19-Dec-2011
Prince Hot 100 List - December '11
Today we announce the December edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
15-Dec-2011
Thiem and Kontaveit Take Grade A Orange Bowl Titles; Chung and Routliffe Win 16s Championships
The global nature of tennis was on full display at last week's Orange
Bowl, with Austria, Estonia, Korea and Canada claiming the four
singles titles, each one the country's first championship in that age
division.
14-Dec-2011
Conversation with Maryland Men's Tennis Coach Kyle Spencer
The University of Maryland has announced that it will eliminate eight
athletics programs at the end of the 2011-12 year, including men's
tennis. The university cited financial concerns behind the cuts, but
has announced that student-athletes on eliminated teams have the
option to continue receiving scholarship assistance for their
remaining time at Maryland. Ross Greenstein from SFA talked with
tennis coach Kyle Spencer about the unfortunate situation.
12-Dec-2011
Talking with Georgetown Freshman Sophie Panarese
Sophie Panarese of Milton, MA is a freshman on the Georgetown
University tennis team. Panarese attended Milton Academy and was a
4-star recruit who reached a high of #45 in the 2011 TRN national
rankings. Here she answers questions from Hope Rupley of Donovan
Tennis Strategies about her transition to college and college tennis.
9-Dec-2011
Thiem Makes History, Three Young Americans Take Titles at Eddie Herr International
Familiar faces and newcomers were among the eight champions crowned at
the Eddie Herr International last week, as over 2200 players descended
on the IMG/Bollettieri Academy in Bradenton Florida to test their
games against the world's best junior players.
8-Dec-2011
Talking with Brown's Cerretani
From 2000-2004, James Cerretani was a standout tennis player at Brown
University, earning first-team All-Ivy honors four straight years
while representing the Bears in three NCAA doubles tournaments and
helping to lead the team to two NCAA team tournament berths.
Cerretani now competes on the ATP tour, where his current world
doubles ranking is No. 48. Harry Cicma talked with Cerretani about
his tennis and his upcoming charity event in Providence, R.I.
7-Dec-2011
Photos from the 2011 Eddie Herr Championships
The Eddie Herr International memorializes the father of international
junior tennis competition. Over the past week, more than a thousand players
from dozens of countries converged on the Nick Bollettieri Sports
Academy in Bradenton, Florida for the 2011 edition of the tournament.
Enjoy action photos from this prestigious event.
5-Dec-2011
Courtney Amos to Yale
Eighteen-year-old Courtney Amos had her heart set on the Ivy League.
By the end of an official visit to Yale University in September, the
five-star recruit from Tucson, Arizona, had found her college home.
2-Dec-2011
November Aces
The month began with the second of two collegiate fall majors, which
produced half of last month's standouts, and closed with the first of
the three big junior events that end the ITF year. In between, several
juniors picked up their first titles on the professional circuit,
always an achievement worth noting.
30-Nov-2011
Q&A with Case Western's Todd Wojtkowski
Todd Wojtkowski is now in his fourth year as the head tennis coach at
Case Western Reserve University. Since his arrival, both Spartan
tennis programs have established a new standard of play, bursting onto
the national scene in NCAA Division III tennis. Harry Cicma of NBC
Sports sat down with Wojtkowski to talk college tennis, recruiting, and
coaching.
28-Nov-2011
80 and Still Jumping
For many years I have been close with the folks at West Point and the
Military. I have not only spoken to the cadets, but I have also
developed a very strong relationship with their tennis teams and
coaches. At the 2010 US Open, I opened up my mouth and sort of
suggested that I would be interested in skydiving with the Golden
Knights for my 80th birthday (July 31, 2011). I didn't think much of
it afterwards, but Coach Peck set the wheels in motion.
24-Nov-2011
New Twist for 18s Tournament at Eddie Herr International
Once again over 1000 junior tennis players will descend on the
IMG/Bollettieri Academy for the Eddie Herr International tournament,
but the 128 competitors in the Grade 1 ITF event will head for a
different part of the sprawling campus in Bradenton, Fla. The desire
for consistency with the A Orange Bowl has put the Eddie Herr 18s
tournament on clay for the first time.
21-Nov-2011
Alex Jesse Joins the Illini
Alex Jesse will be staying in the Midwest and joining the Fighting
Illini tennis team next fall. The Blue Chip recruit had a number of
options since he has been consistently at top of the national rankings
over the last few years. It has all been a result of his solid
tournament play in both singles and doubles.
18-Nov-2011
Up the Middle, Solve the Riddle
Tennis, like life, is a struggle. It's a game of discipline and of
choices. When a player is reckless or undisciplined the unforced
errors are certain to come back to haunt him. Tennis and life both
have ebbs and flows and ups and downs. Pressure, stress of performance
and dealing with tough losses and defeat are eerily similar. Tennis
and life are both challenges of "Doing the Right Things," and not just
"Doing Things Right."
16-Nov-2011
Prince Hot 100 List - November '11
Today we announce the November edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
14-Nov-2011
Virginia's Frank, SMU's Lesniak Capture USTA/ITA Indoor Intercollegiate Championships
The men's and women's USTA/ITA National Indoors shared the same dates
and venue, but the tournaments had strikingly different conclusions.
Both the men's singles and doubles titles went to October's ITA
All-American champions, with Virginia and Ohio State taking the titles.
On the women's side, SMU and USC earned their first-ever championships in
singles and doubles, respectively.
13-Nov-2011
Fall Signing Week '11: Kathryn Hoch Heads to Wisconsin
Kathryn Hoch doesn't expect to be surprised by many of the gifts she
receives on Christmas Day this year. Since she has committed to play
at the University of Wisconsin, the five-star recruit knows exactly
what is waiting for her under the tree. "My parents are buying me
parkas, blankets and every color of Uggs possible," Hoch said. "I need
to stock up on the warm clothing."
12-Nov-2011
Fall Signing Week '11: Real World with Tennis Parent Mary Dizon
Mary Dizon is a full-time teacher and mother of four in Southern
California. All of her children have played tennis - and two of them
have gone on to play college tennis. Annette Broersma joins our
Signing Week festivities by talking with Dizon about lessons learned
during the recruiting process - in the latest edition of her "Real
World" column.
12-Nov-2011
Fall Signing Week '11: Watson Heads to the Swamp
Gordon Watson enjoys sun, surf and skeet shooting and he will parlay
it into a college tennis career at the University of Florida. I loved
[Coach Jackson], campus and players, and it felt like home," said
Watson, who is ranked 12th nationally, fifth in the southeast and
third in Florida. "I really loved the other schools on my list, but I
realized that I wanted to continue my training in Florida after my
visits."
11-Nov-2011
Fall Signing Week '11: Becker O'Shaughnessey to Alabama
Becker O'Shaughnessey was born and raised in the South. And now, just
as he had planned it, that's where he'll play his college tennis
starting next fall. After a search that came down to four schools -
Alabama, Georgia, Georgia Tech, and N.C. State - the five-star recruit
from Macon, Georgia, is poised to sign a national letter of intent to
play for the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, just four hours from
his home.
11-Nov-2011
Fall Signing Week '11: Elbaba Commits to UVa
Julia Elbaba has certainly earned her Blue Chip status. Her results
have given her a top ten position in the Babolat rankings. With all
this success came quite a few college tennis opportunities for the
petite 17 year old, and she took her time weighing her decision. Just
this week, Elbaba finally made her decision to join the Virginia
Cavaliers.
11-Nov-2011
Fall Signing Week '11: Kurey to the Jackets
Megan Kurey, the 22nd-ranked senior prospect from Alpharetta, Ga., is
the final commitment in Georgia Tech's highly ranked women's
recruiting class. Kurey joins three other highly-ranked senior
prospects for Tech coach Bryan Shelton in Atlanta for 2012.
10-Nov-2011
Fall Signing Week '11: Stephanie Nauta is Charlottesville-Bound
Stephanie Nauta has always been inspired by a single goal - to be a
professional tennis player. But she is cautious about jumping to
the pro ranks too quickly. "I see that I need to get stronger and
have a lot to improve on," said the blue chip senior. Nauta's
decision to sign an NLI with Virginia next fall is the latest triumph
for advocates of college tennis as a worthy training ground for
aspiring touring professionals.
10-Nov-2011
Fall Signing Week '11: Mays to the Demon Deacons
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's tennis team will have a new weapon
in its arsenal next season. That weapon is Blue Chip recruit Morgan
Mays, a hard-hitting, aggressive, and generally pumped-up, high-energy
young man who will bring fresh enthusiasm to the Winston-Salem, N.C.,
campus.
10-Nov-2011
Fall Signing Week '11: Muliawan Heads to Princeton
Many players scan the top 25 rankings before selecting what colleges
they might want to attend. Blue chip senior Amanda Muliawan did the
same, only the rankings she checked were those found in the "U.S. News
& World Report." And once the Wyckoff, N.J., resident visited the
Princeton campus, the choice became a no brainer. She wanted to be a
Tiger.
