· crushers program, which is now i n its third year. alyssa now plays alo ngside her sister at...

w w w . t e x a s . u s t a . c o m

TEXAS SECTION

Inside Tennis | NOV/DEC 2013 24 i ns ide tenn is .com

Super Champ changes for 2014We have new and significant changes for our Super Champ players in

2014! Due to changes at the national level, the USTA Texas Junior

Tennis Council developed and approved a new Super Champ

tournament structure and corresponding point charts. The 2012 Super

Champ events are now online. You can view the 2014 Tournament

Information and Schedule, Tournament Formats, Super Champ Point

Tables and Frequently Asked Questions at

www.texas.usta.com/junior_tennis/2014_super_champ_changes/

USTA TEXAS NEWS & NOTES Harris-Webb named national No-Cut All-StarThe United States Tennis Association (USTA)

announced that Vonda Harris-Webb of

Grand Prairie High School in Grand Prairie,

Texas is a 2013 No-Cut Coach All-Star Team

member. USTA nationally recognizes 12

exceptional middle and high school coaches

who implement a “no-cut” policy.

Rio Grande Valley promotes tennis to blind and visually impairedMiradas de Esperanza an organization in McAllen, Texas has started

programs for kids in McAllen, Harlingen and Laredo to help promote

tennis in the Rio Grande Valley for the blind and visually impaired by

providing instruction programs year-round, through sport and

educational programs for full integration into society, in a fun and

healthy way. For more go to www.miradasdeesperanza.org.mx or check

out http://vimeo.com/66373593 to be inspired.

FWTA hires Johnson as Executive DirectorThe Fort Worth Tennis Association (FWTA)

recently hired Kathleen Johnson as its

executive director. Johnson comes from

USTA Georgia, where she supervised adult

tournament play and assisted league

players with rating concerns for seven

years. FWTA has served its tennis

community since 1958 and provides tennis

equipment to more than 50 Fort Worth ISD

and after school programs.

Executive Committee application deadline is Dec. 1 The USTA Texas Nominating Committee is accepting applications

through Dec 1. for anyone interested in serving as a member of the

Executive Committee. The Nominating Committee will nominate one

person from each of the four geographic zones (Northwest, Northeast,

Southwest and Southeast). Nominees will be voted on by the Organiza-

tional members at the USTA Texas Annual Meeting Feb. 16, 2014.

Go to www.texas.usta.com Click on “About Us” and then click on

“Volunteers” to the link for the application.

McAllen to host International Congress for the BlindIn February 2014, representatives from countries around the world will

be in McAllen, Texas for the first International Congress for the Blind

to discuss the following: Disability and Sport; Growth of Blind Tennis

in the World: Promotion and Diffusion; resource generation;

Paralympics; official rules; Official Ball: Advantages and

Disadvantages and more.

Vonda Harris-Webb

Kathleen Johnson

TEXAS SECTION


BY KACI BOROWSKI

USTA Texas is proud to announce it has

selected two outstanding candidates to

receive the 2013 USTA Texas /Whataburger

NJTL Scholarship. Winners Heba Abdel-

Rahim and Cody Stewart were each

awarded $1,000 for college expenses. The

award is designated for graduating seniors

who will enter at a two or four-year university

in the fall.

Both Heba and Cody have distin-

guished themselves through their

academic achievement, community

involvement and continued dedication to

the sport of tennis.

Heba is a 2013 graduate from Katy,

Texas. She has participated in the Houston

Tennis Association NJTL program for seven

years and continued her tennis career at

Southwestern University in the fall.

Cody is a 2013 graduate from

Duncanville, Texas. He has been a part of the

Dallas Tennis Association NJTL Slam

Jammers program for five years. Cody was

also a recipient of the national USTA/NJTL

Arthur Ashe Essay Contest award in 2013.

He began at Austin College in the fall.

The USTA Awards Committee also

recognized the following student-athletes for

their impressive achievements in 2013.

Weston Hill of Duncanville, Texas.

Weston has been involved with the Dallas

Tennis Association NJTL Slam Jammers

program for 11 years and started studies at

Texas A&M University this fall.

Donielle Richard of Cedar Hill, Texas.

Donielle has been a member of the Dallas

Tennis Association NJTL Slam Jammers

program for 12 years and is continuing her

tennis career at Prairie View A&M

University.

Alyssa Salazar of Laredo, Texas. Alyssa

and her family (including twin sister, Ashley)

helped establish the Laredo NJTL Court

Crushers program, which is now in its third

year. Alyssa now plays alongside her sister at

the collegiate level at King University.

Ashley Salazar of Laredo, Texas. Like

her twin sister, Ashley was an integral part in

the founding of the Laredo NJTL Court

Crushers program. She attends King

University, where she plays tennis alongside

her twin sister, Alyssa.

Whataburger has served as a long-time

partner of the section and presenting

sponsor of the USTA Texas NJTL program.

