Congratulations to Caroline Wernli, who ages up tomorrow to Girls 14s. Caroline is ending her 12s career being ranked #1 in Texas for the past 8 months and #15 in the nation. She is already #10 in Texas in 14s. Happy Birthday Caroline, all your hard work and dedication is showing.
Over the past two years, ATA’s fitness program has risen to a new level that separates it from other programs through the addition of pilates and on-court tennis specific fitness training that complement the existing strength and conditioning program that is based on the C.H.E.K. system (Corrective, High-performance, Exercise and Kinesiology). Dio Miranda, who serves as the Director of Fitness for ATA, has created a culture that discourages the no pain-no gain philosophy that can hurt players by instead encouraging them to train in a safe way with appropriate form and technique in a functional environment. The flexibility and range of motion of ATA students are also addressed through specific stretches that are assigned based on individual assessments. In addition, players are educated on sleeping and hydration patterns, and customized nutrition programs are offered through metabolic typing such as blood type diets. An increasing number of ATA players are also taking the next step by adding private training sessions that are customized for what the individual players needs following a comprehensive assessment. In addition to Coach Dio, athletes training at ATA now have the option to have private fitness sessions with newly hired Josh Rifkin as well as pilates sessions with Lucie Schmidhauser.
The ATA fitness program has benefitted by adding pilates exercises that are aimed to improve core strength, muscle tone, flexibility and posture. Coach Lucie Schmidhauser, who is comprehensively certified through Peak Pilates, is available for private sessions using the Pilates Reformer as well as group mat classes. The most recent addition to the ATA Fitness team is Josh Rifkin who brings a new focus to tennis specific fitness training based on his experience as a high level junior and collegiate tennis player along with the knowledge he gained by studying under Pat Etcheberry, who is the most renowned fitness expert in the tennis industry. Etcheberry has trained Pete Sampras, Jim Courier, Justine Henin, Monica Seles and many other accomplished tennis professionals. Coach Josh was also exposed to some of the best tennis coaching minds while training for the professional tennis tour. According to Coach Newman, “it is a huge benefit to our players to have a fitness trainer who played tennis at a high level and has a strong foundation in fitness through the highly respected C.H.E.K. Institute.” The basis of what Coach Josh does with his on-court tennis specific training is from his Pat Etcheberry Training Certification. The core of this on-court training is tennis specific footwork patterns and movement patterns that athletes actually use on the court. These movements are strengthened by using resistance bands and medicine balls to improve tennis performance. Josh also utilizes drills that enhance power, strength, endurance and conditioning while also improving agility, acceleration, direction change, recovery and racquet head speed. This type of tennis specific training complements general performance enhancement training. It should be noted that Coach Josh is also available for performance enhancement training sessions in the gym.
Coach Dio has trained professional baseball players from 9 different Major League Baseball teams, and he firmly believes ATA’s fitness program rivals that of most Major League teams. Whether players are training with Coach Dio for strength and conditioning, Coach Lucie for core strength enhancement through pilates exercises or Coach Josh for tennis specific movement patterns, all three energetic coaches deliver high level tennis specific fitness training that allow players to reach the next level of performance.
ATA Alumni Andrew Parks Earns Player of the Week Award
Air Force Academy senior and ATA alumni Andrew Parks went 4-0 this past weekend to earn player of the week award for the Mountain West Conference. He also earned his first career win over a nationally ranked opponent! Congrats to Andrew! To read more on his weekend results click here.
William McEwin is a second grader that is in ATA’s Junior Development program. He wrote this poem for school and it is about his match at a Junior Team Tennis event. If you have ever met William he is very energetic and you can tell he loves the sport!
“Tennis”
My tennis game was a miss!
I swung too early, I swung too late.
I swung too low, I swung too high.
I swung too light, I swung too hard.
I did a wrong stroke,
I swung to the side.
That’s ok, that’s alright because I love tennis and it’s a wild ride!!!