9-Nov-2011
Fall Signing Week '11: Vinsant an Aggie
Shane Vinsant wanted to have his college decision made a few months
ago. But the blue chip recruit from Texas knew it was something he
couldn't take lightly. He knew how important it was for his future.
He wanted to make a good choice from several strong options, but that
kind of decision can weigh heavily over time. Vinsant has been
feeling a little lighter these days since deciding that Texas A&M
is the place for him.
9-Nov-2011
Fall Signing Week '11: Top Recruit Hardebeck Chooses Stanford
Blue chip recruit Krista Hardebeck has faced several tough choices in
her life. A devoted piano student, she wasn't able to continue her
quest for mastery of that instrument when she began to find success on
the tennis court. Choosing between UCLA and Stanford also proved
difficult, but in the end, what she calls her "lifelong dream" to play
for Stanford won out, and she plans to sign a national letter of intent
to compete for the Cardinal.
9-Nov-2011
Fall Signing Week '11: Redlicki Chooses the Devils
It was the sort of streak that most tennis players can only imagine.
For 30 matches during the summer of 2010, Michael Redlicki was
untouchable, powering his way to prestigious titles at the Claycourts
and Hardcourts. That breakout run opened many doors for the big lefty
from Illinois, and college coaches started calling. Now, Redlicki is
poised to take the next step in his tennis journey and sign an NLI
with Duke University.
8-Nov-2011
Fall Signing Week '11: Elaina Cummer Picks Davidson
The next stop for Elaina Cummer is Davidson, N.C. The five-star
recruit has committed to become a member of the Davidson College
Wildcats tennis team. "[The coaches] are a great pair," said Cummer.
"They seem to be genuinely interested in the girls on the team, and
very intent on getting the best possible results. The girls on the
team are welcoming, fun, and easy to be around."
8-Nov-2011
Fall Signing Week '11: National Roundup
Yesterday, we looked at the Blue Chips. Today, we hear from seniors
around the country who plan to sign NLIs during Signing Week - which
officially begins tomorrow. Take a look at what they had to say...
in our National Roundup.
7-Nov-2011
Fall Signing Week '11: James Boyd a USD Torrero
James Boyd thought he wanted to go far away from home for college. He
thought it would be easier to exert his independence in a new area of
the country. But Boyd eventually discovered there was a diamond
located right in his own backyard. The Rancho Santa Fe resident
couldn't pass up the chance to play for the University of San Diego.
7-Nov-2011
Fall Signing Week '11: Li Stays in New Jersey for Rutgers
Gina Li's search for the right college team led her across the
Northeast, but she ended up landing back in New Jersey at Rutgers
University, an NCAA Division I school. The coaching staff, proximity
to home, and academic reputation of Rutgers convinced the seventeen-year-old
Li to become a Scarlet Knight.
7-Nov-2011
Fall Signing Week '11: Blue Chip Update
It's here, and we're ready. Today, The Tennis Recruiting Network
kicks off its coverage of Signing Week, and our slate of articles is
the most extensive ever. More articles... more commitment
announcements... more of what you want. We kick things off today
with one final look at the Blue Chip boys and girls.
6-Nov-2011
Photos from the Mike Agassi NO QUIT Championships
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas... unless you are talking about
a junior tennis tournament. TennisRecruiting.net was on-hand at the
2011 Mike Agassi NO QUIT Championships, a USTA regional tournament
hosted by the Marty Hennessy Jr. Tennis and Education Foundation. Take
a look at action photos from the event.
5-Nov-2011
Countdown: Brooke McAmis a True Maroon Cougar
As she began her college search, Brooke McAmis was told by a good
friend that "when you visit a school, you'll just know." And when she
went to the historic College of Charleston, she knew. It was love at
first sight for the five-star athlete and she has decided to make an
early commitment.
4-Nov-2011
Countdown: Garrett Gordon Looks to Improve at Georgia Tech
Garrett Gordon's tip to junior players looking to play college tennis
is not to worry about things you can't control, but he admits he
struggled with his own advice last summer. Earlier this year, worried
about college, he lost twice to unseeded to players in Southern
tournaments. Then, after committing to Georgia Tech, Gordon went off
to Kalamazoo for the Nationals and knocked off two Blue Chip
opponents.
3-Nov-2011
October Aces
Gold medal performances in Mexico lead off October's aces, followed
by noteworthy achievements from coast to coast in the United States,
including several in Tulsa. Toss in a few titles by teens in Europe,
Africa and Japan and you've got an autumn cornucopia of winners.
2-Nov-2011
Countdown: Van Cott Twins to Tulane
Twins Alexander and Ian Van Cott began their search for a college
tennis home with a simple stipulation: They were going someplace warm
and sunny. The 5-star recruits from Unadilla, New York, recently took
a major step toward their shared goal of playing college tennis on
warm, sun-splashed days by verbally committing to attend Tulane
University in New Orleans, Louisiana.
1-Nov-2011
Countdown: Blue Chip prospect Vrabel reflects on commitment to Notre Dame
On the rare occasion when she isn't playing tennis or studying, Blue
Chip recruit Julie Vrabel enjoys art. Don't be surprised if she draws
some four-leaf clovers in the next few years to display her new school
spirit. Vrabel has committed to attend Notre Dame in August and play
for the defending Big East Conference champion Irish.
31-Oct-2011
Countdown: Nicholas Naumann Picks Texas
Nick Naumann has decided to don the Burnt Orange and become a Texas
Longhorn when he signs the National Letter of Intent in November. He
chose Texas without making an official visit, but he planned to make
the trip in late October.
29-Oct-2011
Countdown: What Not to Do on a Visit
A big part of the recruiting process is building a relationship with a
college coach - much of which is formed during visits to the school.
As with any relationship, there are certain things a prospective
student-athlete simply should not do - like sending text messages
during a conversation with the coach. We put the following question to
several college coaches: "What should prospective student-athletes NOT
do while on a visit?"
28-Oct-2011
Countdown: Zach Mueck Heads to the Musketeers
Five star recruit Zach Mueck has chosen to stay in his native Ohio and
play for the Xavier Musketeers. The West Chester native won't have
far to travel to the Cincinnati school, which is part of the Atlantic
10 Conference.
27-Oct-2011
Countdown: World Traveler Krueger Looks Close to Home for College
Blue chip recruit Mitchell Krueger has seen the world the past two
years, traveling to Malaysia, Australia and throughout Europe to
compete against top competition on the ITF junior circuit. Yet in
selecting a college, the 17-year-old from Aledo, Texas has narrowed
his choices to three schools close to home: Oklahoma, Texas A&M and
TCU.
26-Oct-2011
Countdown: Watrous Heads to Colorado
Mazy Watrous, a resident of Newport Beach, California, has verbally
committed to the University of Colorado. Playing for the Buffaloes
will give her the chance to play against some of the top players in
the nation since they joined the Pacific-12 Conference. "Having an
opportunity to go to CU and do something for that team would be so
rewarding," said Watrous. "I feel like it's a pivotal time for CU and
I really want to help make a difference."
25-Oct-2011
Countdown: Talking with Texas Tech's Todd Petty
Last season, Todd Petty led the Texas Tech women's tennis team to
it's second-highest win total in program history. The Lady Raiders'
18-8 record and No. 48 final ranking were good enough to earn Coach of
the Year honors for Petty in the Big 12. Petty sits down with Ross
Greenstein of Scholarship for Athletes to talk college tennis - coaching
and recruiting.
24-Oct-2011
Countdown: Rinaldi Commits to the Seminoles
The Florida State men's coaching staff didn't have to pull out all the
bells and whistles while recruiting Michael Rinaldi. Rinaldi wanted
to stay close to home - and decided that FSU was the best option.
Once Coach Hultquist called and made him an offer, his answer was easy.
21-Oct-2011
Countdown: Blue Chip Boys
Last Friday, we visited with the senior Blue Chip girls to find out
how they are doing in the college recruiting process. Today, the boys
get their turn. How many have decided? Which players are still wide
open? And are any of them leaning towards your favorite school? Find
out now...
20-Oct-2011
Krueger and Townsend Take Titles in Tulsa
Winning the ITF Grade B1 Pan American tournament is an important step
in securing entry to the junior slams for the following year. During
last week's tournament 17-year-old Mitchell Krueger and 15-year-old
Taylor Townsend set themselves up for trips to Melbourne, Paris,
London and New York in 2012, with impressive performances throughout
the week, culminating in straight-set wins over fellow Americans.
19-Oct-2011
Countdown: Fotopoulos Commits to Lady Vols
Mimi Fotopoulos had one thing on her mind after committing to play for
the University of Tennessee. She wanted to spruce up her wardrobe
with a bright shade of orange. The Lady Vols are hoping to reap even
bigger dividends from Fotopoulos on the court once she arrives in
Knoxville for good next Fall.
18-Oct-2011
Countdown: Alves to the Gauchos
Matthew Alves finally succumbed to the peer pressure. During Alves'
college search, some of his friends and family members were pushing
him to consider attending UC Santa Barbara. He took a visit and had a
"perfect weekend" - enjoying the location, team, and tennis
facilities. Alves is happy to have committed to UCSB - and he is
looking forward to his future with the Gauchos.