This is their first year of the NJTL Graduating

Seniors Scholarship and we are grateful for

Whataburger’s support as they enable us to

help some of our most outstanding members

to continue their educations.

Abdel-Rahim, Stewart named 2013Whataburger NJTL Scholarship winners

BY KACI BOROWSKI

Texas was well represented in the 15th

annual USTA National Junior Tennis &

Learning (NJTL) Arthur Ashe Essay Contest,

with national winner Cody Stewart of

Duncanville. Cody’s essay was one of 10

selected from 1,800 entries for the national

award from the 17 USTA sections.

Cody’s winning essay was a response to

this year’s question: “If you could follow in

Arthur Ashe’s footsteps and ‘give back’ to

tennis, what would you do to give back to

the game and how would it impact others?”

In addition to being named one of 10

national winners, Cody received a travel

package, including round-trip airfare to New

York City, two nights stay at the Grand Hyatt

on 42nd Street, tickets to a professional

sporting event and President’s Box tickets to

the 2013 Arthur Ashe Kids Day at the Billie

Jean King Tennis Center. Cody was also

invited to attend an awards luncheon hosted

by former New York City Mayor and USTA

Board Member David Dinkins.

USTA Texas announced five divisional

winners in both the boys and girls

categories. Each of the Texas section

winners was then submitted for national

consideration. Cody was one of 10 winners

at the state level that rounded out a list of

esteemed entrants from the Lone Star State.

Congratulations to all winners on their

excellent essays!

2013 USTA TEXAS SECTION ARTHURASHE ESSAY CONTEST WINNERSGirls 10U- Victoria Lopez, Houston Tennis AssociationGirls 11-12- Sophia Perepelitsa, Zina Garrison AcademyGirls 13-14- Gabrielle McDaniel, Dallas Tennis AssociationGirls 15-16- Christina Johnson, Zina Garrison AcademyGirls 17-18- Nya Cheatham, Dallas Tennis AssociationBoys 10U- Jourdan Fields, Dallas Tennis AssociationBoys 11-12- Brady Brazda, Houston Tennis AssociationBoys 13-14- Daniel Rahimzadeh, Houston Tennis AssociationBoys 15-16- Khalil White, Dallas Tennis AssociationBoys 17-18- Cody Stewart, Dallas Tennis Association**National Winner

Duncanville native Cody Stewart wins Arthur Ashe Essay national awardUSTA T EXAS NAMES 10 S TAT E W INNERS

Cody Stewart Heba Abdel-Rahim Donielle Richard Alyssa Salazar Ashley Salazar

NOV/DEC 2013


USTA Texas announced its 2013 Community

Development Awards winners at the

Community Development Awards luncheon

held on Oct. 12 at the Hyatt Regency Lost

Pines Resort & Spa in Cedar Creek, Texas.

Congratulations to the deserving award

winners:

DIVERSITY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Marilyn Sherman, Dallas

NJTL CHAPTER OF THE YEAR

Level 1: First Serve, Abilene, Texas

Level 2: Tennis Success Inc., Corpus Christi,

Texas

Level 3: Dallas Tennis Association, Dallas

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

Emily Schaefer, Houston

USTA TEXAS CTA

OF THE YEAR

AWARD

Northeast Tarrant

Tennis (NETT)

JTT COORDINATOR

OF THE YEAR

Hannah Hinton,

Houston

JTT ROOKIE COORDINATOR

Mark Hodge, Dallas

JTT PROGRAM OF THE YEAR

Abilene, Texas

10 AND UNDER PROGRAM OF THE YEAR

Arlington Tennis Association, Arlington, Texas

NORTH STAR AWARD

Bert Rainwater, Fort Stockton, Texas

ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR

Jane Morrill, Dallas

NO-CUT COACH OF THE YEAR

Vonda Harris-Webb, Grand Prairie, Texas

Complete award details and photo gallery

at http://bit.ly/GRQb1X

2013 USTA Texas Community Development Award winners

TEXAS SECTION


The United States Professional Tennis

Association honored the organization’s

players of the year during the USPTA World

Conference at the Hyatt Grand Regency

Cypress in Orlando. Eight Texans garnered

USPTA awards.

The winners are determined by the total

number of USPTA player points earned

during the 2012 calendar year based on each

player’s finish at USPTA tournaments.

James Daly of Tyler, Texas, was named

the Men’s Open Singles Player of the Year for

the second consecutive year after finishing

the year with a No. 1 ranking.

Ristine Olson of Austin, Texas was

named the Women’s Open Singles Player of

the Year after defending her Women’s Open

championship title at the USPTA Hard Court

Championships by going undefeated in

round robin play.

Cary Lothringer of The Woodlands,

Texas, and Jonas Lundblad of Austin,

Texas, were named the Men’s 35 and Over

Doubles Players of the Year. The duo won

the Men’s 35 and Over Doubles title at the

USPTA International Championships and the

Men’s Open Doubles title

at the USPTA Hard Court

Championships in 2012.