ATA players comprehensively dominated their respective draws at last weekend’s SuperChamp Excellence tournament held in Austin and Corpus Christi.
Abigail Chiu captured the Girls 18s A draw in impressive fashion the week after she won Doubles Excellence. After notching a straight set victory over the #1 ranked player in Texas in the semifinals, Abigail played her best tennis in the finals against the #6 ranked player in Texas, Sydney Riley, who recently signed to play at Clemson. According to Coach Doug Davis, “Abigail was mentally tough throughout the three set battle and she used an effective blend of aggressive baseline play combined with smart defensive play and well timed advances to the net to secure the victory.” Naval Academy signee Meghan O’Malley also had a strong performance by reaching the 18s B draw semifinal and Alex Mjos staged a dramatic comeback in the finals of the 18s C draw over teammate Kristin Kerrigan. As was the case with Abigail Chiu, Alex Mjos had considerable momentum coming into this tournament after winning the 16s A draw Doubles Excellence title the week before.
In the Boys 18s A draw, Princeton signee Payton Holden showcased his brilliant shot making abilities in reaching the semifinals. Another highlight of the Boys 18s A draw was the epic four hour battle waged between ATA teammates Erik Kerrigan and Jake Berber that Erik won 6-7, 7-6, 7-6 in the longest match of the tournament. According to Tournament Director, Brian Notis, “both teammates displayed great spirit and tremendous respect for each other.” Numerous spectators commented on how Erik and Jake acknowledged each other’s great shots and how they frequently engaged in friendly banter in between points. This was ATA valued sportsmanship at the highest level, according to Coach Notis. Equally noteworthy, the Boys 18s B draw was highlighted by Chase Bartlett courageously fighting his way to two victories despite having to serve underhanded throughout the tournament as a result of an injury. The Boys 18s C draws were dominated by Jesse Wikso and Roger Chou. Despite both of them playing up an age group, Jesse and Roger were able to win their respective draws in convincing fashion.
The Girls 16s A draw produced a semifinalist, Georgia Wright, and the tournament champion, Callie Creath. Coach Brandon Davis said “Callie played some of the best tennis I have ever seen her play; she was fully committed to owning her aggressive game style and it paid off.” Coach Brandon also noted that Callie’s opponents in the semifinals and final had beaten her the previous two times. Coach John Schoenmakers was equally encouraged by Georgia’s more aggressive play and increased pace on her groundstrokes that contributed to her semifinal finish. It should also be noted that ATA newcomer Kailey Chase, who is beginning to reap dividends from her hard work and openness to coaching, reached the semifinals of the 16s C draw. Kailee Meyer’s improved focus in practice is also starting to pay off with a semifinal result in her respective 16s C draw.
Tyler Anson’s steady hard work over the past 12 months is also beginning to yield impressive results as shown by winning his 16s B draw. Coach Newman noted that it was the first tournament he has seen Tyler “in full-out competitor mode, pumping his fist, encouraging himself, and holding himself as if he believed he was the best player in his draw.” Juan Abboud, who just moved up into 16s this month, continued his winning form by capturing 5th place after knocking out the #1 seed in his 16s B draw. And Kyler Bender did a great job of bouncing back and winning three consecutive matches in his 16s C draw.
The Boys 14s A draw saw a breakthrough performance by Blaine Kanak. In his quarterfinal match, Blaine fought back from down a set and down 1-4 in the second set to defeat the #4 seed in a third set tiebreaker. Blaine followed up with another great performance in the semifinals, narrowly losing after yet another epic battle. Coach Notis attributes Blaine’s breakthrough to his improved poise and focus as well as his newfound willingness to utilize tactical discipline. Blaine’s doubles partner, Max Schmidhauser, finished strong in the 14s A draw after losing a three set heartbreaker in the first round. Max bounced back with excellent mental toughness to win three consecutive matches against higher ranked opponents. In the Boys 14s C draw, Matthew Gavrilov had another strong tournament by reaching the finals.
