenting, hardest working member of the trip didn’t hit one ball.

“Coach Newman is the driving force in his players’ college processes,” said Pandey. “He is extremely skilled at his job, and I actually really like watching him talk to college coaches while selling his players. He knows everyone and everyone knows him and regards him with the utmost respect. I truly believe there is no one better than him to help me in my college process. The entire showcase he was talking to me about how to talk to coaches, and introducing me to coaches, hunting them down for me and talking to them about me. I remember after I played my last match, Coach Newman and I went on a mission around the Yale courts for all the schools that are on my list and he knew all of the coaches and introduced me to all of them, effortlessly. I think what makes him good at the college process is his relentless pursuit. From the beginning of the showcase to the end he kept talking to me about getting on Harvard’s radar, and Dartmouth’s radar, which did happen by the end of the showcase, thanks to him. He talked about hunting down the Princeton coach for me the entire showcase, with unrelenting perseverance. He will stop at nothing to sell his players to the schools they want to go to.”

Alejandro echoed Annika’s sentiment about Coach Newman’s leadership.

“Coach Newman is probably the best coach in the country when it comes to placing players at the schools they are dying to go to. He always had at least 5-7 coaches watching everyone’s matches, explaining to them who you are both as a player and a person, and helping to bridge that gap between the player and the coach. He is invaluable because his word has a lot of weight with coaches all around the country, allowing him to really bring ATA players into their radar. There are so many good players out there, but Coach Newman helps you stand out as a player, person, and recruit. So many times I heard coaches say, “we love ATA players”, and he knows exactly how to use that reputation to get the coaches you want recruiting you.”

For Newman, he is not only vigorously working on behalf of each of the players currently on the trip, but also all future ATA players who will soon be in that position.

“It’s very valuable for all the players at ATA, not just the ones who come on the trip because I am constantly talking to coaches about all of our players,” Newman said. “ATA has a very good track record of placing leaders at college tennis programs, coaches know ATA and more specifically they know me very well. My goal has been to build a stellar reputation with college coaches so that my credibility with them is impeccable. That way I can be an honest advocate for our students and help coaches make good decisions in their recruiting process. ATA players are highly sought after by college coaches because of the record of the leadership our students have shown in the past.”

Historically, ATA players have gone on to serve as Captain of over 25 college teams – a number this group and many others are looking to add to soon.

The ATA College Prep Community Honors The Class of 2016

The ATA College Prep community came together earlier this month to celebrate the graduating class of 2016.

Set in the serenity of the Spanish Oaks hills, a few hundred family members and friends of the graduates attended the commencement ceremony. Before Head Coach Doug Davis offered his customary invocation,Director of ATA College Prep Carol Hagar opened the evening and welcomed the guests.

“Over the years, I have witnessed these student-athletes struggle, accomplish, and develop into strong young men and women and it has been an honor to work with each of them. I hope that the lessons learned here will continue to guide them into thoughtful futures and continued transformations. I know they will each add a great deal to their excellent university communities.” ~Carol Hagar

As the sun set behind the trees, the community personally honored and celebrated each graduate. Hunter Bleser, Sofia Burnett, Chase Bartlett, Payton Holden and Erik Kerrigan were each recognized through commemorative video tributes, introduced by two loved ones who know each graduate best, and finished by addressing the audience with a few words of their own.

Continuing a CP tradition, each graduate selected a Senior Legacy Quote that will be installed as pavers in the campus garden. Their selections are below.

Chase Taylor Bartlett will attend St. Edward’s University next fall. His trainer/mentor Dio Miranda and friend Garrett Reiter spoke on his behalf.

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” – Vivian Greene

Hunter Nicole Bleser will attend the University of Virginia next fall. Her grandfather Franklin Cutler and brother Ryan Bleser spoke on her behalf.

“God didn’t bring you this far to leave you.” – Philippians 1:6

Sofia Burnett will attend Washington University next fall. Her friend Sarah Masaryk and trainer/mentor Dio Miranda spoke on her behalf.

“What lies behind us, and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Payton Holden will attend Princeton University next fall. His friend/mentor Philip Berber and his Aunt Renee Pethtel spoke on his behalf.

“But you know, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” – J.K. Rowling

Erik Kerrigan will attend the University of Chicago next fall. His friend Aksel Taylan and English teacher Tommy Collins spoke on his behalf.

