The following article by Allistair McCaw is about the importance of parents and their child/children being on the same page about goals for their tennis. Not to over push a child to the point where they are just playing to keep their parents happy but to want to play for themselves. Click here to read more
ATA had a large number of players in the 12’s,14’s and 16’s Zonal Team Championships held all over the nation. Coach Brandon and Coach Kendall were also involved and coached a couple of teams with some ATA players on their team. Here is a few words and highlights from them on the teams that they coached.
Coach Brandon’s Team Highlights from Zonals in Shreveport, LA
Team Texas had a great week at the Boy’s and Girl’s 16’s Intersectionals in Shreveport. It s a phenomenal event where the entire community comes out to support and watch, which gives it a special feel. Pierremont Oaks Tennis Club also does an amazing job hosting and running the event. All players who get the opportunity to play here should jump on it!
Alejandro was the only player from ATA who was on Coach Brandon’s team this year and he had a very solid week helping team Texas get second place! We had a great group of boys and girls who really came together as a team this week. Our team had the best chemistry and spirit out of any of the teams and it proved pivotal in many of our matches. All the members of our team(Jaycer Lyeons, Kevin Zhu, Alejandro, Alex Wesbrooks, Janice Shin, Sydney Jones, Chelsea Kung, and Maddie Hwang) did a fantastic job all week with their attitude and their willingness to take information and improve throughout the week!
In the final against Southern California we lost a really tough 5-4 decision. It had the feel of a collegiate match and was really fun to be a part of. How the format works is there are 3 girls singles matches, 3 boys singles matches, 1 boys doubles 8-game pro-set, 1 girls doubles 8-game pro-set, and one mixed doubles 8-game pro-set and every one of these matches counts for one point. After singles we were trailing 2-4 heading into doubles. We got a big win in the mixed doubles to make it 3-4 with boys and girls doubles left on. The boys were able to win in a tie-breaker but the girls came up against really tough team and couldn’t get the victory. All in all it was an amazing week for our team, we definitely surprised a lot of people and all the credit goes to the players and the spirit they brought to the event.
Coach Kendall’s Team Highlights from Zonals in Waco, TX
Jesse Wikso and Adi Ford were on the team I coached. Our team, Texas B, defeated Florida, Pacific Northwest, Northern and Caribbean teams in round robin play to advance to the finals. We beat The top Florida team 11-7 in the final to win the championship! Both Jesse and Adi were instrumental in that victory, as well as doing a great job all week long. They were both mentally strong and great teammates throughout the event. Our teams energy was awesome and we all had great team spirit throughout the event, which helped in tight situations and close matches. Zonals is a great event and atmosphere and everyone should be trying to get on a team.
Callie Creath and Kristin Kerrigan’s teams were both successful also and they received much praise from their coaches. Annika Pandey got in as on site alternate and played on a PNW team. I know she represented Texas and ATA well for her team.
from Carol
There is no better way to understand the culture of a school than to be on the campus, take a tour, and visit with current students and admissions officers. If you are able to take advantage of this part of your college search, it will bring you confidence that your selection is the best fit – academically, athletically, and culturally.
How will this environment serve your growth and development? What criteria are most important to you? Consider the location, population, class size, programs and degrees, social opportunities, post-graduation opportunities.
How will you positively impact this community? Do you have the necessary attributes to be successful here – competitive grades, scores, rankings, community service activities? Do your homework. Research the school’s website.
Take a tour. Ask questions. Visit with the guide. He or she is usually a student and will love to talk about personal experiences at the school. Walk the campus, set up an interview with admissions. If available, sit in on a class. Visit the student center or lounge. Visit the dining halls. Visit the library. These are the places that can give you a sense of the campus culture.
How many students can you expect in your lower and upper level courses – 15 or 150? Is this a teaching university or a research university? Who teaches classes – professors or grad students? What year are you required to declare a major? Can you double major? Is your major available to athletes? Is academic scholarship available? Meet with an admissions counselor.
When you are considering the best fit for pursuing athletics, consider the goal. How do you hope to use tennis as a tool for your personal development? Which school is more appropriate for your goals? Are you hoping to further your training to become a professional athlete? What type of coaching style do you prefer? How many are on the team roster? How many spots do they have for your graduation year? Is scholarship money available? Are you competitive with the players currently on the team (UTR)? Visit the sports facilities. Meet with the coach.
All of the above criteria creates culture, but you should also pay attention to details. Is the school located in the heart of a big city? Is it a small school? or is it a school the size of a small city? What is the ratio of undergraduates to graduates? What clubs or other student activities may be of interest to you? Art? Singing? Greek life? Philanthropic work? Is there a travel abroad program? What are the opportunities after graduation? Does this culture fit YOU?