In the Boys 12s A draw, James Cockrell showed he is a top player in Texas winning his first round and then being 2 points away from taking the first set against the #1 player in Texas. In his third round, he dominated the match and made quick work of his opponent. His last match, he lost a close three set battle 7-6(8) in the third. According to Coach Kalapala, “James competed very well and is making big strides mentally when the matches are tight.”
Two of the youngest girls in the Academy program also showed encouraging progress at Excellence. Sasha Malysheva showed signs of her vast potential by reaching the semifinals of the G12s B draw. According to Coach Rifkin, “Sasha plays beyond her 11 years with excellent focus, intensity, energy and mental toughness.” Kerry Lum, who only super-qualified in December, continued her rapid improvement by winning 3 matches in the Girls 12s B draw. With younger players like Kerry and Sasha making great strides, ATA’s future is indeed bright.
G16 Doubles Summer Grand Slam Champion
Capturing the Girls 18s doubles title at last weekend’s Excellence tournament is yet another accomplishment in a storied junior career filled with a variety of other significant doubles titles that Abigail Chiu has earned in sectional, national and international competition.
Abigail first made her mark as one of the premiere doubles players in the country by winning a Bronze Ball at the Girls 12s Hardcourt Nationals in 2010. This victory was the beginning of a remarkable string of USTA Balls in doubles including winning a Silver Ball at the Girls 14s Winter Nationals in 2012 and a Gold Ball at the Girls 14s Easter Bowl in 2013 that highlight just a few of Abigail’s accomplishments in national competition. Abigail has also distinguished herself in international doubles competition by reaching the finals of the prestigious Eddie Herr tournament in 2012 as well as winning 3 ITF titles in Paraguay (2013), Daytona Beach (2013) and in her hometown of Austin (2015). However, perhaps the best indication of Abigail’s dominance in doubles was represented by her earning the #1 ranking in USTA National girls 16s doubles. Abigail’s impressive body of work in doubles is best summed up by ATA Head Coach, Doug Davis, who has served as Abigail’s primary coach for the past 4 years: “Abigail Chiu is the winningest player in ATA history in doubles events on an annual basis with a varied range of partners in every level of junior tennis in the US.”
Abigail’s doubles skills have also served her well with college coaches during her recruitment process. College coaches prefer recruiting players who are not only good singles players (Abigail has earned the #1 singles ranking in Texas in 12s, 14s, and 16s), but also accomplished doubles players. Coach Lucie Schmidhauser, who has traveled to many national tournaments with Abigail over the past 2 years, recalled an insight Paul Wardlaw, Brown University Head Women’s Tennis Coach, shared with her while watching Abigail and her partner dominate their opponents at Claycourt Nationals in July: it is easier to make great doubles players into valuable singles players than the other way around. This may be one of the reasons Abigail has been heavily recruited by Brown, Columbia and Dartmouth while also being seriously considered by Harvard. Coach Lucie is confident that “Abigail will be a force to be reckoned with in Division One college tennis with her attacking mindset, superb volleys, quick reflexes, and strong fundamentals.”
Please join David Benzel on Thursday Feb 18 at 8pm for a 45 min webinar “Three Steps for Getting Your Athletic Family on the Same Page.” Click here to register.
Also, there is a new Winners Connection article, “The Only Two Questions You Need to Ask Yourself.” Click here to learn more.
A much beloved ATA “Lifer” recently celebrated his college signing ceremony with family, friends, coaches, teammates and ATA community members applauding his accomplishment of gaining acceptance to his “dream” school. During his signing ceremony speech, Jake Berber shared: “Claremont McKenna College was my top choice because it’s one of the strongest liberal arts colleges in the country, the tennis team is the reigning Division 3 National Champions and the students there are the type of people who will help me grow as a person.” Jake should be well prepared for the challenges of being a student-athlete at one of the most selective liberal arts schools in the country given his many years of balancing the rigors of ATA’s training schedule with the challenging academic workload at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School.