“The world’s a stage and I want the brightest spot.” – David Lee Roth

After the presentation of the graduates, Christopher Stevens, a Notre Dame Professor, Producer and Entrepreneur, offered the commencement address titled Living The Dream.

“What a thrill to see how every child should be so blessed to graduate. ATA is a very special place and the fine institutions the five graduates will attend this fall is testimony to the quality education they have received. Moreover, the sense of wanting to give back and help those less fortunate than they are seems to run in the DNA of every student. It was truly a privilege to be at the ATA graduation ceremony.”

~Chris Stevens

CEO Jack Newman closed the graduation ceremony by initiating the Passing Of Leadership To The Class of 2017. This tradition of handing off the ATA ball symbolizes the hand off of responsibility for leadership within the greater Academy group for the next year.

A year from now, this group of leaders will look to continue the CP tradition of 100{37ef6ac642fae6f93f343032eb62785d28fa7a25a4a4f0267a12512c541c53a9} college matriculation to some of the top schools in the world.

Congratulations to each of the ATA College Prep graduates of the class of 2016! Check the ATA College Prep Facebook page for more pictures from the evening.

ATA College Prep – Around The Campus, In The Classroom

It is hard to believe… but we are approaching the final moments of the 2015-16 academic year. The students and teachers are well underway preparing for a strong finish to the year, while continuing to improve on the court as they enter the summer months.

Below are a few photos from around campus and inside a few classrooms recently.

The CP students do a group dance for a video message in an attempt to cheer up a fellow teammate who was recovering at home.

The boys work the legs and lungs while Coach Luka keeps track of time. This was one stage in a lengthy and diverse circuit workout to support strength and conditioning.

Coach Lucie leads the group in a Pilates workout during a rainy morning after the circuit workout.

Mr. Collins is guiding the English III/IV students through their final research papers after discussing C.S. Lewis. Each student chose a social problem in Austin and is working to research the issue and offer a solution. They will present their findings to the school at the end of the semester, including the experience of volunteering their time and energy to support their proposed solution.

Mr. Rutherford gets his Chemistry class started. “We’ve been learning about nuclear chemistry, radioactivity and nuclear power, as well as discussing the advantages and drawbacks of nuclear energy production in society,” Rutherford said.

Erik Kerrigan, a CP senior and UChicago commit, helps Josh and Wilson with math homework.

Check back over the next few weeks for updates on the end of the year presentations, graduation and more!

ATA College Prep Gains All A’s in (re)Accreditation!

June will mark five years since a major milestone in the development of the Austin Tennis Academy. That month, the ATA College Prep program, which at the time was a young community-supported learning environment, earned full accreditation through AdvancEd, the largest accreditation organization and education community in the world with a network of 32,000 private and public pre K-12 schools, colleges and universities. At the time, ATACP was both the youngest and smallest school ever to receive full accreditation through AdvancEd.

“The growth and development as well as the accreditation and reaccreditation of ATA College Prep is a fantastic accomplishment and opportunity for our community. ATA College Prep allows us to impact our students in both their academic and athletic lives in powerful and meaningful ways. Teachers and coaches are focused on high performance as a way of life and students are getting positive, impactful messaging throughout their day. This has led to ATA College Prep college placements that are in the words of one of our evaluators: ‘off the chart’.”

Accredited status eases the process for transfer students moving between accredited schools, while demonstrating that ATACP meets nationally recognized standards for quality and professional practices.

As the status requires renewal after 5 years, ATACP recently went through the evaluation process with AdvancEd. First, through in-depth reporting and data tracking, and next through a two-day on-site visit including classroom visits, and extensive interviews, the evaluators conducted a rigorous review of the school and its systems.

The committee Lead stated that ATACP attained the highest overall scores in all 7 domains received by any school during the year and announced that CP would be recommended for re-accreditation. In example, ATACP scores as compared to National Averages were: High Expectations Environment 3.51 to 2.81; Active Learning Environment 3.43 to 2.94; and Well-Managed Environment 3.4 to 3.14.

“ATACP is committed to continuous improvement which is apparent through our community culture of mindfulness, holistic programming, excellent instructional staff, above national SAT averages, and 100{37ef6ac642fae6f93f343032eb62785d28fa7a25a4a4f0267a12512c541c53a9} graduation rate to 4-year universities. It is very rewarding to gain validation from a national board of experts that our programs, processes and people are exemplary among our peers,” states Carol Hagar, Director of ATACP.