Sal Castillo of San

Antonio, Texas, was

named the Men’s 55 and

Over Singles Player of

the Year after taking the

division title at the

International Championships with a 6-0, 6-1

victory over John Guevara.

On the women’s side the Texas tandem

of Athena Cajas (Burleston, Texas) and

Michelle King (Austin, Texas) were named

the 35 and Over Doubles Players of the Year

after earning the USPTA Hard Court Champi-

onship title with a defeat of Kathy Vick and

Lori Robertson, 7-5, 1-6, 6-0.

Kathy Barnes (San Jose, Calif.) and

Kathy Vick (Lubbock, Texas) were named

the Women’s 45 and Over Doubles Players of

the Year. The pair won the International

Championships last year in Monterey, Calif.,

with a 6-1, 6-1 victory.

2013 USPTA PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

Men’s Open Singles

James Daly, Tyler, Texas

Men’s 35 and Over Doubles

Cary Lothringer, The Woodlands, Texas

Jonas Lundblad, Austin, Texas

Men’s 55 and Over Singles

Sal Castillo, San Antonio, Texas

Women’s Open Singles

Ristine Olson, Austin, Texas

Women’s 35 and Over Doubles

Athena Cajas, Burleson, Texas

Michelle King, Austin, Texas

Women’s 45 and Over Doubles

Kathy Barnes, San Jose, Calif.

Kathy Vick, Lubbock, Texas

Eight Texans recognized as Players of the Year at USPTA World Conference

Athena Cajas, Ristine Olson, Cary Lothringer, Sal Castillo and Kathy Vick

NOV/DEC 2013


Dallas men crownedUSTA League 3.5 National Champions

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. - A

men's team from Dallas who

represented the USTA Texas

section captured the national title

at the USTA League Adult 40 &

Over 3.5 National Championship

held at the Indian Wells Tennis

Garden in Indian Wells, Calif.

The Dallas Team, who are

based out of Fretz Tennis Center,

defeated a team from Cherry Hill,

N.J., 3-2 in the Championship

match. Earlier in the day, the Dallas

team defeated a team from Lake

Charles, La., 3-2 in the semifinals.

They advanced this far by winning

their round-robin flight.

The team is co-captained by

Stephen Graham and Keith Clark

and features Ramon Golon,

Houston women win USTA League 5.0+National Championship

The women’s tennis team

from Houston, captured the

national title at the USTA League

Adult 18 & Over 5.0+ National

Championships in Indian Wells,

Calif.

The Houston team defeated a

team from Phoenix, Ariz., 2-1 in

the Championship match. Earlier

in the day, the Houston team

defeated a team from Berkeley,

Calif., 2-1 in the semifinals. They

advanced this far by winning their

round-robin flight.

The team is captained by Pia-

Dallas men finish secondat USTA League 5.0National Championship

The men’s tennis team from

Dallas, finished second at the

USTA League Adult 18 & Over 5.0

National Championships in Indian

Wells, Calif.

The Dallas team lost to a

team from Lynchburg, Va., 2-1 in

the finals. Earlier in the day, the

Dallas team defeated a team from

Arlington Heights, Ill., 2-1 in the

2013 USTA League Women’s 18 & OverNational Champion – 5.0+ Houston

2013 USTA League Men’s 40 & OverNational Champion– 3.5 Dallas

2013 USTA League Texas Mixed DoublesSectional 6.0 Champions (San Angelo).

Texas League MixedDoubles SectionalChampionshipsThe 2013 USTA League Texas

Mixed Doubles Sectional Champi-

onships held in Southlake, Texas

from Oct. 4-6, 2013 saw teams

from Dallas, Houston and San

Angelo take home sectional titles.

The championships hosted 6.0,

7.0, 8.0, and 9.0 divisions.

2013 USTA League Texas Mixed DoublesSectional 7.0 Champions (San Angelo)

2013 USTA League Texas Mixed DoublesSectional 8.0 Champions (Dallas)

2013 USTA League Texas Mixed DoublesSectional 9.0 Champions (Houston)

Ladies 2013 USTA League Texas 40 & Over3.0 Champion (Dallas)

Texas League 40 & OverSectional ChampionshipsResults from the 2013 USTA Texas

League 40 & Over Sectional Champi-

onships held in San Antonio from

Sept. 6-8 headquartered at the

McFarlin Tennis Center. Champions

from Dallas, Houston, North East

Texas and San Antonio were crowned

in the ladies 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5

divisions; and in the men’s 3.5, 4.0

and 4.5 divisions for players who are

40 and older.