17-Oct-2011
Prince Hot 100 List - October '11
Today we announce the October edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
14-Oct-2011
Countdown: Blue Chip Girls
We wrap up our first week of the Countdown to Signing Day with a look
at the top girls in the senior class. This year's Blue Chip recruits talked
with us about their decision process. Some have made verbal
commitments, most have confirmed or taken their official visits, and
some are still wide open. Take a look and see where things stand...
13-Oct-2011
Virginia Freshman Takes ITA Men's All-American Title for Second Straight Year
In 2010, University of Virginia freshman Alex Domijan used his ITA
wild card to sweep through the field to capture the fall season's
first collegiate major at the Men's All-American. Last Sunday at the
Michael Case Tennis Center on the campus of the University of Tulsa,
freshman Mitchell Frank matched his teammate, winning the title with a
6-1, 7-5 victory over University of Georgia senior Wil Spencer.
12-Oct-2011
Countdown: Should I Sign in November?
November 9th - Signing Day - is the first day of the one-week fall
signing period. The fall signing period is the only opportunity
this calendar year for seniors to sign a National Letter of Intent
with a Division I or Division II school. If you are interested in
such a school, should you sign an NLI? What are the pros and cons?
In today's article, Marcia Frost addresses this question.
11-Oct-2011
Countdown: Kyle McPhillips heads West to UCLA
Kyle McPhillips can hardly wait to hit the courts in sunny Southern
California as a UCLA Bruin freshman next fall. In fact, the blue-chip
recruit from the Cleveland suburb of Willoughby, Ohio, is already
packing her suitcase in her mind's eye.
10-Oct-2011
Countdown: Willenborg Headed to Penn
Athleticism runs in the Willenborg family. Blaine Willenborg is the
latest member of the family to make his mark in the tennis world and
has committed to attend the University of Pennsylvania next year.
7-Oct-2011
Countdown to Signing Day
We are now just a little over a month away from Signing Day. November
9th is the first day of the one-week fall signing period, the only
opportunity this calendar year for seniors to sign a National Letter
of Intent with a Division I or Division II school. As always, The
Tennis Recruiting Network is here to keep you up to date on all the
happenings.
5-Oct-2011
September Aces
The top performers of September are heavy on the doubles end of the
sport with a 16-year-old winning her first title on the professional
circuit and a 38-year-old earning her 10th grand slam championship
trophy. The British boys also had an outsize impact during the month,
winning a grand slam championship, a Futures title and the Junior
Davis Cup.
3-Oct-2011
Conversation with Wolverine Coach Ronni Bernstein
Ronni Bernstein, head coach of the University of Michigan women's
tennis team, sits down with Ross Greenstein of Scholarship for
Athletes. She advises prospective college athletes to do in depth
research on tennis programs they are interested in, and lists all of
the factors that must be taken into account when making a college
decision.
30-Sep-2011
Andrews Wins All-Cal Final at Land Rover Napa Valley Tennis Classic
Rain on the final day couldn't dampen the prospects of the University
of California-Berkeley competitors at the 11th annual Land Rover Napa
Valley Tennis Classic. When the eight participants in the Wild Card
Shootout had been decided, three Bears had moved into the
quarterfinals, and in the final, it was senior Nick Andrews defeating
sophomore teammate Ben McLachlan 10-7 to claim the title and the Pro
Circuit wild card that goes to the tournament's champion.
29-Sep-2011
Lakeway's Austin Mayo
Austin Mayo, a 17-year-old senior from Lakeway, Texas, was
honored for his drive, hustle and determination during a week-long
training session at the IMG Bollettieri Academy. The 3-Star
recruit and reigning state doubles champion talks tennis with
TRN contributor James Hill.
28-Sep-2011
Staying Focused
Many years ago a tennis player came to the IMG Bollettieri Tennis
Academy to get back into shape and prepare for the senior tour. He was
one of the greatest players ever, and I asked him how he accomplished
so much.His answer: "When I walked on the court, there was only one
thought in my mind, and it stayed with me until the final point of the
match: I will hit the last ball over the net." Who was that person?
Bjorn Borg.
26-Sep-2011
Why We Play and Why We Succeed
Why do we do what we do? Is it the thrill, the challenge, or the
reward? Is that why we push ourselves through the pain? I contend
that to perform at our best - and to experience the ecstasy that comes
with performing at a high level - the motivation comes from the
fulfillment of what we do. If we are to be truly rewarded in victory
or defeat, it must be solely for the love or passion it brings us.
23-Sep-2011
Bjorn Fratangelo Contemplates His Tennis Future
Until recently, college tennis was certainly the primary option for
top-ranked Bjorn Fratangelo. Although he had achieved great success
as a junior, he had experienced few breakthroughs on the international
or professional stage. Then Fratangelo, unseeded, became the first
American boy to win the French Open junior championship since McEnroe
in 1977. He followed up that performance with several strong Futures
performances, lifting his ATP ranking into the 700s.
22-Sep-2011
Real World: Kean Feeder of Boise State
Kean Feeder played college tennis at Boise State - graduating in 2009.
After a brief stint at IBM, he returned to tennis as a coach. He moved
to California, where he coached at the Advantage Tennis Academy. He
found that teaching and helping develop tennis players was his great
passion. A year later, he moved back home to Oregon, where he became a
partner at The Leong Tennis Academy (LTA). He enjoys developing
juniors into great players.
20-Sep-2011
Prince Hot 100 List - September '11
Today we announce the September edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
16-Sep-2011
Min, Golding Oust Top Seeds in US Open Junior Championships
Frustrating, waterlogged, exhausting - the word association adjectives
for the 2011 US Open Junior Championships aren't particularly positive
ones. But champions Grace Min of the United States and Oliver Golding
of Great Britain conquered the multiple rain delays and compressed
match schedule to capture their first Grand Slam singles titles - Min
with a 7-5, 7-6(3) win over top seed Caroline Garcia and Golding with
a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 decision over top seed Jiri Vesely.
14-Sep-2011
Talking with Michigan State Coach Simone Jardim
Simone Jardim, the coach of the Michigan State Women's Tennis team,
sits down with the Scholarship for Athletes team in this exclusive
interview. She continually notes that passion and ambition to improve
are the top things she looks for in recruits.
12-Sep-2011
Winning, Losing, and Learning
Life is going to kick us in the pants. It is. There is no
avoiding it. It kicks you, me, our players, our own children,
everyone. More than once, we are going to feel the wrath of defeat
and hardship. It's coming. But that wrath and defeat and hardship
does not have to translate into failure and loss. It can - and I
always hope it does - perpetuate learning.
9-Sep-2011
Nolan Paige Heads to Palo Alto to Join Cardinal
As a highly prized tennis player, Nolan Paige received phone calls,
letters and Facebook messages from coaches vying for his commitment.
In the end, Paige succumbed to the sincerity and persistence of Head
Coach John Whitlinger and recently committed to Stanford University
before beginning his senior year.
8-Sep-2011
2011 Peach State Photos
This past weekend saw a number of USTA Regional Championships -
including one in Norcross, Ga., that in previous years was called the
Peach State Championships. TennisRecruiting.net photographers were on
site to take action photos of the tournament.
7-Sep-2011
August Aces
With one exception, the National Champions aren't included in this
edition of monthly aces, so check Tennis Recruiting Network's Hard
Court Championship week coverage for more on their triumphs last
month. The ten aces below will also look back on August 2011 as a
special time in their tennis careers.
5-Sep-2011
Welcome, Class of 2018!
Happy Labor Day! The unofficial end of summer means the official
beginning of another year at the Tennis Recruiting Network. Last week
we bade farewell to the Class of 2011, and this week we officially
welcome the Class of 2018. The new sixth graders join our rankings
starting tomorrow.
2-Sep-2011
Gavrilova Back to Defend US Open Girls Title; Vesely Hopes to Bookend Year with Second Junior Slam
While many eyes today are on names like Sock, McHale, and Falconi at
the Open, next week the juniors take the courts. Last year's finalists,
Gavrilova and Putintseva, return to challenge for the girls' title. For
the boys, all the big names internationally are in New York. Colette Lewis
of Zootennis previews the field.
29-Aug-2011
From Judo to Tennis, Luca Corinteli takes the lead
Luca Corinteli has made it to the top of the national rankings and
recently won the title at the USTA National Boys' 16 Clay Courts. It
was his first Gold Ball for singles, but certainly not the only first
prize he's taken. Corinteli has many trophies on his mantle from a
sport that most tennis players know nothing about - Judo.
26-Aug-2011
Q&A with Georgia's Manny Diaz
When Manny Diaz took over as head coach at the University of Georgia,
his task was a daunting one. He followed the legendary Dan Magill, who
put Georgia tennis on the map with two NCAA titles over 34 years.