Looking back, many of the goals outlined five years ago after being evaluated – like establishing a permanent school building – have been accomplished. Looking forward, CP leadership has again defined a set of goals that both ensure continuous improvement and confirm that it is creating lifelong learners.

Carol reflects that, “Conquering the stigma often associated with a small independent school or sports academy education has been a challenge. But innovation is often uncomfortable, uncommon and unrecognizable until much later when the stories of change, success and gratitude are told and remembered. Enhancing the overall vision of the Austin Tennis Academy, ATACP is a place where young minds and bodies can reach for excellence, develop a mindful approach to life, and dare to become citizens of significance.”

For more information about ATA College Prep, click here, or contact Carol Hagar directly at Carol.Hagar@AustinTennisAcademy.com.

ATA College Workshop and Coaches Forum

Please join us on Saturday evening March 26th from 7pm-8pm at ATA College Prep (on the ATA campus) for a College Workshop and Coaches Forum. Carol Hagar will give a brief presentation outlining the college search and recruiting processes and college coaches from the area will be available for Q&A.

TennisRecruiting.net has generously offered to provide dinner for this event.

Please RSVP to Carol.Hagar@AustinTennisAcademy.com so we have an accurate head count for dinner.

ATA College Prep Students Debate Policy, Develop Skills

The ATA College Prep Policy Debate unfolded last Friday, with many of CP’s juniors and seniors clashing over the topic of ‘Increasing Military Presence In The Middle East’.

“Debate and public speaking are primary components in an education that matches our mission of developing compassionate, communicative leaders,” said Head of School Carol Hagar. “During their years here, all CP students produce both informal oral presentations and formal ones, as in the recent policy debate. I was impressed with the overall level of research, preparation and poised delivery from each our students.”

The debate, which followed the standard guidelines outlined by the National Christian Forensics And Communications Association, centered on the issue of whether or not the United States should allocate more military resources of all kinds to the Middle East as a solution to the growing instability in the region. CP Junior Alejandro Rodriguez argued for the Negative Team.

“I had a lot of fun in both taking the debate course and doing the actual debate,” Alejandro said. “Because of our topic, I felt like I got to engage in something that is current and relevant, and I got to greatly expand my knowledge on the subject. I really enjoyed the final debate because it was kind of a culmination of what we had researched and practiced for a whole semester and it was cool to see how we all did after so much preparation. The amount of reading we did was really high and in depth and it was a good experience to prepare me for future classes/endeavors.”

Ms. Yousef, who has a background teaching social studies, speech, and theatre, got into debate because to her it is a combination of all of those.

“I teach debate for two reasons: it offers skills that can be an asset in many careers and I enjoy watching students grow in ability and confidence. Debate develops skills in critical thinking, research, organization, persuasion, and writing affirmative cases and negative briefs on US policy. This type of research and organization can translate into many fields. The recent exhibition debate before judges gave the students an excellent opportunity to try their arguments and realize how much they have learned. They have spent many hours researching the resolution, which called for more US military presence in volatile regions and studying the rules of policy debate. I think everyone stood up to the task and should be proud of their performance.”

Congratulations to all of the College Prep students who participated in the 2016 CP Policy Debate!

Meet CP Teacher And Award-Winning Actress Taylor Flanagan

For the past 41 years, the B. Iden Payne Awards have recognized outstanding work from the theatre community in Austin. Among the honorees this year, the award for Outstanding Featured Actress went to Taylor Flanagan for her performance as young Gabrielle York in When The Rain Stops Falling. On top of putting on award-winning performances, Taylor leads the Theatre and Spanish classes at ATA College Prep.

“Taylor is a quick study and has been able to effectively play multiple roles at College Prep – from registrar to event planner to general organizer to an inspirational Spanish teacher,” said CP Director Carol Hagar. “But it is in her roles as Theatre teacher, director and actress that we see her fully represented. Her ability to integrate the arts into each of her classes not only increases student enjoyment of the class, but also stimulates brain targets, memory retrieval, and the neuroscience of learning. As an extension of applied learning and exposure to the arts, we look forward to CP students attending Austin’s production of Dracula and seeing Mrs. Flanagan perform live and on stage.”

Taylor adds this accolade to an already impressive resume in Austin theatre. She won her first Payne award for Outstanding Youth Performer for her role in The Visit. She also starred in dance-based show Parents/Kids Dance Party, as well as scripted shows like Casket of Passing Fancy, All Too Human, Sun and Moon, and dozens more.