Write: 1) your personal statement – a few sentences about who you are and what you want from your college experience; 2) your numbers – GPA, SAT/ACT, UTR; 3) questions for admissions, coaches, students. Keep this with you during tours and interviews to take notes and to remind you of your questions.
Jot down pertinent and interesting facts. Take pictures to remind yourself later of some of the unique things about the school and the people. Do this during or immediately after your visit while it is fresh on your mind.
A ‘good college’ is one that fits you. It supports your goals and dreams. College visits are like trying on clothes before you make a selection. Prior to purchasing an entire 4-year wardrobe of a college or university, try it on for size, color, style, and comfort. It will likely increase your satisfaction by ten-fold!
Carol Hagar, Head of ATA College Prep, has written the following memo on how to get into the college of your dreams and factors to consider in deciding if that college is a good fit for you. Click here to download a PDF version of the memo.
College Picks and the Perfect Mix
by Carol Hagar
What is the magic formula to get into the college of your dreams? And how will you know if you can pay, play, and make the grade? There is no single magic formula, but there are some basic ingredients that can get you into the kitchen… IF you are willing to dedicate yourself to the process.
The complete potion requires time and discernment – which can be aided by parents, coaches and mentors – but let’s begin with the basics. A few key ingredients are: grades, tests scores, senior schedule, athletics and most importantly, your character.
1) Grades: Most schools (and NCAA) will look at your GPA using your core classes, not with the added inflation of electives and PE grades. As a general rule: there is no minimum number of courses for college entrance. It is expected that you complete an English, a math, a natural science, and a social science class each year, as well as 2-4 years of a second language, and an array of electives. It is also expected that you have taken the most challenging course load that your school offers AND that you can do well in. College admissions will review and ask, “Are you a good fit for our school, meaning will you be successful? Have you been steady and diligent throughout high school and kept a solid GPA? Have you taken a challenging array of courses?” If you are looking at top tier schools, they expect you to have taken top classes in your high school – AP or honors or dual credit – proving your ability and desire to study and learn. If not, what are the extenuating circumstances?
2) Standardized tests: Because it is difficult to fully assess the variants inherent in comparing hundreds of thousands of high schools, teachers, courses, etc., college admissions compare standardized ACT or SAT scores. Critical Reading and Math comprise the number that colleges use to determine your admissibility. A quick visit to the school’s website will give you the middle range of scores for incoming freshmen. Merit-based aid is usually awarded beginning at 1200 (critical reading + math) but requirements may be higher or lower depending on the school’s percentage acceptance rate. For students who are motivated to do well and have the aptitude to study, there are many companies, tutors, websites and books available for test prep at a variety of fees. Before employing a service, I recommend that you request a baseline assessment and a guarantee for a percentage of score increase.
3) Senior Course Schedule: Colleges determine your acceptance based on your performance through your junior year. It is expected that you will continue in a disciplined manner throughout your senior year. The courses you select for your senior year are the last opportunity for you to prepare for the next level of academic rigor. College admissions officers want to see that you are challenging yourself and performing at your best in preparation for their coursework for the following year. Choose wisely!
4) Athletics: What does it take to get noticed by tennis coaches? On a recent trip to the boys 16-18’s nationals in Kalamazoo, I visited with several college coaches and from those discussions, I compiled the following list of desirable traits:
a) Rankings and significant wins against players with similar profiles to their current roster
b) Technique and technical skill
c) Potential and desire to further develop as an athlete
d) Intelligent shot selection and ability to craft a point
e) Attitude and resiliency
f) Discipline and work ethic
g) Ability to lead teammates by positive example
5) Character: If you will notice in the list above, it includes more character attributes than physical or ranking results. Winning is very important, but so are your attitude and sportsmanship. How do you translate to others the all-important, intangible character attributes that you possess and practice? Are you active in any community service activities? Do you volunteer? Have you been committed to a cause or project over a period of time? Do you have a job? Have you experienced hardship? What makes you unique? Your ability to prioritize, goal set and make the decisions to meet them will set you apart from the rest.
In summary, winning matches is the best way to get the first look from college coaches. Your discipline and dedication will keep them looking. But it is your attitude, resiliency, and ‘coachability’ that will make them a true fan.
How can parents help in guiding the college process?