Diaz was able to uphold those traditions and then some - winning four
NCAA titles while compiling a 533-114 record. Colette Lewis talks
with Diaz about a wide range of topics.
24-Aug-2011
Gibbs Welcomes Return to Stanford
While the vast majority of the players at the USTA Girls' 16 & 18
Nationals were either looking at colleges for the future or getting
ready to start their freshman year, Nicole Gibbs was preparing to
return to Stanford University for her sophomore year.
22-Aug-2011
Prince Hot 100 List - August '11
Today we announce the August edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
19-Aug-2011
Sock Repeats as National Champion
Jack Sock added USTA gold balls number 22 and 23 to his collection
last weekend, defending his 18s singles title with a 6-3, 6-0 victory
over Mitchell Frank while also capturing the doubles championship
during an aggravating 10 days of wet weather in Kalamazoo. Ronnie
Schneider won his first singles gold ball when he claimed the 16s
championship with a 5-7, 7-6(3), 6-2 win over Luca Corinteli, and he
too swept both titles - one indoors and one outdoors.
18-Aug-2011
Davis and Porter Take Top Prizes, Open Wildcards
The George E. Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego, California, was the
home of the USTA Girls' 16 and 18 Nationals for the second straight
year. 17-year-old Lauren Davis defeated familiar opponent Nicole
Gibbs, 7-6(3), 1-6, 6-4, to take the 18s title and U.S. Open Wildcard,
while Peggy Porter continued her winning ways with a 7-6, 6-4 match
against Alyssa Smith to win the 16s crown.
17-Aug-2011
Bellis wins Northern California Final in 12s
Catherine "C.C." Bellis and Michaela Gordon brought a slice of Northern
California to Alpharetta, Ga., last week at the USTA Girls' 12
Nationals. The girls - who occasionally practice together and live
about 10 minutes apart in the Palo Alto area - reached the singles
final, with Bellis winning 6-1, 6-1 at the Windward Lake Club.
17-Aug-2011
Klinger Wins Double Gold at USTA Boys' 14s
Cameron Klinger of San Jose, Calif., fought his way to two titles at
the USTA Boys 14 National Championships Aug. 7-12 at McFarlin Tennis
Center in San Antonio, Texas. Klinger won his first USTA gold ball in
doubles with Tommy Paul of Greenville, N.C. The next morning, the
second-seeded Klinger beat No. 14 Jake DeVine (Boca Raton, Fla.) 7-6
(8), 4-6, 6-1 to capture the top prize in singles in a
two-and-a-half-hour match.
16-Aug-2011
Del Corral Plays Golden Encore in Little Rock
In the final stretch of a grueling 2011 summer schedule marked by
record-breaking heat, Alexander del Corral emerged as the top
12-year-old boy in the U.S. by collecting his second consecutive Level
1 singles crown of the year. He defeated 2011 Clays doubles champion
Nathan Perrone, 6-2, 6-2 in North Little Rock during a week of
relentless rain.
16-Aug-2011
Second Time a Charm for Goodman in 14s
They say nobody remembers who finishes second. Lauren Goodman of Fort
Wayne, Ind., can't forget the 2010 runner-up from the USTA Girls 14
Nationals - it was Goodman. Determined not to repeat the memory,
Goodman, the No. 1 seed, defeated No. 6 Mia Horvit of Parkland, Fla.,
6-2, 6-2 to claim her first Super National singles title.
15-Aug-2011
Images from the Girls' 14s and 12s Nationals
The Girls' 14s and 12s are both in the Atlanta metro area - which is a
convenient drive from our Georgia-based offices. TennisRecruiting.net
photographers were in Peachtree City and Alpharetta to get some great
action shots from these younger girls' divisions.
15-Aug-2011
Hard Court Championship Week
The USTA National Championships have now concluded - and gold balls
have been awarded to your latest national champions. All week long,
TennisRecruiting.net celebrates these winners - from the East Coast
to the West Coast - with coverage of the Nationals. Enjoy the 2011
edition of Championship Week.
12-Aug-2011
The First Four Games
It's happened to everyone at one point or another. You lose a match
to a player that just seemed to be "in the zone" only to watch them
play terrible in the next round. It leaves you wondering; why didn't
they play like that against me? There are countless articles
detailing how to win a tennis match, but they often fail to mention
the most important part of the match itself: the beginning.
10-Aug-2011
Real World: Arizona State's Sheila McInerney
Arizona State Head Coach Sheila McInerney has led the Sun Devils to
the NCAA tournament in 26 of her 27 seasons, making 18 Sweet Sixteen
appearances. McInerney has been inducted into the ITA and Southwest
Section Hall of Fame for her service to the tennis community and
college coaching achievements. Recruiting expert Annette Broersma
chats with Coach McInerney in today's article.
8-Aug-2011
Texas Finally Takes Boys' 18 Team Championships
At the national level, all eyes are on the USTA National Championships
taking place this week. But last week was a week for team competition.
Marcia Frost took in the Boys' 18 Team Championships at the University
of Illinois, where USTA Texas defeated the Southern section by a 4-3
margin.
5-Aug-2011
Sock Returns to Kalamazoo to Defend Title
With his eye on a return trip to the US Open main draw, 2010 USTA Boys
18s champion Jack Sock is back in Kalamazoo this year, both to defend
his title and begin his professional career.
4-Aug-2011
Talented Field Heads to San Diego
What do Tracy Austin, Lindsay Davenport and Jennifer Capriati have in
common with Christina McHale and Melanie Oudin? Each one has been a
highly-ranked American tennis player, but they share something else in
common - they have all picked up trophies at the Girls' Nationals.
2-Aug-2011
July Aces
July's notable performances began on the grass courts of Wimbledon and
ended on the hard courts in the heart of the United States, with
current and former college players making up more than half of the
month's aces. The eight USTA Clay Court champions deserve hearty
congratulations as well, but are not featured here due to the
extensive coverage of the National Clay Courts last week on this site.
1-Aug-2011
Conversation with Tulsa Assistant Thomas Liversage
Thomas Liversage is currently serving his second year as an assistant
men's tennis coach at The University of Tulsa. Prior to joining
Tulsa, Liversage was a player and assistant coach at the University of
San Diego. The four-year letterwinner was a six-time All-West Coast
Conference selection and an NCAA Championship participant in both
singles and doubles. Read Liversage's conversation with Sammy Atri
from Scholarship For Athletes.
29-Jul-2011
Andrews Makes Herself at Home with 18s Title
Southern Californian Gabby Andrews is comfortable in Memphis, and not
just because she reached the semifinals of the USTA Girls 18s Clay
Court Championships in 2010 as a 13-year-old. Andrews calls Memphis,
where her father Mike grew up, her second home, and when the top seed
completed her 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 win over unseeded Denise Starr in the
final, many family members were on hand at the Racquet Club of Memphis
to witness the victory.
29-Jul-2011
Second Chance is a Winner for Alexios Halebian
It was a year ago on this very court at the Delray Beach Tennis Center
that Alexios Halebian lost the Boys' 18 Clay Court Championship to
Bjorn Fratangelo. A lot can change in a year. Upon his return to
this tournament he went from being unseeded to the top seed, and this
time he was able to take home the Gold Ball with a 7-6, 6-4 win over
Brett Clark.
28-Jul-2011
Fourth-seeded Corinteli Wins 16s Title at The Beach
The state of Florida has been very kind to Luca Corinteli. In May, he
won an International Tennis Federation event in Plantation on a clay
surface. He nearly won back-to-back ITF events after winning five
matches and making it to the final of another event at the Delray
Beach Tennis Center. And on July 24, Corinteli won his first gold ball at the
USTA Boys' 16 Clay Court Championships in Delray Beach.
28-Jul-2011
Catherine Bellis Comes Home with Gold
The 12 and under division is the first opportunity a junior player has
to compete on the national level, and it is the time for top players
to set goals. For Catherine Bellis, that goal was to win the top
prize, and she kept her eye on it. Bellis won the USTA Girls' 12
National Clay Court Championships with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Kayla Day
in the final.
27-Jul-2011
Madison Bourguignon Wins First Gold Ball
Unseeded Madison Bourguignon went deep into the Girls; 14 National
Clay Court Championships, taking on the country's top-ranked Girls 14
player, Katerina Stewart in the title match. Waiting out multiple
weather delays, Bourguignon took out Stewart with a 6-3, 6-2 victory,
erasing two previous losses to Stewart earlier this year.
27-Jul-2011
Opelka Survives Heat for Title at 14s Clays
The Jimmy Evert Tennis Center at Holiday Park in Fort Lauderdale,
Florida, was once again the home of the USTA Boys' 14 Clay Court
Championships. In singles, Reilly Opelka posted a 6-2, 6-3 win over
Cameron Klinger in the title match.
26-Jul-2011
Porter earns two titles at 16s Clays
It's hard to tell which was higher at the USTA Girls' 16 National Clay
Court Championships: the record-threatening temperatures or Peggy
Porter's confidence. Porter, from Dallas and seeded sixth in a field
of 192, earned her first USTA gold ball with a breakthrough
performance at Virginia Beach Tennis and Country Club.