“I am really touched that people were affected enough by this show and my performance to give them special recognition,” Taylor said. “And I was extremely honored to be nominated alongside the other actresses in my category. Being named in the same category as these women was a big deal for me.”

While it’s been a busy year for her on stage – she played Mina in Dracula at The Vortex last month – Taylor’s foundations in theatre date back to classes when she was 5 years old growing up in Austin. Around that time she met Carol Hagar.

“I’ve known Carol since I can remember,” Taylor said. “We were a part of the same homeschooling community (Austin Area Homeschoolers). This group was really close-knit, so I grew up with a huge extended family of peers, teachers and mentors. I also grew up taking theatre classes with her kids, so she’s been there for some of my most embarrassing and exhilarating moments onstage. And now, as my boss, she continues to see me through some of my greatest challenges and successes on a daily basis.”

The two qualities that resonate from Taylor’s background with Carol are also what feed her continued passion for theatre: opportunities to learn and shared community.

“Every play is an opportunity to learn something new. I have learned so much in rehearsal: projection, stage combat, dialects, Shakespearean verse, history, psychology, geography, singing, memorization techniques, different ways people overcome hardship, marketing tactics, stretching, empathy, golf, recipes for fake blood, you name it,” Taylor said. “I love the connection you make with your team and the wonderful conversations that theatre can spark with people.”

On top of leading Theatre at CP, Taylor also teaches Spanish. She was initially drawn to the language so she could communicate with all of the Spanish speakers in Austin, but dove in on a scholarly level in college.

“I did various study abroad programs in Spanish-speaking countries and taught Spanish-speaking children in elementary schools in Peru, Guatemala and right here in Austin before I started teaching Spanish as a foreign language at ATA CP,” Taylor said.

Taylor brings a passionate dedication to her students through her engaging and warm personality. It is no surprise that as she thrives in her role as a teacher, those two core characteristics are still common themes in her life: learning and community.

“CP sees everyone as a whole person,” Taylor said. “I’ve seen it in our approach to our students, but I’ve also felt it as a teacher here. The CP environment regularly helps me look beyond my degree and certifications to learn, grow, and share more of my potential as a teacher and as a person. It is a very empowering place to work and I am extremely grateful for my College Prep family.”

Tonight, Taylor begins rehearsals for her next role in As You Like It with Shrewd Productions at Trinity Street Theatre running Feb 19-March 5th. Learn more here.

ATA CP Senior Erik Kerrigan Commits To University Of Chicago

ATA College Prep Senior Erik Kerrigan announced to his classmates and teachers last week that he plans to attend the University Of Chicago next fall – the number 4-ranked national university and the number 3-ranked NCAA Division III tennis program in the country.

“I am looking forward to stretching my mind and expanding my horizons at one of the top 5 universities in the world,” Erik said.

Earlier this month, Erik was also named a Commended Student in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program.

About 34,000 Commended Students were recognized this year for their exceptional academic promise. Commended students placed among the to 5{37ef6ac642fae6f93f343032eb62785d28fa7a25a4a4f0267a12512c541c53a9} of more that 1.5 million students who entered the competition by taking the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

“I felt very prepared for the test,” Erik said. “The best way to do well on these tests is to do enough practice that you have effectively seen any kind of problem that will be asked.”

Erik specifically appreciated the guidance he received from ATA CP’s math and science specialist, Bryan Rutherford.

“Mr. Rutherford did a fantastic job when I came to him asking for help. He provided me with practice materials and was willing to take some of his free time to go over problems with me.”

Erik has been part of the ATA program for 6 years, and began ATA CP as a sophomore. Since beginning College Prep, Erik has become one of the best tennis players in the state. He is learning the importance of managing his time and his energy, thinking creatively and mastering problem solving, all of which are important preparation for a successful collegiate scholar-athlete.

“The biggest positives about CP for me include small classes, easy to access teachers, and lack of busywork,” Erik said. “All work assigned will help you grow, not just take up time.”

ErikKBH

Erik’s daily routine at CP begins with a morning workout 7:45-9:30AM. He steps off the court and into school, selects a taco for breakfast and prepares for his CP Leadership meeting. Following a college block schedule, he moves from Computer Science to Debate to English Literature to Government to French on MW&F, and from Linear Algebra to Anatomy & Physiology on T & Th. His private lessons and fitness programming are interwoven throughout his days. Often, he finished with afternoon practice from 4-6PM and fitness from 6-7PM.