Jake has enjoyed a number of significant tennis accomplishments over the course of his stellar junior career. The consistency of his singles results stand out as Jake earned a Top 5 ranking in Texas in the 12s, 14s and 16s age divisions while also being ranked Top 50 in the nation in these respective age groups. Despite these impressive accomplishments in singles, Jake says the highlights of his junior career were achieved with his long-standing doubles partner and ATA teammate, Payton Holden, when they won the 16s Summer Grand Slam title and then topped this accomplishment 2 months later by reaching the quarterfinals of the National Hardcourt Championship in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In fact, Jake and Payton were only 3 points away from advancing to a semifinal berth in the National Championship while playing in front of a huge crowd on stadium court. In Jake’s words, “it was a memory that will forever stay with me.”
Jake’s 13 year journey at ATA has left a legacy that will be cherished for years to come and his joyful presence will be deeply missed. Coach Newman, who has served as Jake’s primary coach for most of his junior career, summed up Jake’s legacy perfectly: “in addition to being a great competitor, Jake possesses the qualities we would all like to have in a best friend as he is kind, thoughtful, emotionally intelligent, calm in the face of chaos, and a supportive teammate.”
ATA recently hired new academy and fitness coach Josh Rifkin, who is from Fort Wayne, Indiana and who has been involved with competitive tennis his entire life. Following his junior career, Josh became the winningestmen’s tennis player in the history of Ithaca College, as well as the first ever Division III All-American in doubles at his college.
Josh’s journey with ATA began in the summer of 2011 after deciding he wanted to pursue a professional tenniscareer. After some research, he came across ATA and took a visit. Immediately after visiting, he felt a strong connection and knew this was the place he wanted to train. After about one year of training, and gaining a great deal of elite level tennis knowledge, Josh decided to take a coaching job back home in Fort Wayne. Throughout his time at ATA, Josh found a passion in the integration of tennis coaching and training for tennis performance enhancement. As a result, he realized he wanted to give more to his students than just tennis. This led Josh to begin pursuing an education andcareer in the health and fitness world. This new career path led Josh to founding his own private health and fitness business where he primarily worked with competitive junior tennis players.
Josh’s relationship with ATA did not end after he decided to go back home to take the teaching job in Fort Wayne. In fact, Josh visited ATA at least once a year to reconnect with the coaches and continue to learn and grow as a tennis coach and fitness professional. During Josh’s most recent visit in September 2015, he was offered an opportunity to become a part of the ATA coaching team.
This was a difficult decision for Josh, as he had established himself with a coaching job and a fitness business back home in Fort Wayne. The decision came down to where Josh thought he could personally and professionally grow the most. A big factor in the decision making process was the players and coaches he would be able to work with, as well as the unique culture ATA has to offer. When Josh came to train as a 22 year old, and when he recently accepted the job offer at 26, he felt a warmness and family environment at ATA that is not easy to come by. The tight knit culture, emphasis on values, character building, community and concept of “living the sport”made the decision a smart one for Josh. It is where he felt he could live his passion of combining his desire to share his love of tennis and fitness while continuing to learn andgrow as a professional.
At ATA Josh will be coaching the academy players and will work with the junior academy and junior development programs. In addition, Josh will help run the academy fitness program. He will also be giving private tennis lessons as well as private fitness training sessions.
Josh’s credentials include:
B.S. Ithaca College
C.H.E.K. Practitioner Level II (Corrective High Performance Exercise Kinesiology)
United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) Elite Professional
Certified Etcheberry Coach (Strength, Conditioning and Movement in Tennis)
National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)- Performance Enhancement Specialist
C.H.E.K. Holistic Lifestyle Coach Level II
Erik Kerrigan and Jake Berber – both had their signing ceremonies last night which were held in the ATA fitness center. They were surrounded by their families, as well as the ATA community to help them begin their transition to college.