26-Jul-2011
Hance upsets hometown favorite in Winston-Salem
Kenneth Connor Hance, a 12-year-old Californian who once played
Agassi's son in a TV ad, dashed North Carolina's dream for a
three-peat when he beat Greenville's Patrick Kypson in a dominating
6-2, 6-1 finals performance at the 2011 USTA National Clay Court
Championships.
25-Jul-2011
Clay Court Championship Week
Last week, the USTA Clay Court Championships took place throughout the
Southeast - in Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. This
week at TennisRecruiting.net is all about the Clay Courts. We have
roundups of all eight age divisions - from the Girls' 12s to the Boys'
18s. Meet the latest gold ball winners... in Clay Court Championship
Week.
24-Jul-2011
2011 Georgia Junior Open Gallery
The Georgia Junior Open is a historically strong tournament that
attracts competitors from both inside and outside the Peach State.
This year, more than half of the trophies went to players who live
in states outside Georgia. Take a look at action shots from the
2011 event.
22-Jul-2011
Harrison Looks Toward College as First Step to Pro Career
Catherine Harrison knows what she wants from her college tennis
experience. The 17-year-old rising senior from suburban Memphis,
Tennessee is seeking a coach and a program that will prepare her for
a career in professional tennis. That's the easy part. The hard part is
deciding among her final three: Duke, Georgia Tech and Virginia.
20-Jul-2011
Real World: Arizona Graduate Monique (Allegre) Walker
Monique Walker is a graduate of the University of Arizona in Tucson.
She currently resides in the Phoenix area, where she has been a
successful realtor since 2003. She is married to Chris Walker and is
the mother of two young girls. Walker is the subject of today's
installment of The Real World of College Recruiting with recruiting
expert Annette Broersma. These real stories should help potential
recruits better understand the road ahead.
18-Jul-2011
Prince Hot 100 List - July '11
Today we announce the July edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
15-Jul-2011
NCAA Champion Johnson Fulfills Dream as Practice Partner for USA Davis Cup Team
Most years, the Campbell/ITA's Players of the Year are recognized during
the second weekend in July. Cal's Jana Juricova, the NCAA champion
and women's player of the year, received her award at the ATP event in
Newport, Rhode Island. But the men's winner, USC's NCAA champion Steve
Johnson, couldn't make it. He was in Austin, Texas, serving as a
practice partner for the US Davis Cup team's quarterfinal tie with
Spain.
14-Jul-2011
The Coach's Revolving Door
College coaches have many duties - building successful programs,
developing athletes, and winning contests. But they hold a deal more
responsibility than that. As a coach, I have a responsibility to each
player to push them towards being successful both on the courts and as
individuals. Coaches are like revolving doors. For four or five
years, they are under my guidance, developing at each stage before
exiting the door and entering the world.
13-Jul-2011
2012 Commitment: Andrew Korinek a Longhorn
Last summer, seeded 5th at Texas' premier sectional tournament,
Andrew Korinek blew through the 18s division to win the title, firmly
establishing himself as one of the top Texas juniors of his
generation. Shortly afterwards, Texas coach Michael Center offered
Korinek an early scholarship. After discussion with his family,
Korinek accepted - and he will be a Longhorn in the Fall of 2012.
11-Jul-2011
Talking with Tufts Coach Kate Bayard
Kate Bayard earned First Team All-Ivy honors each of her four years
playing tennis at Harvard University. After coaching at prestigious
schools throughout New England, she took the head position at Tufts,
where she just completed her sixth season. Tufts has been a Division
III contender under Bayard's leadership, going deep into the team
tournament and winning individual national titles. Donovan Tennis
Strategies talks tennis with the reigning NESCAC Coach of the Year.
8-Jul-2011
Oosterbaan and Solovyev Capture Singles Titles at 16s National Open in Kalamazoo
Tournament director Tom Walker brought one of the Boys' and Girls' 16s
National Opens to Kalamazoo College's famous Stowe Stadium courts.
The boys got a preview of the venue where the USTA Boys' 16s and 18s
Nationals are played, and the girls got to compete there as well. Zootennis
blogger (and Kalamazoo local) Colette Lewis attended the event - and
she was nice enough to provide us with a wrap-up.
6-Jul-2011
2012 Commitment: Yates an Early Lady of Troy
Ellie Yates has learned that certain acronyms are translated
differently in different parts of the country. Yates, a blue chip
recruit from Mississippi, recently made a verbal commitment to play
tennis at USC. Most locals have assumed she is heading to the
University of South Carolina. But Yates has to correct them. She is
heading to the West Coast to attend the University of Southern
California.
4-Jul-2011
June Aces
June is a month for both clay and grass, and hard courts are always in
season. Here are 13 aces who posted notable results last month on
those three surfaces.
1-Jul-2011
Twelve Tips for a Better Tournament Experience
Colette Lewis has attended quite a few tennis tournaments over the
years. During that time, she has seen the good, the bad, and the
ugly. Here is a list of twelve tips that players and parents should
keep in mind to foster the best-possible tournament experience for
everyone.
29-Jun-2011
Talking with Kenyon Coach Scott Thielke
Ross Greenstein of Scholarship for Athletes talks with Scott
Thielke, head tennis coach at Kenyon College. Thielke emphasizes the
need to evaluate universities at all levels - academically,
athletically, and socially - in order to make the most educated
decision on choosing a school.
24-Jun-2011
College Panel Provides Pointers to Potential Student-Athletes
In conjunction with the NCAA Division I championships at Stanford
University last month, USTA Player Development and USTA Northern
California held a College Day at the NCAAs. Parents, junior
players and coaches heard nearly two hours of advice, facts, insights
and answers to their questions on college recruiting.
23-Jun-2011
Southern 16 Closed Photos
As of this morning, the Southern 16 Closed in Rome, Ga., is
through to the semifinals. In singles, the 3 seeds - Sean Donohue
and Ellen Jang Milsten - are the highest seeds remaining. Take
a look at images from the event.
22-Jun-2011
Real World: Talking with Head Frog David Borelli
TCU women's coach Dave Borelli is the subject of today's installment
of The Real World of Recruiting. Annette Broersma talks with the Hall
of Fame coach about his coaching experiences and philosophies.
20-Jun-2011
Prince Hot 100 List - June '11
Today we announce the June edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
17-Jun-2011
Kowalski Soars with the Eagles
Next fall, Brian Kowalski will become a member of the Emory University
Eagles tennis program when he enrolls at the Atlanta-area institution.
At Emory, the Tampa, Fla., native will play for one of the most
successful teams in NCAA history - while also receiving a quality
education.
15-Jun-2011
2011 Top NCAA Division III Women's Classes
The Tennis Recruiting Network wraps up its spring recruiting class
rankings with a look at the D-III women. Today we present our list
of the Top 25 NCAA D-III women's recruiting classes for 2010. The
top spot is held down by the Generals from Washington & Lee.
13-Jun-2011
2011 Top NCAA Division III Men's Classes
The Tennis Recruiting Network presents its recruiting class
rankings for NCAA Division III conferences. Today we present our Top
25 D-III men's recruiting classes for 2011. The Stags of
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps lead the way.
10-Jun-2011
Quigley, Tedjakusuma Win Midwest Sectional Event to Return to US Open National Qualifying Playoffs
Dream Big is the USTA's marketing slogan for its US Open National
Playoffs. Offering the prize of a US Open qualifying wild card, the
USTA established sectional tournaments throughout the country open to
all USTA members. Colette Lewis of ZooTennis.com took in the Midwest
event, where Eric Quigley and Romana Tedjakusuma advanced in their
pursuit of a coveted wild card.
8-Jun-2011
2011 Top Mid-Major Women's Classes
The recruiting class rankings just keep on coming. Today, The
Tennis Recruiting Network is proud to present the Top 25 mid-major
women's recruiting classes for 2011. At the top of the list are
the Ladyjacks from Stephen F. Austin University.
6-Jun-2011
May Aces
The NCAA champions closed the month with some outstanding
performances, but the teenagers playing around the globe also stepped
up with some great play in May.
3-Jun-2011
2011 Top Mid-Major Men's Classes
The Tennis Recruiting Network continues its series of recruiting
class rankings with the first of our mid-major conference rankings.
We present the Top 25 mid-major men's recruiting classes for
2011, with the UCSB Gauchos leading the way.
2-Jun-2011
Top Seeds Johnson and Juricova Capture NCAA Titles
The top-ranked players in Division I college tennis when the NCAA
individual tournament began, Southern California's Steve Johnson and
Cal's Jana Juricova proved worthy of those numbers on Monday when they
claimed NCAA singles titles at the Taube Family Tennis Center at
Stanford University.
30-May-2011
Top Women's Classes - 2011 Spring Rankings
Last week, TennisRecruiting.net ranked the men's recruiting classes.
Today, we take a look at the women. TennisRecruiting.net is proud to
present its spring rankings of the Top 25 Women's Recruiting Classes.