“I like that at CP, you can always find your teachers for help, and that classes don’t assign a lot of homework simply to take up time, they assign what needs to be known.”

This rigorous academic load is designed to prepare Erik and the other students for what comes next at a top-tier academic school. The intensity of two-a-day workouts, small group intensives, and individualized lessons are preparing him for elite college fitness training.

Erik will join a Men’s Varsity team at UChicago that competes in the NCAA DIII and consistently finishes in the top 5 nationally.

“I am looking forward to the challenge of making the lineup at a team contending for a National title, and being a leader on that team going forward.”

According to U.S. News & World Reports, the University of Chicago ties with Stanford and Columbia as the number 4-ranked national university. Erik will predictably step into a competitive environment with some of the brightest young adults in the world, including future teammate and ATA CP alum Liam Leddy.

“We’re very excited to have Erik joining us next year,” Liam said. “While I will have graduated by the time Erik gets to campus, it’s nice to know that ATA CP will still have representation on the team and at the university. I know that Erik will better the team, and UChicago will better him on and, most importantly, off the court.”

While the experience of living away from family and having a new setting around him are exciting, ultimately, it is the people he will spend his time with that set U of Chicago apart from other options.

“I think the combination of being near a big city, coupled with a great group of guys on the team, and a laid back coach made it a perfect combination for me.”

ATA CP Senior Payton Holden Commits To Princeton University

ATA College Prep Senior Payton Holden recently announced that he plans to pursue his academic and athletic careers at Princeton University – the number 1 ranked national university – next fall.

“The main thing that drew me to Princeton was the high academic level,” Payton said. “No one in my family has ever attended the Ivy and I think it will be a life-changing experience.”

Payton first came to ATA nearly nine years ago, learning QuickStart tennis skills and having fun with the game. Today, Payton is amid his 5^th year in the ATA College Prep program, has blossomed into a top national-level tennis player and is a standout student in a challenging academic environment.

“Payton Holden is the sort of young man ATA and ATA College Prep were designed to help,” Coach Jack Newman said. “He struck his first ball as a wide-eyed 9 year old and has been a top US junior tennis competitor the entire 9 years since. With his latest accomplishment of committing to Princeton University, Payton joins the ranks of ATA players who have used their tennis and academics to leverage their college choice. He joins former students like Jeff Offerdahl (Vanderbilt), Grayson Broadus and Josh Hagar (Notre Dame), Spencer Chiu (Pomona) and Camilla Trapness (Amherst) in an exciting adventure of college tennis and academics.”

Athletically, Payton will join a Princeton Tigers team that competes in the Ivy League alongside schools like Harvard and Yale. The group finished 2015 ranked 36 in the nation, logging a record of 19-8.

“I am so excited for the team aspect of college tennis,” Payton said. “Anyone who knows me will say that I am a people-person, and being with a group of 10-12 guys all working towards the same goal will create something special in the end.”

Academically, Princeton is the number 1 ranked national university according to U.S. News & World Reports. For Payton, it is the opportunity to grow that he is most excited about.

“I am excited to have my mind blown,” he said. “School will be extremely difficult and I am excited to see how I handle it and how it changes me as a person.”

Payton started this school year as a junior, but decided to graduate early when the opportunity became available. This is one example of how CP works to maximize students’ college opportunities through individualization and planning.

“One of our foundational principles is to provide opportunities that help a child move from where he is to where he wants to go,” CP Director Carol Hagar said. “Because of our flexible learning schedule and individual academic planning, Payton was able to explore advanced placement, high school credit courses at a very young age. He began typical high school freshman courses during his 7th grade year at CP and has been able to continue at an accelerated pace. Now he is exercising his option to graduate a year early and attend the school of his dreams, Princeton University.”

In his years at CP, it is learning to get the most out of himself that stands out to Payton as what will stick with him moving forward.

“ATA CP has taught me the responsibility to manage my own time,” Payton said. “Its schedule is similar to a college schedule, so it has made me comfortable with learning certain topics on my own between classes and completing school work while on the road.”

While Payton logged long hours to earn his place at Princeton, he gives credit to his long-time coach, Jack Newman, for the long-term plan and ultimately opening the door.

“Coach Newman is a college process guru,” Payton said. “He knows everyone, but more importantly every coach knows who he is and respects him as a coach. He has a very good reputation with college coaches and it allows him to get his students more opportunities.”