Erik Kerrigan signed his National Letter of Intent with the University of Chicago. He will play tennis for the Maroons starting in the Fall. He also received an academic scholarship for his outstanding SAT score of 2350! The university has a 7.8{37ef6ac642fae6f93f343032eb62785d28fa7a25a4a4f0267a12512c541c53a9} acceptance rate and only 10 percent of the accepted students get scholarships. The University of Chicago is ranked #4 according to US News and has had 89 Nobel Prize winners. Coach Strecker and Coach Newman shared stories about Erik and his time at ATA, congratulating him on the accomplishments he has had in his junior career thus far. Erik also stood up and thanked his family, coaches, friends, teachers at College Prep and the ATA community for supporting him through his journey at ATA.
Jake Berber signed his National Letter of Intent with Claremont McKenna College. He will play tennis for the Stags in the Fall. Jake’s brother and Coach Newman are both alumni of Claremont McKenna College. Forbes ranked Claremont McKenna as the 6th best liberal arts college and 18th best college in the nation. Claremont has 1,349 students with a 9.7{37ef6ac642fae6f93f343032eb62785d28fa7a25a4a4f0267a12512c541c53a9} acceptance rate. Coach Brandon and Coach Newman had many stories to share from Jake’s experience at ATA since Jake was 5 years old. Coach Brandon knows the Berber family well, as he grew up playing tennis with Jake’s older brothers. Coach Newman had a few stories from his time at ATA but really spoke for Jake’s character. He was told that Jake was one of nine recruits for the Stags. When his future teammates had to pick who they wanted for a teammate, Jake was number 1 on all the players lists. Jake makes friends wherever he goes and is very well liked because of his calm, friendly and understanding personality. Jake has been a top 50 nationally ranked player since he was 12 years old. Combining his tennis abilities and his character, the Stags will have a great future teammate. Jake thanked his family, coaches, friends and ATA community for helping him get through some tough times and also sharing good times throughout his experience at ATA.
Congrats to both Erik and Jake on their accomplishments and their bright futures at their respective institutions!
Get a ton of tennis in over break and sign up for ATA Winter Camp that is starting Dec 28 and goes through Jan 1. Click here to learn more and sign up.
Caroline Wernli had a outstanding event. She was the runner up in G14 A draw singles, won the G14 doubles, and won the sportsmanship award. Doesn’t get much better than that.
Jesse Wikso won both of his B18 B draw singles and doubles.
Callie Creath won the G18 B draw doubles.
Other notable results from this past weekend:
Jake Riezebeek has been stepping up his game and got 4th place in B12s B draw, this is his 2nd tournament in a row that he has reached the semi finals.
Sarah Darbar had a great tournament and got 2nd place in G14 B draw doubles and reached the quarters in singles.
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.”
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.”
Jake Riezebeek was awarded the Clarence Mabry Sportsmanship award for the Wichita Falls Super Champ in November. It is an award voted on by the umpires and the tournament staff. He earned it by giving it his all every point, all while staying calm, collected and respecting his opponent. Congratulations to Jake for his accomplishment and for representing ATA well.
ATA’s head stringer Ryan Leman recently claimed his spot as the fastest tennis racquet stringer in the world at the International Alliance of Racket Technicians (IART) symposium. He followed that up by captivating an audience of Little Mo Nationals families with a breathtaking fire-spinning performance last week. Next week, Ryan will host a Circadian Sound Meditation at a music festival in Austin.
“There are many things in the works right now, I don’t like to be bored,” Ryan said. “Things are happening, and it’s beautiful.”
While Ryan has been stringing at ATA for the past 4 years, he was introduced to the craft as a young tennis player in Flower Mound, TX. His coach also happened to be an extremely fast stringer, and Ryan was instantly fascinated.
“I would watch him anytime I could while asking a million questions,” Ryan said. “Eventually he let me get on the machine and immediately I was addicted to timing myself and getting faster.”