Ladies 2013 USTA League Texas 40 & Over3.5 Champion (Dallas)

Men’s 2013 USTA League Texas 40 & Over3.5 Champion (Dallas)

Ladies 2013 USTA League Texas 40 & Over4.0 Champion (NETX)

Men’s 2013 USTA League Texas 40 & Over4.0 Champion (Dallas)

Ladies 2013 USTA League Texas 40 & Over4.5 Champion (Houston)

Men’s 2013 USTA League Texas 40 & Over4.5 Champion (San Antonio)

Charles Holbrook, David Leslie,

William Kaiser, Tom Schindler,

Mark Kana, Eugene Yeoh,

Michael Murphy, and Jeffrey

Yarbroughr.

Alexandra Vantho and features

Cori Mullins, Myer Ballesteros,

Jo Keene, Jordan McCombs,

Alina Mihailescu, Megan Quinn

Schmulbach and plays at the

Memorial Park Tennis Center.

semifinals. They advanced this

far by winning their round-robin

flight.

The team is captained by

Oscar Flores and features Dawid

Kuczer, Andrew Plum, Thomas

A. Bartzen, Nick Plum,

Alexander Behar, Byron Talbot,

Parker Flores, Brett Ryan, Ryan

Haley, Pablo Mayorga, Rafael

Valdez, Ryan Friend, Larry

Pascal and plays at the T Bar M

Racquet Club.

2013 USTA League Men’s 18 & Over Runner-Up – 5.0 Dallas

TEXAS SECTION

More than 1,300 players participated in the 2013 USTA Texas

18&Over League Sectionals in the Ladies Lone Star, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5

and Men’s 3.0 and 3.5 divisions from Aug. 2-4 in Richardson,

Texas. The winners in some divisions will have the opportunity to

represent Texas at the 2013 USTA League National Champi-

onship.

2013 USTA Texas League 18 & Over Lone Star Champion(Austin)

2013 USTA Texas League 18 & Over Ladies 3.0 Champion(Dallas)

2013 USTA Texas League 18 & Over Ladies 3.5Champion (N. Houston - NOHO)

2013 USTA Texas League 18 & Over Ladies 2.5 Champion(North East Texas – NETX)

2013 USTA Texas League 18 & Over Men’s 3.0 Champion(Austin)

2013 USTA Texas League 18 & Over 3.5 Men’s Champion(Houston)

Over 1,000 players participated in the 4.0 and higher divisions at the

second half of the 2013 USTA Texas 18 & Over League Sectionals from

Aug. 9-11. Matches were held in Dallas at the Brookhaven Country

Club, T Bar M Racquet Club, L.B. Houston Tennis Center and The

Greenhill School. Houston took home half of the titles winning the

Men’s 4.0, 4.5 and Ladies 5.0 divisions. Dallas came home with two

winning teams, the Men’s 5.0 and Ladies 4.5 divisions. San Antonio

captured the 4.0 Ladies division title.

Texas League 18 & Over Sectional Championships – 4.0 & Higher

2013 USTA Texas League 18 & Over Men’s 4.0 Champion(Houston)

2013 USTA Texas League 18 & Over Men’s 4.5 Champion(Houston)

2013 USTA Texas League 18 & Over Men’s 5.0 Champion(Dallas)

2013 USTA Texas League 18 & Over Women’s 4.0Champion (Wild San Antonio)

2013 USTA Texas League 18 & Over Women’s 4.5Champion (Dallas)

2013 USTA Texas League 18 & Over Women’s 5.0Champion (Houston)


Texas League 18 & Over Sectional Championships – Lone Star to 3.5

Javier Molinar from Corpus

Christi, Texas competed in the

Deaflympics in Sofia, Bulgaria

this summer and was part of the

U.S. team

that

consisted of

three men

and three

women.

Javier lost to

a player from

Ecuador in

three sets in

singles and

also lost in in the first round in

doubles and mixed.

Javier began playing tennis

at 3 years old when his parents

gave him a racquet and ball for

Christmas and he began hitting

on his garage door. He started

taking tennis lessons at six and became

serious about the game during his teens.

Javier was a former Sul Ross University

tennis player and won the conference

doubles championship and also was the first

deaf player to get the “Fighting Heart

Award.”

The Deaflympics is

recognized by the Interna-

tional Olympic Committee

and modeled after the

Olympic Games. Unlike

the Paralympics and

Special Olympics, there

are no rule modifications

or special classifications

in the Deaflympics. Visual

cues, such as flashing

lights, are the only

adaptations made.

Athletes with a hearing

loss of 55 decibels or

greater in their better ear

are eligible to participate

in international

competition for the deaf.

Javier plays in

tournaments and leagues

throughout the Texas section and his hope

is to motivate young kids who are deaf to

learn the game of tennis. “We need more

deaf and hard-of-hearing kids to get

involved and see new faces in the future of

Tennis,” Molinar said.


Corpus Christi’s Javier Molinar on U.S. Deaflympic team

NOV/DEC 2013

Athletes Without

Limits has been invited to

bring eligible U.S. tennis

players with intellectual

disability to compete in the

2014 Australian Champi-

onships. The champi-

onships are being

sanctioned by INAS, the

International Federation for

Para Athletes with

Intellectual Disability. They

will feature many of the

highest ranked players in

the world and this is the

first opportunity for U.S.

players to compete at this

level and will enter them

into international rankings

and the U.S. has chosen

Katherine Richards from

Houston to compete.