As in all major decisions affecting the life of your child, you want the very best for him or her. Determine whether this is yours or your child’s decision, or a combination of both. This will avoid frustration and will serve to clarify goals. Guide your child in how to research colleges using the factors meaningful to your family values and requirements. Make sure that the school is a good match academically, culturally, and athletically. Your child will be spending a great deal of time with the coach and team, who will serve as a second family during the next four years. Here are a few things to consider:
Although it appears to be an arduous task with many variables, this creative process can be an enjoyable experience. Prioritize your personal formula and stay true to the recipe.
The time you begin this process depends on the preparedness of you and your child. Begin to gather the ingredients and, regardless of where you are in the process, categorize them and play with the possibilities. Eventually, everything ripens and is ready to create a unique and powerful opportunity.
Looking forward!
Carol Hagar
Head of ATA College Prep
Victoria and Abigail G18s doubles finalists!
Coach Carrie on Raven qualifying through Champ Masters:
Raven Hampton qualified for the G18’s Grand Slam through winning 2 singles matches on Friday in the Champ Masters tournament. She competed very well but really stepped it up in her 2nd match Friday. She was running down every ball and gave it her all to win a close first set and then put the girl away in the 2nd! She has lots to build on coming away from this tournament after playing against a couple good supers in the Grand Slam.
Coach Newman on boys 18s group and girls 16s group:
ATA boys 18’s group, with Payton Holden leading the pack making it to the quarterfinals in singles. A total of 30 wins for ATA B18 players.
ATA girls 16’s group, while not in the final matches a lot of players had solid performances winning many matches and beating higher seeds. Total number of G16 matches won 28 matches.
Coach Lucie on some standout performances from players she watched this weekend:
Caroline Wernli had an excellent tournament, winning Girls 12’s doubles draw with her partner Emma Staker and finishing 2nd in Girls 12’s singles. Her excellent results catapulted her into a #1 ranking in Texas in her age division!!! Caroline continues to work extremely hard on and off the court and it’s really showing in her results.
Adi Ford, after struggling over the past few months in tournament play, had an excellent tournament, winning 4 matches in her Girls 16’s draw and competing extremely well.
Georgia Wright also won four singles matches in Girls 16’s, competing with grit and passion.
Loli Perim and Alex Mjos reached semifinals of Girls 16’s doubles losing to the eventual champions.
Coach Brandon on some standout performances from players he watched this weekend:
Alejandro Rodriguez had a great tournament, reaching the semifinals in singles and doubles! He did a great job of competing throughout the event. His hard work and consistency continues to pay dividends for him and it was a great start to his summer schedule.
Chase Bartlett played some excellent tennis as he worked his way through many matches in the back draw. His competitive fire was fun to watch! You could see him get better and better as the tournament went on. He really played himself into the tournament and it was a very solid event for him.
Callie Creath had a great event making the round of 16 in singles and quarterfinals of the back draw. She held herself very well and competed hard even when things were not going her way. She beat a player she had never beaten before on her way to the round of 16! It was a great start to her summer schedule of tournaments.
Kristin Kerrigan also had a great event making the round of 16 in singles and the semifinals of the back draw. Kristin beat a player who beat her 6-0 6-0 just a few months ago! Kristin was playing with very good clarity and competitive fire and it showed in her results.
Jake Berber did a great job of working his way through the back draw into day 7 after a tough first round loss. He overcame the rain delays, moving indoor and outdoor, and shortened format to earn a very good result that put him in position to make every national tournament moving forward!
Jesse Wikso played some really good tennis throughout the event, just coming up a little short in his main draw match against Allen. He is very close to being able to win that tournament! He did a great job of moving through the back draw and winning quite a few rounds. His clarity of how he wanted to play was very good and he continues to be a great competitor on the court.
Loli Perim had a great event! She beat a girl in convincing fashion who had beaten her three times this year and made it to the round of 16. She is really hitting her stride and playing some great tennis.
Alex Mjos and Loli had a breakthrough event in doubles reaching the semifinals! They beat a high seed in the quarters to advance to the semis and played some really great, aggressive doubles in the process. They have all the tools to be a perennial contender for doubles titles in their age division.
Abigail Chiu and Victoria made it to the finals before running up against a very strong team! They show amazing composure and fight in the quarterfinals losing a big lead but overcoming adversity and eventually winning the match. It was very high energy and exciting to watch!
Coach Eric on Blaine’s and Max’s fighting performances:
Blaine Kanak chose the right time to lift his level of tournament play at the Grand Slam by winning a hard fought 3 set match in the first round followed by an outstanding performance against the #2 seed who went on to win the tournament. Although the score was not close, Blaine felt great about how he competed in this match. Blaine also demonstrated an improved ability to compete with focus and grit by winning 2 more singles matches in the backdraw before losing a closely fought battle to a player who was ranked #1 in Texas in Boys 12s last year.