Eight years later, Ryan has strung over 20,000 racquets. Last month, he traveled to Florida to attend the IART symposium. The annual event brings together the worlds best stringers and pro shop owners for an array of professional development opportunities, while featuring a Speed Stringing Contest. Ryan took home the title this year with a time of 8 minutes, 45 seconds.
Ryan also recently earned his certification as a Master Racquet Technician – the highest possible certification in the United States.
“Stringing has become a meditative experience for me now,” Ryan said.
While he has a lot happening beyond stringing, it is a love of learning that is the common thread throughout. He channels this through his various passions, producing a fascinating mix of depth and creative expression.
Fire spinning, maybe the most dangerous of Ryan’s pursuits, involves baton-like sticks with wicks on either end that he uses to manipulate fire in ways that inspire awe in anyone watching.
“It is a very grounding and meditative experience, just like stringing, where you are in the moment right here, right now. If you mess up, you get burned. And it’s a great lesson for life: prepare yourself and your time will come with the staff. If you practice and know what moves you can do, when you light it on fire you have full confidence in the ability of your flow.”
While Ryan connects with stringing and fire spinning at a depth that reveals to him truths about life, he also strives to connect with people.
Ryan is also a massage therapist and recently got his License from The Lauterstein-Conway Massage School.
“I love this healing modality as it allows me to connect with my friends, clients, and just about every person,” Ryan said. “Because lets be honest, who couldn’t use a massage?”
Whether it is through massage, or driving for Uber, or producing a film called Underworld (yes, he’s also a film producer), Ryan is constantly learning, constantly making connections, and constantly expressing himself.
For much of his life, Ryan has found inspiration in a few key thoughts: first, Wayne Dyer: “Love what you do, do what you love.” Next, Abraham Lincoln: “I will prepare myself and my time will come.” Lastly, Michael Garfield: “Imagination is our greatest natural resource.”
“I have looked at these few quotes for the majority of my life and I feel it is exactly what ATA is about. Prepare yourself, let the coaches and people around you help with your process, and the right situation will manifest, so make sure you dream big. And if you aren’t doing what you love, then what are you doing?”
It is also the people that make ATA his top choice of all the places he’s worked.
“What makes ATA stand out is the rest are the staff members and their dedication to the players. We have an amazing team of resources. When you mix so much talent in one academy it makes for an incredible learning environment.”
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 9th 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!
Hunter Bleser won Girls 18’s A draw, defeating 4 quality players on her way to the title. Her opponent in the finals was Janice Shin, who is currently ranked #2 in Texas and #55 in the nation in Girls 18’s. Hunter continues to improve her aggressive style game and her hard work is paying off.
Abigail Chiu placed 4th in Girls 18’s A draw. Daniela Alvarez finished 5th in her draw, while Andrea Stapper won 2 matches in her draw.
Alex Mjos had a great event making the semifinals of the A draw! On the way she beat the #4 seed 1&1 and played lights out! She has really jumped levels and she will be fun to watch moving forward as she continues to get better.
Jesse Wikso did a great job this weekend. His positive attitude throughout the tournament was a direct reflection on his results. He made it to the finals without losing a set before losing a tough 3 set battle with the number one player in the state in boys 16’s.
Harrison Chiu, Bailey Forgus and Tyler Anson all had good events. They all went 3 and 1 in their draws in boys 16s. Tyler Anson placed 2nd, Bailey took 3rd and Harrison took 5th.
Sydney Marin beat the number 2 seed in her draw in girls 12’s reaching the semi finals. Her best showing since qualifying to super champs.
Varun reached the finals of the 14s C Draw (White).
Blaine also reached the finals of his respective 14s C Draw (Red), winning tough 3 set battles in the quarters and semifinals and then narrowly losing in the finals after fighting through cramps in a grueling third set. Blaine’s attitude and competitive grit have improved noticeably.