Beyond forehands and physics, Payton will head to Princeton armed with other tools that he also credits to his time at ATA.

“ATA has taught me a strong work ethic and to enjoy the struggles on and off the court,” Payton said. “When you encounter any adversity and overcome it, you grow as a person/player.”

Congratulations, Payton, and go Tigers! Join the community at ATA on Nov 11th to celebrate Payton at his official Signing Ceremony party.

UT Neuroscientist To Speak To CP Students Tuesday

Dr. Kimberley Raab-Graham, a Professor of Neuroscience and a Principal Investigator in the Center for Learning and Memory at the University of Texas in Austin, will speak to the ATA College Prep students and teachers on campus this Tuesday.

Kimberly_Raab-Graham

“Dr. Raab-Graham and her graduate students will give a presentation to our students describing some of their work, and how our memory works,” CP teacher Summer Messer said. “Students will also be broken into small groups for learning activities.”

Her group researches molecular mechanisms used during learning and memory, focusing on how synapses transform the makeup of protein in a site-specific manner in response to changes in the activities of neurons. Their goal is to discover how different cellular mechanisms are manipulated in mental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr. Raab-Graham’s research has been published in several scientific journals including Molecular Psychiatry, Neurobiology of Disease, and Journal of Cell Biology.

“We are excited for the opportunity to host and hear from Neuroscientists performing cutting edge research in their field,” Messer said.

For more information on Dr. Raab-Graham and her research go to https://clm.utexas.edu/krglab.

ATA College Prep Senior Hunter Bleser Commits To U Of Virginia

Hunter Bleser, a senior at ATA College Prep, recently accepted a full scholarship offer from the University of Virginia, where she will extend her academic and athletic careers beginning next fall.

“Virginia, for me, hit a home run in every aspect that I was looking for in a college,” Hunter said. “They have an incredible athletic program and are one of the top ranked schools in the country academically.

The University of Virginia was ranked the number 3 best public university in the United States according to the 2016 U.S. News and World Report rankings. Founded by Thomas Jefferson as a research university in Charlottesville, UVA enrolls about 15 thousand undergraduates and another 6 thousand graduates on campus.

“I’m excited to push my mind to its full capabilities and to have the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the brightest people out there,” said Hunter.

On the court, Hunter will look to contribute to a Cavalier team that finished the 2015 season ranked 9^th in the country. Athletically, Hunter said she is most excited to push her limits and improve.

“To have the long days where I know I’m going to be completely exhausted when I get back to my room every night and to have the practices where I feel like I’m going to die. That to me is the best part.”

Her choice ultimately came down to the University of Kansas and the University of Minnesota besides UVA. For Hunter, Virginia presented the best opportunity to excel to her full potential both academically and athletically, which is what she is most looking forward to at the next level.

“Initially though, I would have to say the academics are what drew me to it. The great athletics program was just icing on the cake,” Hunter said.

Hunter joined the ATA College Prep program the summer before her senior year. She has thrived in a program that focuses on direct preparation for the environment of high-level academics and athletics into which its students will move.

“ATA CP is different from my previous school because it is more accommodating to my busy schedule but in a college set up. The longer classes and the block schedule really makes you work harder and focus more than my previous school did. The teachers here are more understanding with my busy schedule but they make a point not to take it easy on me just because of that. ATA CP definitely gets you ready for a more college-like setting than your typical public school.”

Preparation for and guidance through the college process is a pillar of ATA CP, and was something that stood out to Hunter.

“ATA tremendously helped me in my college process. They explained to me what exactly it is coaches are looking for and encouraged me to play my game just the way it is. They also went above and beyond with helping me get connected to my dream school. I truly owe this program everything and these coaches everything!”

For Lucie Schmidhauser, her primary coach at ATA, Hunter deserves all the credit.

“Hunter impressed me from the start with her willingness to do whatever it takes to get better as a tennis player. She has a big upside that will allow her to be a successful collegiate tennis player at the University of Virginia. Her height, huge forehand and aggressive gamestyle will make her a force to be reckoned with at the highest levels of collegiate play. Hunter is also very coachable, humble and hard-working and these qualities will serve her well in the future, on and off the court.”

ATA College Prep Director Carol Hagar also praised Hunter.

“I am incredibly proud of Hunter! She came to ATA CP in full force and has taken full advantage of all that is offered here. Her positive attitude, academic diligence, and compassion for her classmates will definitely complement her future successes at UVA.”

Congratulations, Hunter!

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