Max Schmidhauser reached the quarterfinals by defeating a #5 seed in Boys 14’s who previously beat him convincingly due to the fact that he was given excellent game plan through insightful advice from Coach Tres Davis, Coach Doug Davis and Coach Newman. This upset would have never happened without this “spot on” coaching input.
Coach Luka on Max’s performance:
Max Schmidhauser did an amazing job on the competing part and keeping a positive attitude. He did a great job beating JC and put up a good fight against number 2 seed. Even when the opponent was serving for the match he still got up from the bench and ran to his side yelling “Let’s go.” That type of attitude doesn’t come easy. He always believed he has what it takes to beat all the guys in the draw. Was a pleasure watching him compete his butt off all week!
Coach Vince on the Dania’s:
Anushka and Megha Dania made it to the semifinals of G14s doubles after playing a great/smart match in the quarters against 2 strong players.
This Summer, your child can take advantage of the Austin Tennis Academy’s tennis camps to progress at a rapid rate. These camps are designed to provide the greatest development of your child’s physical, mental, technical, and tactical performance levels. Sign up now for a full week or a single day, 1st week of camp is June 15th! Click here for more info and to register
ATA has 60 super champ players competing in the Texas Grand Slam tournament starting Friday, June 12th! Twenty two of the singles players are seeded, singles play starts Saturday, June 13th. In doubles, ATA has twenty two seeded players and play starts Friday, June 12th.
ATA SEEDED PLAYERS
Boys 18s
Boys 18d
Boys 16s
Boys 16d
Boys 14s
Boys 14d
Boys 12s
Girls 18s
Girls 18d
Girls 16s
Girls 16d
Girls 14s
Girls 14d
Girls 12s
Girls 12d
We recently received an update on the Gonok Village deep borehole well project.
Over the past few months, REST (a Relief Organization of Tigray, and regional non-profit partner of the Glimmer of Hope Foundation) has worked with the Gonok community to establish a WASHCO, which is a very small unit of government created to take care of the water project and a tabia-level board for the new Deep Bore Hole well. The WASHCO includes 10 community members and the tabia board consists of experts on water supply, agriculture and rural development, health institutions, women’s affairs, education, and farming.
This is important because in the past we have not had this level of structured management around our DBH projects. While there has been a WASHCO associated with Glimmer water schemes, the new WASHCO is larger and has defined responsibilities. The tabia board is a new addition to Glimmer DBH project management, and it will help the Gonok community manage the day to day activities associated with the DBH and also act as an advocate for the Gonok community if there are issues that need to be escalated to the woreda level, such as major repairs.
The community has opened a bank account for the DBH, in which the woreda and the community deposit money into as well as any tariffs collected after the DBH is in use.
This is interesting because the money has been collected upfront, which shows that the local government and community are strongly committed to the project!
The project continues to move forward and we are excited to see the conclusion of this massive project in sight. The following will be happening in June and July:
Thursday evening the ATA community honored Conor O’Meara, as he signed with DePaul University to join their men’s tennis team for Fall 2015. DePaul University is a Division I school in Chicago, Illinois. He will be pursuing a degree in film. Congratulations Conor!!!
Growing Champions for Life Newsletter has a short article, “Are Your Child’s Life Accounts in Balance?” that ATA CEO Jack Newman recommends. It is about having a well rounded child to minimize gaps in their preparation for dealing with life for when they grow up.Click here to read more
Congratulations 2015 College Prep graduates! Thank you all that came out to support and congratulate Grayson, Spencer and Camilla as they move on to the next chapter of their lives…COLLEGE!!! Grayson will be attending University of Notre Dame, Spencer will be attending Pomona College and Camilla will be attending Amherst College in the Fall.
The ATA ball has been passed to the upcoming group of ATA seniors.
DALLAS 12’s and 14’s
Coach Newman on notable player performances he watched this weekend.
Harrison Chiu finished 4th in B14 ‘A’ draw, very competitive in matches he lost. He will compete for sectional title.
Max Schmidhauser scrapped his way to victory in B14 ‘B’ draw, competed extremely well with calm demeanor and great sportsmanship!
Jack Lum playing Monday tennis, extremely clear about his game style.
Megha Dania won the backdraw in G14s ‘A’ draw for her second SCMZ in a row.
Coach Lucie on notable player performances she watched this weekend.
Caroline Wernli won her 2nd straight singles SCMZ in girls 12’s A draw. She is getting better and her game style is becoming more aggressive. She handled being the #1 seed with poise and fought her heart out in every match.