Athletes Without

Limits is a national organi-

zation that supports

athletes with intellectual

disabilities to integrate into

mainstream sports. It also

recruits, supports and

develops high performance

athletes to represent the

U.S. at international

competitions, including the

London 2012 Paralympics

and the Global Games

World Championships.

Athletes Without Limits is

the U.S. organization

responsible for classifying

elite athletes with

intellectual disability as

eligible for Paralympic and

other international

competition. For more

information, check out

www.athleteswithout-

limits.com

Athletes Without Limits selects Texan to represent U.S.

Katherine Richards

Javier Molinar

Texas Adaptive Tennisupdates and 2014 rule changes BY CINDY BENzON

SPECIAL OLYMPICS

Beginning in 2014, Adaptive Tennis will

consist of five levels:

Level 1 – Skills with the Red Ball inside

the service box, which will introduce athletes

to the sport of tennis by developing the

seven skills. The game-based approach will

be used for learning the strokes, including

placement and control drills. Point of

emphasis is balance, eye-hand coordination,

racquet control, best effort and fun.

Level 2 – Match play with the Red Ball

inside the service boxes which will introduce

the rules of the game, movement before and

after each shot, learn positioning and game

tactics. This court will help the athletes have

meaningful match play competition for

athletes with limited mobility and ball

tracking. Points of emphasis are movement,

ball tracking, racquet control, rules and

etiquette of the sport, best effort and fun.

Level 3 – Match play with the Orange

Ball on 60-foot courts, which will have

meaningful match play competition for

athletes with limited mobility and eye-hand

coordination. Points of emphasis are

movement, ball tracking, court positioning,

sending and receiving, racquet control with a

smaller ball, game and match scoring rules,

best effort and fun.

Level 4 – Match play with the Green Ball

which will introduce athletes to full court

using a slower paced ball. Points of

emphasis are post-shot court positioning,

shot selection-such as overhead, drop shot,

lob, approach shot, play at the net, doubles

communication with partner, best effort, and

fun.

Level 5 – Match play with Yellow Ball

which challenges athletes in full-court tennis

through higher-skilled drills and the highest

level of competition. Points of emphasis is

post-shot court positioning, physical

conditioning pace, service placement, best

effort and as always fun.

For more information on Special

Olympics tennis, go to www.sotx.org

Amarillo Area TennisAssociation hosts firstvolunteer banquet

Amarillo Area Tennis

Association hosted their first

volunteer appreciation banquet

on Oct. 1 at the Amarillo

Country Club. This was for Adult

League captains, Jr. Team Tennis

coaches and officials, along with

all who volunteered for AATA in

2013. It also included city

fathers, Park and Recreation

Commissioners and personnel,

pros and high school coaches.

Also In attendance was 102

year old friend of AATA, Eddie

Melin, who was one of the

original board members and an

active member of AATA for many

years who played tennis until he

was 94. The Mayor of Amarillo,

Paul Harpole and former ATP

professional, Alex O' Brien also

attended.

Worldwide Day of Playat Dyess Air Force Base

Dyess Air Force Base in

Abilene was just one of the

many Worldwide Days of Play

we had in Texas, but the only

one on a military base. With the

help of Abilene JTT, they also

used it as a JTT sign up day and

had the JTT coordinator and

volunteers come out to help.

Pizza, prizes, games and fun

were enjoyed by kids and their

parents. Tennis is new to Dyess,

but they already have a strong

Kids’ Club going, Play Days and

teams participating in fall JTT.

Persistence pays off forFort Stockton courts

Applying for a USTA Facility

Assistance grant takes time and

detailed effort to see it through.

You are competing nationally

against hundreds of other needy

applicants. Fort Stockton JTT

Coordinator, official, past NJTL

leader, tournament director,

West Texas Tennis Association

liaison, and current

title holder of “Mr.

Fort Stockton Tennis,”

Bert Rainwater

found this out while

working on getting

the courts at Fort

Stockton Intermediate

School resurfaced for

three years.

With the help of

the City of Fort

Stockton, the Fort

Stockton Visitors and

Convention Bureau, and Fort

Stockton ISD along with a USTA

Facility Assistance grant, they

finally did it. Now the courts in

Fort Stockton courts are being

used every night and all the

diligent work has paid off.

USTA Texas executive

director Ken McAllister learned

to play tennis on nearby courts

that have since been torn down

to build the school. Fort

Stockton ISD physical education

teachers went through a USTA

Schools Workshop this summer

and were excited to get things

going on the new courts.

Congrats to the Fort Stockton

community.

Game, Set, Open! inOdessa a huge success

Game, Set, Open! – a tennis

extravaganza – blew into

Odessa College in September .