Despite injuring his left thigh in his first round match, Jett Hampton made the semifinals of the Boys 14s B Draw. Jett’s toughness and ability to bear down and compete, despite being injured, should be applauded. I never saw him whine or complain, despite his pain and inability to push off his left leg.
After losing to a quality player in the first round, Matthew won 3 consecutive matches to earn 9th place in his respective Boys 14s C Draw (Blue). Matthew’s game has improved dramatically in recent months.
Juan had a great tournament, earning 6th place in the Boys 14s A Draw. Juan’s serve has improved significantly since the summer and his forehand is becoming a huge weapon. And Juan is now willing to be aggressive under pressure. Big shout-out to Coach Notis for his excellent work with Juan.
Elena Kalogirou won her first two matches, she showed great progress from qualifying from champs a few months ago. Anushka battled in every match, excellent competitiveness from her.
Jake Riezebeek and James Cockrell both lost in the finals of their backdraw. Jake played great for his first Super. After losing to the top seed in the first round, he fought back in 2 tough matches. His 3rd match went 3 hours and he pulled it out in the third set. Great first Supers for him! James fought hard and also pulled out a three setter in his third match. He is making big strides in his game and it has a lot to do with his attitude and him always working on it on court.
Cody went 1-3 winning his third round, his second win in Supers. He was in every match that he played and had opportunities to turn matches around.
“Little Mo” Nationals is a tournament for the top 16 players in the country in the age groups 8,9,10,11 and 12. The tournament has been held at ATA for the past 13 years. To qualify for Nationals one must compete in sectionals and move on to regionals. The top 4 from each regional tournament will qualify for Nationals. Our very own Ashley Weinhold and Blake Davis are former “Little Mo” National winners. ATA will be represented this weekend Oct 16-19 in “Little Mo” Nationals by James Cockrell in B12s, Kerry Lum G12s, Sasha Malysheva in G11s, Sydney Marin in G12s and Cody Schiffman in B11s!
Sydney Marin James Cockrell Kerry Lum Cody Schiffman Sasha Malysheva
Maureen Connolly “Little Mo” won the Grand Slam of tennis in 1953. She was the first woman to win all four Grand Slam tournaments, the Australian Championships, the French Championships, Wimbledon, and the United States Championships. She received the nickname “Little Mo” after accomplishing this triumph at only eighteen years old. Maureen and Nancy Jeffett started the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation after Maureen moved to Dallas in 1968. They started the foundation to provide funds for tennis clinics and to aid juniors who could not afford to compete nationally. Click here to find out more about the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation and “Little Mo” Nationals.
With the school year well underway at ATA College Prep, the students and teachers are settled into a rhythm in the new facility. In case you missed it, ATA CP Director Carol Hagar described much of the transition that happened over the summer in a recent post.
Now that students are fully focused on everything from French to Physics, they, too, offered their reflections on the changes.
“The new school facility for the ATA College Prep program has greatly altered the way we operate everyday,” said junior Abigail Chiu. “The new and improved buildings give us a more school-like feeling that allows us to access more resources in a more convenient space. Being closer to the courts, with more people/coaches around, has already kept me more accountable, and this is what I most appreciate. Hopefully we can all use this change to our benefit and strive to be even better student athletes.”
Payton Holden, a senior heading to Princeton University next year, echoed Abigail’s sentiment.
“I like the new school building much better because it allows me and the other students to transition from practice/lessons to school very quickly and effortlessly.”
With the school space now on the same campus as the courts, fitness center, pro shop and coaches offices, there is more of a cohesive tone between the major focal points of the program: to strive for excellence in academics, athletics and character. Alejandro Rodriguez, a junior in his second year at CP, agrees.
“ The new school facilities at ATA College Prep have redefined the way that students here study, train, and improve. The close proximity to the courts allows us to play even more than before, and the new facilities are high end, comfortable and make it easy to learn. Very excited about this year and the years to come!”
To learn more about the ATA College Prep program, please contact Carol Hagar at Carol.Hagar@AustinTennisAcademy.com.