Sarah Darbar had a break-through tournament in doubles, winning the girls 12’s A draw with her partner. Sarah and her partner were impressive with their attacking game styles and their command of the net.
Lily Schiffman got 4th in her singles 14 B draw, winning several matches in match tie breakers, showing consistency and grit.
Ela Raczka and her partner won Girls 14’s A draw doubles crown, dominating the field!
HOUSTON 16’s and 18’s
Coach Brandon on notable player performances he watched this weekend.
Callie did a great job at this event. She beat two girls she had never beaten before and got 5th place in the Girl’s 16s A draw! She really took a step forward in her ability to play committed tennis in difficult situations, and it paid off. I am looking forward to what her summer has in store for her!
Kristin was very close to having a big breakthrough tournament. She lost two extremely close matches against higher ranked players along with winning 2 back draw matches. She is on a great path and I know she will be making some waves throughout the summer this year!
Grayson had a good event winning a three hour war in the QF against a very solid player then turning around and barely losing the SF against eventual winner Aron Pierce. He just ran out of gas in the hot and humid weather but I thought he did a great job of setting himself up for success at Summer Grand Slam.
Bailey did a fantastic job of battling through a shoulder injury and winning his back draw on Monday. He was in a lot of pain and won a difficult match and it was gutsy! I was proud of his performance.
The 12 and under intermediate Junior Team Tennis team, ATA Devastators, took 2nd place in the Texas section this past weekend in New Braunfels! The team played 4 team matches and only dropped 4 sets out of 20. Gabrielle Flores also took home the Sportsmanship Award for the event, voted on by the opposing teams. ATA also had their 10 and under team, ATA Smashers, competing in the USTA, Texas sectionals.
Pictured above (left to right) Devan Sabapathy, Jake Riezebeek, Neha Dania, Keana Moon, Gabrielle Flores, Adi Iyer, Ross Cockrell and Coach Carrie.
Coach Lucie discussed this article by Pat Dougherty to Academy and CP students during practices this rainy week. Everyone was asked to take notes and be ready to discuss the characteristics of being a great competitor. Click the link below to read the full article.
Download the article here: www.apbelt.com/images/10_Characteristics.doc
This Thursday May 14th the Men begin and Friday May 15th the Women begin the round of Sweet 16 of the NCAA Team Tennis Championships. Baylor University is hosting the event, which will see the top 16 Men’s and Women’s teams converge on Waco to determine the best team in the nation. Both Men’s and Women’s semifinals will be on Monday, May 18th.
ATA Academy players and Westlake High School students Julian and Marcus Sweeney teamed up to earn their way into the Texas UIL State Tennis Tournament.
“It’s fun playing with Marcus because since I am the big brother, I’m calling the shots and running all of the plays,” Julian said. “The most challenging part is keeping our energy up, which is one of the most important things in doubles.”
The duo won four matches at District and another 5 matches at Regionals. With two teams from each Region qualifying, the Sweeney brothers will be one of just 8 teams from across Texas to compete for a State title.
“The most fun thing about playing with my brother is that I know that no matter if we win or lose, I know that we will remember whatever happens for the rest of our lives,” Marcus said. “The most challenging is that on the court, we don’t always get along, and it requires a lot of teamwork to work through the challenging times.”
The Sweeney brothers will take the court at the State Tournament on May 12-13 in College Station, TX. Good luck, boys!!!
Below is a link to an article that comes recommended from ATA CEO Jack Newman. The article is titled Sleep: the greatest performance enhancer – here is a brief excerpt:
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“Rather than looking at the deficits of the brain with regards to the lack of sleep, we should be acting upon the research of the benefits on the brain with increased sleep. We need to take care of our brains to optimize our health and well being. So often we hear people saying, “I can’t afford to get that much sleep.” My reply to them is, “you can’t afford not to!”
Click here to read the entire article: http://adisciplinedmind.com/6/post/2015/05/sleep-the-greatest-performance-enhancer.html
ATA College Prep alum Maggie O’Meara earned All-Mountain West honors for her doubles play this season alongside partner McKenzie Davis. O’Meara earned all-conference honors, an award voted on by the coaches throughout the conference, in her Freshman season.
The duo logged a 15-4 record so far this season, and looks to add to that record in the second round of the Mountain West Women’s Tennis Championships on Friday against San Jose State.
Congratulations, Maggie, and good luck this weekend!
ATA CEO Jack Newman was part of a USTA focus group with outgoing player development head Patrick McEnroe as well as director of men’s tennis Jay Berger. In addition, representatives from the USTA Texas Section and five other coaches from Texas participated in the discussions about TEAM USA tennis, the USTA player development plan to develop US tennis champions.