Attracting wheelchair players

and able-bodied players alike,

over 60 people from the

community came out to enjoy a

Play Day in support of USTA and

Nickelodeon’s World Wide Day

of Play. Adam Lucio, Director of

Tennis at Odessa College, had

all participants playing, laughing

and even doing the wave – in

true U.S. Open fashion!

Game, Set, Open!

kicked off the start to

the fall Run/Roll

season. Run/Roll tennis

pairs a wheelchair

player and an able-

bodied player to form a

doubles team and

compete against other

pairs of the like. Tennis is one of

the only sports that can be fully

integrated with wheelchair

athletes as the rules of tennis

remain the same with the

exception that the wheelchair

athlete receives two bounces

before returning the ball over

the net.


TEXAS SECTION

BEST FROM WEST TEXAS

NOV/DEC 2013


BY AMANDA FRIDAY

Thirteen-year-old Drake Coleman saw a

need with the Nepal and Rwanda refugee

families that live in Abilene, Texas. He

decided to do something about it.

Bringing his love of tennis, he decided to

start a National Junior Tennis & Learning -

First Serve - for these families. Drake has

offered free lessons and events for these

families in coordination with the Rose Park

Tennis Center and the International Rescue

Committee.

Fox Sports’ “Chevy Hometown Kids,”

which highlights kids doing well in their

communities through sports, picked Drake

and his NJTL to feature on one of their future

shows. Be on the lookout for his segment

coming soon! The show airs on Fox Sports

Southwest on Saturdays at 10 a.m., and is

hosted by Emily Reppert.

Established by Arthur Ashe, Charlie

Pasarell and Sheridan Snyder in 1969,

NJTL is a community-driven delivery system,

funded by the USTA, that significantly

impacts the lives of America’s youth.

USTA NJTL develops the character of

young people through tennis and

emphasizes the ideals of Arthur Ashe by

reaching out to those who may not otherwise

have the opportunity

to learn and play

tennis; instilling in

young people the

values of humanitar-

ianism, leadership

and academic

excellence; and

providing participants

the opportunity to

fully develop their

tennis skills so they

can derive a lifetime

of enjoyment from the

sport.

Abilene NJTL highlighted on Fox Sports Southwest

BY KACI BOROWSKI

USTA Texas is proud to announce its

partnership with Airrosti Rehab Centers. The

relationship between the two organizations

stemmed organically from something that

happens to many tennis players: an

incessant case of tennis elbow.

Stephanie Arena, marketing director at

USTA Texas, is a recent Airrosti convert.

Suffering from a reoccurring elbow injury and

unable to continue playing tennis, Arena

finally decided to take action and made an

appointment for a consult at Airrosti. After

meeting with Dr. Brian Ellspermann, she

decided to try the rehabilitative treatment

offered at Airrosti. Within three

appointments, she was without pain and

playing with ease.

“Dr. Ellspermann told me the two things I

wanted to know: that he could fix it and I

could keep playing. For a tennis player, that

is huge,“ Arena said.

Arena’s interest was piqued as to how

Airrosti’s approach could benefit more

players like herself, and from that, a

partnership was formed.

“It became obvious that this would be a

natural partnership,” Arena said. “We have

many players who are playing with injuries -

some who give up playing because they

haven’t found a way to resolve it.”

With experience treating athletes in the

CrossFit Games and tennis tournaments

across Texas, Airrosti understands the

demands that athletes face. The company

makes their patients’ desire to stay active

one of their largest priorities and aims to

keep people healthy and comfortable during

their rehabilitation.

Luke Green, account director at Airrosti,

says one of the most important aspects of

the work they do is providing patients with a

quick and efficient recovery.

“We want to fix people as quickly as we

can and get them back to what they want to

be doing,” Green said.

Airrosti is a Texas-based company, with

80-percent of its practices operating within

the state. Green says that this made the

decision to partner with USTA Texas all the

more clear.

“We always like to work with people who

know what we do, and know what we’re

about,” Green said. “We’re very excited to

be involved.”

Airrosti Rehab partners with USTA Texas

Fox Sports Southwest’s Emily Reppert interviews 13-yearold Drake Coleman.

TEXAS SECTION


“I know my coach wants me to announce the score before each

point, but nobody does that. It’s so not cool. The other kids will think

I’m such a dork!” Really? Well, how “cool” is it to get the score

“flipped” on you? If it hasn’t happened to you, I am certain you know

someone that has had that awful experience.

Sportsmanship in our major events is continuing to suffer. Not

only are there increasing numbers of players with considerable “vision

problems,” the pressure of competition is also taking a toll on their

ability to remember the score from one point,

or one game to the next. Announcing the

score in a loud, clear, and timely manner is

part of the rules. If you and your opponent

would do this before every point, many

disputes regarding scoring could be avoided.