The Blue Devils reeled in enough Blue Chips to overtake the Trojans
for the top spot - and four new programs climbed into the Top 25.
27-May-2011
Florida and Southern Cal Win Thrillers to Claim 2011 NCAA Titles
The 2011 Men's and Women's Division I NCAA Championships was a
riveting event from start to finish. In two excruciatingly exciting
4-3 matches, the second-seeded Southern California men claimed their
third consecutive team championship over top seed and undefeated
Virginia, while the University of Florida women, also seeded No. 2,
avenged last year's heartbreaking loss to top seed and undefeated
Stanford, ending the longest home winning streak in NCAA history.
25-May-2011
TRN and Athletic DNA Announce Partnership
The Tennis Recruiting Network, a premier source of information for
junior and college tennis, today announced that Athletic DNA, a
manufacacturer of high-performance tennis apparel, will be the title
sponsor of its boys rankings - the newly-branded Athletic DNA Class
Rankings.
23-May-2011
Top Men's Classes - 2011 Spring Rankings
The Tennis Recruiting Network is excited to present its spring
ranking of the Top 25 Men's Recruiting Classes. Several top players
have made commitments since our last rankings in January - shuffling
the rankings substantially. Even the No. 1 position has changed -
with the new top recruiting class now residing in Los Angeles.
21-May-2011
Images from the Atlanta National Opens
There were several USTA National Opens in the Atlanta area last
weekend. TennisRecruiting.net was in Peachtree City for the 12s - as
well as Norcross for the 18s. Check out the action photos we took at
those events.
19-May-2011
Real World: Former Midwestern State Player Brynne Chappell
Annette Broersma is back with another installment of The Real World of
Recruiting. In today's column, Broersma talks with Brynne Chappell, former
women's tennis player at Midwestern State University. Chappell talks about
the recruiting process - and her experiences as a Division II tennis player.
16-May-2011
Prince Hot 100 List - May '11
Today we announce the May edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
13-May-2011
NCAA Tournament Roundtable - Part II
Today is the day. The top NCAA Division I men's and women's college
tennis programs face off in first-round action across the country,
with all teams trying to punch their ticket to the Taube Tennis Center
in Stanford, California with a spot in the Sweet 16. Check out
insights from our college tennis contributors - and see who they pick
as darkhorses.
11-May-2011
Wilander's Words of Wisdom
Mats Wilander, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, has devoted
his life to tennis, and at age 46, says he still views himself as a
professional tennis player. He now runs a Winnebago-based traveling
clinic he conducts with former Naval Academy standout Cameron Lickle.
At last month's Easter Bowl, Wilander headlined the tournament's
annual seminar for coaches, parents and players. Here are some of his
comments.
10-May-2011
Daytona Beach 2011 ITF Tournament Photos
After reaching the semifinals of the Easter Bowl last month, Blue Chip
sophomore Alexandra Kiick broke through in Daytona to capture the
Daytona Beach ITF. She won both the singles title as well as the doubles
with partner Alexandra Morozova. Kai-Wen Lai of Chinese Taipei won the boys'
championship. Take a look at images from the event.
9-May-2011
NCAA Tournament Roundtable - Part I
May Madness might not be a household term, but the name fits for
college tennis. May is tournament time. This weekend, 64 men's and
women's teams will see first- and second-round action in the NCAA
Division I Tennis Championships. The winners head to the Taube Tennis
Center in Stanford, Calif., to compete for the team title. Today, our
college tennis contributors talk about college tennis' Big Dance.
6-May-2011
April Aces
The April aces always blossom like tulips in the spring, with the
major California and Florida junior events contributing most to the
bouquet. Several current and former collegians flowered last month
too, as well as a rising young professional.
4-May-2011
Honoring The Memory of Karie Schlukebir
In 1999, life seemed good for Karie Schlukebir. After a stellar
junior career, Indiana University Coach Lin Loring had recruited her
to play at the Big Ten School. She was in her freshman year and only
18 years old when she was told she had melanoma, but Schlukebir was
not about to let the cancer end her life without a fight.
2-May-2011
Northwestern Women Come From Behind Against Michigan to Claim 13th Big Ten Tournament Title
In the damp and gloom, behind 3-0 to a Michigan team that had beaten
her squad 6-1 last week for the Big Ten regular season title on the
same Ann Arbor courts, Northwestern women's head coach Claire Pollard
had ample reason to expect her team's Big Ten tournament title winning
streak would end at 12. But somehow she and the four remaining
Wildcats on the courts kept the faith, ran the table, and emerged with
a 4-3 win and their 13th consecutive Big Ten tournament title.
29-Apr-2011
Go For Every Ball
During my first practice sessions with Venus and Serena Williams, one
of the first things I noticed was that the girls would run for every
single ball, no matter where it bounced on the court, including some
that were out by several feet. When I asked them about it, they told us
about their father's rule: "When you see the ball coming over the net,
react to the ball with your feet and know that you can reach the ball."
That intensity and focus is one of the things that makes them special.
27-Apr-2011
Real World: Idaho's Jeff Beaman
Annette Broersma is back with another installment of The Real World of
Recruiting. In today's column, Broersma talks with Jeff Beaman, head
coach of men's tennis at the University of Idaho. The Vandals' coach
talks about his philosophies for both recruiting and running his team.
25-Apr-2011
Escobedo and Shishkina Win 14s, Brymer and Doyle Take 16s Titles at 44th Easter Bowl
The four singles champions in the 14s and 16s divisions at the 2011
Easter Bowl didn't come into the tournament as favorites; none of them
were seeded among the Top 4. Yet the quartet of Maria Shishkina,
Ernesto Escobedo, Caroline Doyle and Gage Brymer were able to overcome
the scorching temperatures and highly-ranked opponents to collect gold
balls at the Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
22-Apr-2011
Giron's Streak Continues, McPhillips Claims Second Straight Title at ITF Easter Bowl
Two impressive streaks were on the line when Marcos Giron and Kyle
McPhillips took the court last weekend for championship matches at the
ITF Grade B1 Easter Bowl in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Giron had won 17
consecutive ITF junior matches, and McPhillips had won 17 straight
Easter Bowl matches. Those singles streaks will continue, as they
won the Easter Bowl titles.
20-Apr-2011
Prince Hot 100 List - April '11
Today we announce the April edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
19-Apr-2011
Images from the 2011 Georgia Spring Open
TennisRecruiting.net is based outside of Atlanta, Ga., and so it
is easy for us to make it out to area tournaments. Last week,
we took in the Georgia Spring Open, and we got some nice photos.
Take a look at the action shots we got from the event.
18-Apr-2011
Talking With Jesse Levine
If you've followed American junior and college tennis over the past few years, you
probably recognize the name Jesse Levine. After a stellar junior
career, Levine played college tennis at Florida, where he was named
ITA Rookie of the Year while leading the team to the round of 16 and
making the quarters in both singles and doubles. Harry Cicma of NBC
Sports sat down with the former Gator and current ATP pro.
16-Apr-2011
Giron and Crawford Claim First ITF Grade 1 Titles at International Spring Championships
There wasn't much international about the late stages of the ITF Grade
1 International Spring Championships last week, with Americans
claiming all four singles and doubles titles at the Home Depot Center
in Carson, Calif. In the 18s, unseeded Marcos Giron and wild card
Samantha Crawford took home the singles crowns, while Yuki Chiang
Noah Rubin won in the 16s.
15-Apr-2011
Spring Signing Week '11: Scatliffe Heads to UCSB
It would be easy to assume UC Santa Barbara had a huge advantage in
recruiting April Scatliffe. After all, her older sister, Charlotte,
played for the Gauchos and is now an assistant coach for the team.
But the Redlands, Calif., resident thought she wanted to blaze her own
trail at a different school and not be in her sister's shadow. But
the all-encompassing lure of UCSB was too strong to ignore - she
signed to play for the Gauchos.
15-Apr-2011
Spring Signing Week '11: Efferding Returns to Texas to Join Aggies
Jeremy Efferding left Texas for Florida several years ago, but the
blue chip recruit will be back in the Lone Star state for his college
tennis career, having chosen to join Texas A&M University this fall.
14-Apr-2011
Spring Signing Week '11: McCourt Heads to the Tigers
When Zack McCourt first tried tennis lessons at age six, he hated it.
"I absolutely hated it," McCourt said emphatically. "I gave it another
shot when I was nine, and played once or twice a week, but finally
fell in love with it when I was 10." Fast forward eight years and
McCourt, 18, of Sunrise, Florida, is headed to Princeton University.
14-Apr-2011
Spring Signing Week '11: Uberoi to the Bears
The moment she had been anxiously awaiting finally arrived, and Nikita
Uberoi rushed to the computer to learn her fate. Uberoi had committed
to play at Brown University, but she still needed to be officially
admitted. After waiting a few hours for Internet traffic on the
overloaded servers to die down, Nikita and her fraternal twin sister,
Nimita, both read the opening word "Congratulations".
