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It’s Time For ATA’s Academy Awards & End Of Year Party

While 2020 is turning out to be anything but predictable, there is one thing we can count on: that nothing is going to be like what it’s been in previous years and that holds true for ATA’s End of Year Party. This year, thanks to Covid19, the party is happening in the virtual world. However, other than everyone not being able to get together in person, you can expect to experience everything you’ve come to love about this annual event: the awards, the speeches, the surprises, the laughs, the music, the memories, and the end of year video.

Mark your calendars and set an alarm so you can tune in to watch Sunday night (August 23) at 7:00 PM CST right from the comfort and air conditioning of your own home.

Click here for the link needed to join the party. The passcode is R60xaU.

SUMMER SEMIS EXTENDED

Our altered summer tennis camps have gone extremely well so far. Our coaches have done an amazing job of establishing and implementing precautions to continue offering camps as safely as possible.

As many school plans and vacations are still up in the air, we’ve decided to continue the Summer Semis through the end of August by adding three weeks of camps.

Week 11: Aug 10-13

Week 12: Aug 17-20

Week 13 Aug 24-27

Check out the summer camps page here on our website for more information or you can click here to sign up for any of the remaining weeks. We’ve capped the number of spots each week to adhere with social distancing, so grab your spot soon!

Let Us Answer Your Questions

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

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

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

When will classes begin for College Prep?

Will there be safety protocols in place?

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

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

What is CP’s focus on health and nutrition?

How are technology and digital devices used?

Catching Up With…

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

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

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

Where did you attend college? University of Notre Dame

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ATA Alum Joins The Texas Longhorns

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Log In Today @ 4:00 PM

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

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

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

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

You’re Invited to Attend Virtual Graduation Ceremony

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

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

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

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

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

Train Your Brain Over The Summer With ATA College Prep

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

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

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

ATA’s Summer Tennis Programs Begin June 1

Registration is now open for parents to sign up their child to attend one week, or even multiple weeks, of our summer tennis programs. The first week for our morning tennis sessions, which are for children ages 6-12, kicks off Monday, June 1.

In light of the COVID19 situation, ATA has made a lot of changes to its summer camps in order to ensure a safe and fun environment for kids. One of those changes is the name; instead of camps, we’re calling them Summer Semis. Click here to read more about those changes, as well as to register your child.

Meanwhile, ATA’s afternoon Tournament Tough Semis got underway today. Just like the morning sessions, there have also been a number of changes and safety protocols implemented for this afternoon program. Along with on-court practices, tournament-level players will be able to attend daily virtual fitness sessions and virtual mental training sessions.

For the first two weeks, the afternoon sessions will be available only to current ATA Academy players. After that, Coach Jack Newman will evaluate opening them up. If your child is interested in attending ATA’s Tournament Tough Semis, send an email request to Deb.Cahill@austintennisacademy.com.

Coach Newman Provides Insight Into ATA’s Summer Programs

Parents and players are bound to have additional questions, even more concerns, regarding summer activities for their kids in light of the COVID19 situation. Coach Jack Newman, owner and CEO of Austin Tennis Academy, wanted to provide in-depth answers into the way ATA will be operating summer programs, as well as some insight that may help explain the whys behind various decisions.

The 14 short videos listed below provide those answers and insights. Coach Newman talks about the Morning Summer Semis sessions in first four videos; information discussed in the fifth and sixth video applies to both morning and afternoon sessions; the remaining videos cover Afternoon Academy sessions. Simply click on the video title to view each video.

Coach Newman Q&A Videos List

Morning Summer Semis
What Kids Need to Bring
What Happens On Fridays
The Benefits We’ve Seen

Safety Guidelines & Contact Tracing
ATA’s Offerings Will Evolve Over the Summer

Afternoon Academy Sessions
How This Summer Is Different
Making Every Group Competitive
How Players Change Groups
Recognizing the Challenges
A Plan For Competition
Opportunities For Leadership Growth
Things In Our New Normal

Click here for more information on Summer Semis and to register your child.

ATA Pro Shop To Begin Special Summertime Hours

Memorial Day ushers in summer hours for the pro shop at the Austin Tennis Academy. Starting Monday, the pro shop will be open weekdays (Monday-Friday) from 8:45 AM until 4:30 PM.

On the weekends, the hours the pro shop will be open will vary depending on tournaments and other ATA events. Patrons should also be aware that shop hours may vary, or the shop may close during inclement weather.

If you have any questions, call the ATA Pro Shop at 512.276.2271.

ATA’s May Newsletter Is In Your Inbox

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

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

Click here to view ATA’s May Newsletter.

iTPA Publishes Article from Coach Josh Rifkin

The International Tennis Performance Association published, in the latest edition of its online monthly magazine, a guest article from none other than our very own Coach Josh. The iTPA is the leader in tennis fitness, performance, education and tennis certification.