Picture this. At the beginning of every

game, the server announces the set score (4-3),

and makes eye contact with his/her opponent

during this announcement – signaling acknowledgement and agreement.

Then, before every point in the game thereafter, he/she announces the

game score (30-15) – again seeking the acknowledgement of the

opponent. Then, should a dispute arise, and the official says “let’s go

back to a score you agree upon,” that could only be going back one

point because you both agreed to the score one point ago!

Traditionally, our largely self-policing sport is one of great honor

and esteem. The code requires the benefit of ANY doubt, ball mark or

score line, to be given to the opponent. Tennis, played FAIRLY,

definitely helps develop positive character traits and habits for life.

But Tennis played UNFAIRLY accomplishes just the opposite. If you

or your parents employ, or even tolerate bad line calls and flipped

scores for the improvement of your record and ranking, where does it

stop? Is it ok to copy another kid’s homework? How about looking on

your neighbor’s paper for help on your test? Or cheat on your taxes?

Let’s all look for a way to bring some of the integrity back to our

sport. Parents, coaches and friends – stop tolerating or even

promoting this! Though this may be a case of the few ruining it for the

many, we all have a moral obligation to impress upon these young

people that the short term gain of a win or a ranking, will never

measure up to the long term label of a “dishonest cheater with no

integrity.” Can you afford to label your player like that for school,

business, or life?

We can all begin by “calling the score,”

at the start of each game and each and

every point, as the rules require. “Flipping”

would drop dramatically, confrontation,

conflict, and resolution from officials would

decline. Matches and tournaments would be

less hostile, and stressful – and we would be

creating better citizens for the future.

Wouldn’t that be COOL?

TENNIS TIPS

By Steve CobbDIRECTOR OF COMPETITIVE TENNIS -

USTA TEXAS

Sportsmanship: Don’t Flip Out

The USTA is not part of the U.S. Government. The closest legal

association we have with them is that we are recognized by them as

the National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport of tennis in the

United States. We are a not for profit entity – nationally a 501C-6 and

in Texas we are a 501C-4.

Wait! Don’t fall asleep – this should get more interesting. We are a

volunteer organization who only in the last half of our existence

starting hiring staff. This expanded in 1958 when we first started

individual memberships so that we could expand what we do for our

sport. I joined that year, and I think it cost my dad $1.

The big increases in staffing occurred after the U.S. Nationals

became the US Open in 1968. The USLTA (Lawn) at the time began to

realize that it could afford to do more than just manage the rules of

tournament tennis and rankings as it had been doing since 1881.

At this stage, the activity of the association was handled by

about 98 percent volunteers and 2 percent staff. Most of the

programming was geared at getting young players started and

developing them into great players . . . or what we now label as

Player Development. Our teaching professionals had been nurturing

adult along with youth players at recreation levels throughout the

years so now the governing body began to consider expanding its

efforts to help. In the United States this play increased because of

the tennis popularity enhanced by the Professionals being able to

play in the prestigious “Grand Slams” like the US Open and the well-

marketed Battle of the Sexes between Billie Jean King and Bobby

Riggs in the Astrodome in 1973.

Many communities had run adult tennis leagues for years, and in

1980, the USTA entered that realm by creating two new concepts: 1)

the NTRP rating system to manage play among players at the same

levels and 2) have a playoff system from local to Sectional to National

to entice players to USTA Adult Leagues. Tennis play in America

exploded.

The USTA, through its 17 geographic Sections, began thinking

more about the underserved populations in our country. Attention and

programs were underwritten to serve minority programs, wheelchair

and other adaptive groups, families with economic challenges, and

advocates for improved and increased public tennis facilities and

school programs.

In the mid-1990s, the USTA made it official in its new Mission

Statement: “To Promote and Develop the Growth of Tennis.” Staff

numbers have grown considerably to meet these needs. If tennis

activities were run by 99 percent volunteers and 2 percent staff in

the 1960s, what is your guess at a current percentage? In the early

1970s, Texas had one part time staff person who worked from

home. Today we have 26 full time staff. Nineteen work from our

office in Austin and seven work from home to serve their geographic

areas. The answer to the question is that in 2013, the activity of

USTA Texas at the state level is 89 percent volunteers and 12

percent staff.

Clearly the USTA today continues to be a volunteer run organi-

zation. Texas is blessed with skilled and dedicated leaders among

its volunteers. If you like the direction of the USTA and especially

Texas, consider becoming a volunteer. In fact, if you have new ideas

and direction for us in mind, please consider becoming a volunteer.

We are clearly an organization open to productive change!

Statewide opportunities are described at our website,

www.texas.usta.com.