13-Apr-2011
Spring Signing Week '11: Callie Whitlock a Tar
Next fall, Callie Whitlock of Richmond, Va., will soon join the tennis
team at Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla. "I chose Rollins because
it is a beautiful school and a great fit for me," said Callie, a
four-star recruit. "It is a small school, which I think I would
benefit from. And, it is Florida, which is perfect for tennis. I know
the work I have done over the past years has paid off."
13-Apr-2011
Spring Signing Week '11: Diaz Fulfills Lifelong Dream as Buckeye
Blue Chip Christopher Diaz narrowed down his college choices to his
hometown team and his father's alma mater. In the end, he opted to
stay at home in Columbus and be part of Ohio State's athletics, whose
tradition of sports excellence he has known for as long as he can
remember.
12-Apr-2011
Spring Signing Week '11: Dancu Signs with DePaul
Joshua Dancu enjoys playing tennis and the drums - but he acknowledges
their differences. "I feel less stress performing drums because a
miscalculation will not cost me a match," said the Florida senior. "As
I have gotten older and more experienced, they each provide a
different type of rush." This fall, Dancu will take both of his talents to
the city of Chicago, where he will compete for the DePaul University Blue
Demons.
12-Apr-2011
Spring Signing Week '11: National Roundup
Signing Week is now underway, and tomorrow seniors can start signing
their National Letters of Intent. Today, we check in with boys and
girls from across the country who are heading to a variety of schools.
Find out how they came to their decisions... in our National Roundup.
11-Apr-2011
Spring Signing Week '11: Kandinata Arrives at Richmond
From Indonesia to Florida to North Carolina and soon to the University
of Richmond, 16-year-old Melissa Kandinata has acquired a world of
perspective amid her tennis travels. Kandinata, a five-star recruit
ranked 41st among the senior class by TennisRecruiting.net, has
committed to play for the Richmond Spiders in the fall. She's one of
the highest-ranked recruits ever for the Spiders, who have won six of
the last seven Atlantic 10 Conference championships.
11-Apr-2011
Spring Signing Week '11: Signing Week Arrives
The second week of April is here - and Signing Week has finally
arrived! We start our coverage of Spring Signing Week '11 with a look
at the uncommitted boys and girls from the top 100. We update you on
a few developments from the past few weeks, and we note that some of
these top recruits plan to announce their college choices this week in
our coverage.
8-Apr-2011
Countdown: The Real World of College Recruiting
Today, we unveil the initial installment of The Real World of
Recruiting - a new regular feature at TennisRecruiting.net by Annette
Broersma. Today, Broersma talks with a recent NCAA D1 tennis player
about her college experiences.
7-Apr-2011
Countdown: Hamburg Heads to Gophers
Jack Hamburg describes himself as "a guy from nowhere in South
Dakota," but he's certainly been recognized in the world of tennis.
This 10-time state high school champion is getting ready to bring his
skills a bit further east when he joins the Minnesota Golden Gophers
in the fall.
6-Apr-2011
Countdown: Zabor Rolls with the Tide
Before going on any of her five official visits last fall, 5-Star
recruit Emily Zabor made a spreadsheet that included 16 things that
would appeal to her in a school and tennis team. While she liked all
five schools that she visited, one stood out. In Novemeber, Zabor
signed with Alabama.
5-Apr-2011
Countdown: Wolfpack Welcomes Ronald Powell
At the start of his junior year, Ronald Powell got some alarming news
- he had torn cartilage in his wrist that would require surgical
repair. Two surgeries and ten months of rehab later, Powell would
return to the court and start to regain his tennis form. This past
fall, Powell decided to play his college tennis in Raleigh, N.C., with
Coach Choboy and the N.C. State Wolfpack.
4-Apr-2011
Countdown: UCLA Welcomes Kaitlin Ray
Growing up in Little Rock, Arkansas, Kaitlin Ray got serious about her
tennis at age 11. When her enormous potential for the sport began to
materialize, Ray's tennis journey kicked into high gear. That journey
has taken her through Smith Stearns in South Carolina - on her way to
college tennis at UCLA this coming fall.
2-Apr-2011
March Aces
There's not an April fool among these dozen achievers, who started
spring with outstanding performances on clay and hard courts across
five continents.
1-Apr-2011
APRIL FOOLS: Football Joke
This article ran on April 1 - April Fool's Day - as a joke for users of
the TennisRecruiting.net website. The joke involved a fake prank where
football players supposedly changed the logos of the website. Click here to read
the April Fool's article...
31-Mar-2011
Countdown: Wood to the Stags
Warren Wood wasn't concerned about perceived status symbols. He
didn't want to attend a Division I institution simply to brag about
playing at that level. Wood was most concerned about finding the
right all-around fit for his game, his happiness and his future.
That's why the Del Mar, Calif., resident decided to play tennis for
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, a Division III program in Southern California.
30-Mar-2011
Countdown: Cypers Joins Amherst with Eye Toward Titles
Four-star recruit Jonathan Cypers has a variety of reasons for
selecting Division III Amherst for his higher education, with
location, academics, and friendship among them. But the first one the
18-year-old New Yorker mentions is the tennis dream of many college
players - a chance to win a national title.
29-Mar-2011
Countdown: Martin Hooked by Horns
Next August, Alex Martin will be flashing the "Hook 'Em Horns" sign
when the five-star recruit becomes a member of the Texas Longhorns
women's tennis team. Martin was attracted to Texas by the school and
tennis program - but the clincher was the chance to get to play for
sixth-year Texas head coach Patty Fendick-McCain, a former collegiate
and pro tennis star.
28-Mar-2011
Countdown: Girls' War Room
This past Friday, we checked in with the boys. Today, the top girls
in the senior class update us on their college recruiting. Find out
where the Top 100 girls are leaning, and how many of them have already
made their decisions.
25-Mar-2011
Countdown: Boys' War Room
Many of the top boys committed during Fall Signing Week last November,
but a number of top targets were still available. We talked with many
recruits in the Top 100 to find out where they are in their decision
process. Some have decided, some have narrowed their list, and many
are still wide open.
24-Mar-2011
Countdown: Denis Nguyen Heads to Cambridge
Attending Harvard always seemed like more than just a dream to Denis
Nguyen. The five-star recruit considered the possibility a complete
fantasy. But it's become very real for Nguyen since he made a verbal
commitment to play tennis for the Crimson.
23-Mar-2011
Floridians Sweep Titles at USTA 18s National Spring Championships
Three weeks ago, Danielle Collins and Zack McCourt had suffered early
losses at the National Open in their home state of Florida, so the
thought of taking home gold balls at the USTA 18s National Spring
Champions less than a month later seemed nothing more than a fantasy.
But the gregarious and talkative teenagers won titles over the
weekend, showing just how quickly fortunes can change in the sport of
tennis.
22-Mar-2011
Countdown: Buell Heads Off to the Generals
During her junior year in 2009, Meghan Buell and her partner won the
Ohio state doubles title. That caught the attention of several
college coaches, including Eric Ishida, head coach at Washington and
Lee. In early 2011, after a phone call and an official visit, Buell
verbally committed to the Generals.
21-Mar-2011
Countdown to Signing Day
It's that time of year... Signing Day is approaching. April 13 is
the first day of the Spring Signing Period - when seniors from around
the nation can sign on to play college tennis at Division I or
Division II schools. And once again, The Tennis Recruiting Network
is ready with its Countdown to Signing Day.
16-Mar-2011
Prince Hot 100 List - March '11
Today we announce the March edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
14-Mar-2011
The Dilemma of High School Tennis
Accomplished USTA junior tennis players have long grappled with the
question of whether to play on their high school teams. While they
want to support their team and school, they don't want their level of
play to deteriorate over the course of the season. Donovan Tennis
Strategies talks about how junior tennis players should evaluate the
tradeoffs.
11-Mar-2011
Talking with Rice Women's Tennis Coach Elizabeth Schmidt
Ross Greenstein of Scholarship for Athletes sits down with Elizabeth Schmidt,
head coach of the the Rice University Women's Tennis Team.
Schmidt talks about the challenging transition from junior to college tennis
- and high school to college life.
9-Mar-2011
Harry Cicma with Dartmouth's Bob Dallis
Harry Cicma of NBC Sports speaks with Bob Dallis, head coach of
women's tennis at Dartmouth College. Dallis is in his 21st year as a
Division I head coach - eight of those coming at Dartmouth. Dallis'
squad is coming off a 16-6 season in 2010, and the 2011 edition is
currently ranked #71. Cicma and Dallis discuss college coaching,
recruiting, and much more.
7-Mar-2011
Texas A&M Avenges Painful Loss with 5-2 Victory over Notre Dame
Two years ago the Texas A&M Aggies left Notre Dame's Eck Tennis
Pavilion stung by a comeback that saw the Fighting Irish win the final
four points. Last Friday, 18th-ranked A&M took another 3-0
lead, but this time they refused to let 24th-ranked Notre Dame back
in, taking a 5-2 decision from the home team.