Rifkin’s article focuses on core training specifically for tennis athletes. Click here to see/read his article.

ATA Hosts Prize Money Austin UTR Open May 30/31

Registration is underway for one of the first tennis competition events to be held in the Austin area since the shutdown started back in March. The co-ed level-based singles event will be held at Austin Tennis Academy May 30-31 with numerous safety protocols in place.

Protocols being put into place to help players and spectators stay as safe as possible include:

Players will check-in for matches and report scores via text
Players need to wait in their car for their match to be called to minimize the number of players at the site at one time
Four new balls (2 with different numbers) will be left on the court for the players for each new match
Wipes will be available for players to sanitize their bench
Once match is finished, balls should be left on court and score reported via text
One spectator allowed per player

To read the full list of protocols, get more detailed information about the event, or register to play, click here.

A Glimpse Inside Summer Offerings For ATA & ATA College Prep

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

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

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

SUMMER TENNIS

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

SUMMER EDUCATIONAL COURSES

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

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

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

National Clay Courts Cancelled/Suspension Extended

Below is the latest update from USTA released on May 15, 2020.

Due to the situation surrounding the COVID-19 virus, and after discussions with the USTA Medical Advisory Committee*, the USTA has suspended USTA sanctioned products and events through May 31. This includes:

• Adult and Junior Tournaments
• USTA League
• USTA Junior Team Tennis
• Team Challenge
• Team Tournaments
• USTA Schools programs
• Tennis on Campus
• Wheelchair events

Additionally, recognizing the evolving and fast-changing nature of this situation, the USTA will continue to monitor and assess conditions to make future determinations about events and activities taking place after May 31.

All Category 1 and Super Category 2 National Adult Tournaments with an ITF status, all ITF Junior events, all Adults Category 2 and Category 3 tournaments, all Wheelchair L1 – L3 events, and all USTA Pro Circuit events will align with the same calendar as the ITF and be suspended through July 31. The ATP has also suspended events through July 31, while the WTA has suspended select events in July. In addition, the USTA has made the decision, separately, to cancel the 2020 National Clay Court Championships scheduled for July 11-19, and which would have taken place in seven cities across three states.

“The impact of COVID-19 has been felt across the tennis landscape, and it is our goal to ensure that the sport is able to be played in a safe and healthy fashion at the parks and facilities throughout the country once the pandemic subsides,” said Patrick Galbraith, Chairman of the Board and President, USTA. “One of the greatest aspects of this game is that it fosters a true community, and we look forward to the time when we can return to our local courts and use tennis to unite us all, once again.”

The determination has also been made to suspend the calculation and publication of the National Standings List (NSL) for Adult, Junior and Wheelchair play until further notice. The NSL published on March 18 will serve as the most current until tournament competition resumes.

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

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

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

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

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

We’re Keeping Safety Top of Mind For Players & Coaches

Multiple Awards Earned By ATA College Prep Alum

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Teacher Appreciation!

“The best teachers show us where to look but don’t tell us what to see.” This message hangs in the staff area of College Prep as a reminder that our greatest mission is to guide individual potential.

Tuesday, May 5, marks the official 2020 Teacher Appreciation Day and most will celebrate this week honoring and remembering the teachers who have impacted and played pivotal roles in our lives. This year’s pandemic has given us a new appreciation for teachers, highlighting the amount of time and patience they put into each child they serve. Tirelessly working and planning and then altering their plans to accommodate online learning and the strange end to this academic year, the support and care they give to their students continues. And although we miss the daily personal interaction within the classroom, the College Prep team has gone above and beyond to make this transition seamless, continuing to inspire our students to utilize the skills they have developed and are developing to reach their potential.

Some local businesses will offer freebies during Teacher Appreciation Week, but the most rewarding gift a teacher can receive is a personal acknowledgment, a thank you for the effort they have put into YOUR development. Take a moment to let a teacher in your life know that you appreciate who they are and who they are helping you to become. If you are looking for creative ways to thank your teacher, you could offer a handwritten note or a thank you video, acknowledge them on social media, send them a gift card for books, office supplies, Teachers Pay Teachers website, or a nice dinner out (or for pick-up), or make a donation in their name to AASF or another meaningful organization.

Learning is a life-long adventure and it is the guidance of our teachers that directs us on our paths of curiosity. Whether it is a seemingly insurmountable challenge, a kind word of encouragement, a new perspective, or a little extra support when you need it, let the teachers in your life know that you appreciate the time and creativity they put into you and your learning experiences.

Happy Learning!

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