NOV/DEC 2013


The USTA Today

KENNY Mc’S CORNER

By Ken McAllisterEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - USTA TEXAS

PRESENTED BY

TEXAS SECTION


As we near the end of the tennis calendar year, I reflect back on

all the tennis activities and programs that are available to Texans from

entry level events like Kids Clubs and Ready, Set, Rally to competitive

programs including USTA League, and adult and junior competitive

tournaments. The Section expends significant resources, both

financial and human, to provide these programs throughout the

Section and throughout the year. But that is only the half of it. Neither

USTA Texas nor the USTA could deliver these programs without the

assistance of local CTAs and other grass roots organizations and

individuals. It requires a partnership between all to be successful.

Each brings assets to the table to aid in successful delivery.

In October the Section conducted its Community Development

Workshop. This conference is an opportunity for volunteers and

staff of our CTAs and grass roots organizations to come together to

learn, share and network with their peers from across the Section.

Hearing participants discuss various organizational needs and

challenges was enlightening. It was interesting to contrast the

differing needs and challenges between larger CTAs and newer less

developed organizations. Fundraising, media coverage and

program expansion were the topics of the larger more mature CTAs

while the smaller organizations were discussing funding assistance,

court access or construction, and identifying volunteers to assist in

program delivery. One of the newer organizations was excited to

make everyone aware of the portable building they were able to

acquire providing a central location to administer programming and

also to come in out of the rain!

From a Section perspective, it is obvious success requires

teamwork at all levels of the USTA organization – national, sectional

and local. Each provides resources, leadership and organization to

the execution of the mission. To be successful requires communi-

cation, coordination and commitment from all participants. We all

need to move in lockstep to continue our success and grow the game.

This is the last President’s Message of the year. I want to thank

the Section staff and all of our volunteers both at the Section and local

level for the contributions they make to grow the game of tennis in

Texas. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. I

look forward to continued success in the coming year for all players

and volunteers that make this such a great sport to be a part of.

Happy Holidays!

Teamwork Is Our Not-So-Secret to Success

Ken McAllister

Executive Director(512) 443-1334 ext 201 [email protected]

ADMINISTRATIVE

Rhonda Lindsey

Director of Administration(512) 443-1334 ext 204 [email protected]

Larry Eichenbaum

Controller(512) 443-1334 ext [email protected]

Pam Jaeger

Office Manager / Awards Coordinator(512) 443-1334 ext [email protected]

COMPETITIVE

Steve Cobb

Director of Competitive Tennis (512) 443-1334 ext 210 [email protected]

Nancy Perkins

Adult / Senior Coordinator(512) 443-1334 ext 217 [email protected]

Tosha Smith

Leagues Coordinator(512) 443-1334 ext 231 [email protected]

Todd Reed

NTRP / Assist. Leagues Coordinator(512) 443-1334 ext 232 [email protected]

Mick Walter – Junior Coordinator (512) 443-1334 ext 209 [email protected]

Melissa Chambers

Junior Coordinator (512) 443-1334 ext 220 [email protected]

Paige Schumacher

Junior Coordinator (512) 443-1334 ext 211 [email protected]

Amanda Shaw

Field Staff / 10 and Under(512) 443-1334 ext 203 [email protected]

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Mike Carter

Director of Community Development(512) 443-1334 ext 207 [email protected]

Todd Carlson – Asst. Dir. of Community Development / CTAs / Tennis On Campus(512) 443-1334 ext 208 [email protected]

Sylvia Krywacz – Jr. Team Tennis Coordinator(512) 443-1334 ext 212 [email protected]

Taylor Helfeldt – CD Support Staff / SchoolsCoordinator / Wheelchair Coordinator / Grants / Advocacy(512) 443-1334 ext 219 [email protected]

Carlos Hernandez – Program Support Staff /Diversity & Inclusion / NJTL(512) 443-1334 ext [email protected]

Megan Longbotham-Young – CD SupportStaff / 10 and Under / Adult Recreation / Special Events(512) 443-1334 ext 218 [email protected]

Laura Gilbert – Tennis Service Representative/ Fort Worth / North Central Region [email protected]

Cindy Benzon – Tennis Service Represen-tative Houston / Southeast Region / AdaptiveTennis Coordinator, [email protected]

Amanda Friday – Tennis Service Represen-tative Panhandle / West Texas [email protected]

Robyn Readicker – Tennis Service Representative / Dallas / Northeast Region [email protected]

Katy Rogers – Tennis Service Representative/ South Region, [email protected]

Carrie Hale – Tennis Service Representative /Waco / Austin / San [email protected]

MARKETING AND MEMBERSHIP

Stephanie Arena – Director of Marketing(512) 443-1334 ext 206 [email protected]

Derick Hackett – Communications Manager(512) 443-1334 ext 202 [email protected]

USTA TEXAS STAFF DIRECTORYUSTA Texas

8105 Exchange Drive, Austin, TX 78754(512) 443-1334 • www.texas.usta.com

THE PRESIDENT’S ADVANTAGE

By Dan BartaPRESIDENT - USTA TEXAS

PRESENTED BY

www.texastennishotels.com

· crushers program, which is now i n its third year. alyssa now plays alo ngside her sister at...

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