4-Mar-2011
February Aces
As promised, the month of February produced the bulk of its aces from
current and former collegians, although there were several outstanding
performances by junior girls, including a new bright light from
Belgium.
2-Mar-2011
Eric Butorac Makes Huge Statement for Division III
Junior players who are focused on turning professional almost
always look exclusively at NCAA Division I schools when they are
considering colleges. But playing in another division doesn't have to
mean you don't stand a chance of having a career in pro tennis. Eric
Butorac is one player who has proven that.
25-Feb-2011
Capra Chooses Duke for Transition to Professional Career
Reaching the third round of the US Open is rarely considered a
problem for a teenager with a WTA ranking in the 300s. But Beatrice
Capra's success last year in New York presented her with an obvious
opportunity to reconsider her commitment to attending college. When
all was said and done, Capra signed a National Letter of Intent to
play for the Duke Blue Devils in 2011-12, where she aims to polish her
game while preparing for a career in pro tennis.
23-Feb-2011
Two Simple Tips to Improve Your Game
As a coach I am asked all kinds of questions about the game of tennis.
People want to know how to fix anything from their strokes to their
anticipation to their movement - and, just about everything in
between. Here are answers to two questions that I am often asked
that can help you fix your game!
21-Feb-2011
Talking with Wisconsin Head Coach Brian Fleishman
Ross Greenstein of Scholarship for Athletes talks to Brian Fleishman,
head coach of women's tennis at the University of Wisconsin.
Fleishman notes the importance of being respectful and observant on
official visits to universities.
18-Feb-2011
Q&A with Lew Brewer: Changes to USTA Junior Tournaments and Rankings
Change has finally arrived. Last March, the USTA approved changes to
junior tournaments and rankings at the national level. New draw
sizes... new draw formats... a reduction in the number of tournaments
that count for national rankings... All of this change went into
effect at the beginning of 2011. Why were these changes made? Lew
Brewer, USTA Director of Junior Competition, took time out to answer
our questions.
16-Feb-2011
Prince Hot 100 List - February '11
Today we announce the February edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
14-Feb-2011
Dow Corning Tennis Classic's Outreach Programs Touch Thousands of Midland-area Students Each Year
Thousands of youngsters benefit each year from the Dow Corning Tennis
Classic's outreach programs. The Dow Corning has the obligatory Kids
Day early in the tournament, but the Pros To Schools, Schools To
Matches, and Think Smart, Dream Big programs make youth outreach a
weeklong commitment.
11-Feb-2011
Jasmine Minor Heads to Georgia Tech
Throughout her junior tennis years, Jasmine Minor has always been a
strong player. There never seemed to be a doubt that she would have a
wide range of top colleges to choose from, but she ran into some
obstacles just before her senior year. Those obstacles did not
dissuade Georgia Tech Coach Bryan Shelton, however. Minor recently
committed to play for Shelton's Yellow Jackets in Atlanta.
10-Feb-2011
Talking with Paul Settles, Head Coach of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
Ross Greenstein and the SFA team chat with Paul Settles, Head
Coach of Men's Tennis for Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges. Settles
reminds us that having good character, a passionate mentality, and a
solid academic resume are overlooked, but highly crucial keys to
successful recruiting.
9-Feb-2011
Talking With Florida's Ryan Sherry
In college tennis, all six singles matches have the same value. Just
ask Ryan Sherry, who played for the Florida Gators from 2002 through
2006. As a junior, Sherry posted a 23-2 record at No. 6 singles. He
had the distinction of clinching every match for the Gators at the
2005 SEC Tournament in Athens, Ga., and he was named the MVP of the
event. Harry Cicma of NBC Sports recently sat down to talk with Sherry.
7-Feb-2011
January Aces
Eight of January's aces are from Arizona, where, way back on January
1, the USTA Winter National championship matches were played. But
North America was joined by three other continents as sites of
noteworthy accomplishments, with South America, Europe and Australia
providing the backdrop for 2011's first outstanding performances.
4-Feb-2011
Sweeps Down Under While Americans Impress
American players made a great showing at the Australian Open Junior
Championships, but in the end it was two tiny countries that claimed
the crowns. An-Sophie Mestach and Jiri Vesely both left Melbourne
winners of both the singles and doubles titles.
2-Feb-2011
Michigan Women Survive USC Comeback to Reach Team Indoor Championships
Last Sunday at the Varsity Tennis Center in Ann Arbor, the University
of Michigan women's team appeared to have a tidy win over the
University of Southern California in its grasp in the final match of
the ITA's Kickoff Weekend. The road to a berth in the 16-team Indoor
Championships got bumpy however, before Michigan escaped with a 5-2
win.
31-Jan-2011
Top Women's Classes - 2011 Winter Rankings
More than three hundred senior girls - including 85 of our Top 100 -
have signed their NLIs or made verbal commitments to college programs.
Those kinds of numbers make for some interesting recruiting classes -
which makes for a nice segue to this article. Today, the Tennis
Recruiting Network presents the Top 25 Women's Recruiting Classes for
the Class of 2011.
28-Jan-2011
Townsend and Clark Capture Plaza Cup 18s Championships
The route was different, but the destination was the same for
14-year-old Taylor Townsend and 16-year-old Brett Clark: the 18s
singles championship at the USTA Regional Plaza Cup in Coral Gables,
Fla. The unseeded Townsend outlasted Allie Kiick 6-2, 2-6, 10-5 in the
girls final, while the sixth-seeded Clark cruised to a 6-4 6-1 victory
over Ognjen Samardzic in the boys championship match.
26-Jan-2011
David Roditi Looking to Forge Ahead at TCU
When the head men's coaching job opened this summer at Texas Christian
University, one name stood out from the others as a possible
replacement - David Roditi. A standout player for the Horned Frogs in
the mid-90s, Roditi left his job at the USTA to return to Fort Worth
and take his "dream job."
24-Jan-2011
Top Men's Classes - 2011 Winter Rankings
High school seniors have been reporting verbal commitments at a steady
clip for months now, and almost 700 boys and girls have announced their
choices. Today, the Tennis Recruiting Network takes its first look at
the programs to see where things stand. Take a look at the Top 25
Men's College Tennis Recruiting Classes for 2011.
21-Jan-2011
USTA National Junior Team Edges Alabama Men
When the USTA National Junior Team's match with the University of
Alabama men came down to the last court Thursday, the competitive
fires were fully ignited. As the 14 other players surrounded the match
between 15-year-old Nikko Madregallejo and Alabama sophomore Ian
Chadwell, it suddenly became strikingly similar to every other
collegiate match that will be played over the next four months.
19-Jan-2011
Memphis Tigers Find a Home to be Proud Of
Imagine being a college coach without a court to call home. That's
the jam the University of Memphis coaches experienced when the Tigers'
on-campus courts were deemed unplayable six years ago. After five
wandering years, the University partnered with the Racquet Club of
Memphis, which this season became the full-time home of U of M men's
and women's tennis.
17-Jan-2011
Prince Hot 100 List - January '11
Today we announce the January edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
14-Jan-2011
Eight Intriguing Questions for 2011
Another year... and another edition of "Intriguing Questions" from
columnist Colette Lewis. Today, Colette poses eight questions about
junior and college tennis.
12-Jan-2011
Favorites and Unseeded Texan Win in Tucson
Four athletes who train at USTA High Performance Centers - three are
12 years old and one is 13 - claimed the top prizes in Tucson, which
was ravaged by rain and cold during the Winter National's final
rounds. The Girls 12s champion, Sofia Kenin, won five matches on New
Year's Day. Kenin, Stefan Kozlov and unseeded Maria Smith train at the
High Performance Center in Boca Raton. William Blumberg trains at the
Flushing Meadows facility.
10-Jan-2011
In Scottsdale, Top Girls Prevail, Upsets in Boys
In the last major junior championship of 2010, three Californians and
a New Yorker left Arizona with top honors. In the Girls 18s, No. 1
Gabrielle Andrews beat Kyle McPhillips, and in the 16s Jamie Loeb took
both sets over No. 2 Christina Makarova. No. 8 seed Thomas Pura upset
No. 1 Sean Karl in the Boys 16s, while No. 15 Eric Johnson, losing the
first set at love, came back to win the 18s over No. 17 Anthony
Tsodikov.
7-Jan-2011
December Aces
As we close out 2010, here's a final look back at the 15 different
major international junior tournament champions from last month, and a
junior officially graduating to professional ranks in 2011.
5-Jan-2011
Recent U.Va. signee Mitchell Frank cherishes practice with Federer
Though he has won plenty of significant matches and championships in
his budding career, one of Mitchell Frank's best tennis memories is a
practice. His practice partner? None other than Roger Federer.
Frank, who recently signed to become the University of Virginia's
latest blue-chip recruit, got to conduct the workout of a lifetime at
last year's U.S. Open.
3-Jan-2011
Talking with Northwestern's Claire Pollard
Claire Pollard, the Northwestern Women's Tennis Coach, sits down
with the SFA team. She emphasizes her philosophy of looking for
players who show a high level of commitment and a desire to constantly
work to improve their games.
