MIDWEST CHEESEHEADS, SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY TO PLAY FOR TITLE
AT WORLD TEAMTENNIS JUNIOR NATIONALS
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (August 1, 2012) – Midwest Cheeseheads, a Wisconsin junior tennis team, will battle Southern Hospitality, a squad featuring players from Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana and Arkansas, for the national championship at the 2012 World TeamTennis Junior Nationals at the George E. Barnes Family Tennis Center at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday morning.
The WTT Junior Nationals, which is hosted by WTT co-founder Billie Jean King and is now in its 17th year, is a national junior invitational event featuring 16 coed teams from throughout the U.S. The teams, with players representing 21 states, use the World TeamTennis format during their three days of non-elimination draw competition. All matches are open to the public.
Southern Hospitality dominated Southwest Sweetness 47-24 to earn a trip to the Finals. Southern, representing the USTA Southern section, previously won the title four times, most recently in 2010. They will face the Midwest Cheeseheads, representing USTA Midwest section. With a victory on Thursday morning, Southern can tie Youth Tennis San Diego for the most WTT Junior Nationals championship titles at five.
The Cheeseheads held off Texas Team Ryan 43-27 in another semifinal battle of undefeated teams. Team members of Midwest Cheeseheads are Timothy Corwin, Elm Grove, Wis.; Kyle Dunn, Fond Du Lac, Wis.; Michael Savaglio, Kenosha, Wis.; Madeleine Johnson, Onalaska, Wis.; Alyson Coran, Mequon, Wis.; and Elizabeth Konon, Mequon, Wis. The Cheesheads coach is Rick Vetter.
Team members of Southern Hospitality are Cameron Andry, Baton Rouge, La.; Austin Heinz, Daniel Island, S.C.; Crews Enochs, Marietta, Ga.; Monica Mitta, Fairhope, Ala.; Katelyn Jackson, Roland, Ark.; and Macy Polk, Powder Springs, Ga., The coach of Southern Hospitality is Susannah Cook.
The tournament follows the WTT non-elimination draw format with the 16 teams divided into four groups. Each team is comprised of three boys, three girls and a coach. Team matches consist of eight events; with two sets each of boys’ singles, girls’ singles, one set of boys’ and girls’ doubles, and two sets of mixed doubles. Team members, ages 14-18, are selected based on their sectional and national rankings.
Teamwork, leadership and sportsmanship are key areas of focus for the three-day event. One team will be awarded $1,000 from the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation and the Maureen Connolly Brinker Team Spirit Award which is voted on by coaches, players and tournament officials for a team’s outstanding sportsmanship and camaraderie.
MEDIA CONTACT: Rosie Crews, WTT PH: 817.691-5424 email: rcrews@wtt.com
Round 3 Results:
Third Round:
Southern Hospitality def. Northern Lights 47-21
Smashing Rebels def. New England Strikers 37-35
Southwest Sweetness def. Miami Dream Team 39-32
Bakersfield Ballers def. Eastern Way 39-34
Texas Team Ryan def. Intermountain Irrationality 39-37
Sparetime Jr. Caps def. Hawaii Warriors 43-25
Midwest Cheeseheads def. Yo...Wassup? 48-15
Central Coast Crushers def. Smooth Strokes 41-26
PLAYOFF ROUND – SEMIFINALS RESULTS
POSITIONS 1-4
Southern Hospitality def. Southwest Sweetness 47-24
Midwest Cheeseheads def. Texas Team Ryan 43-27
POSITIONS 5-8
Miami Dream Team def Smashing Rebels 46-25
Intermountain def. Central Coast Crushers 40-39
POSITIONS 9-12
New England Strikers def. Bakersfield Ballers 39-30
Smooth Strokes def. Sparetime Junior Caps 40-27
POSITIONS 13-16
Eastern Way defeat Northern Lights 43-34
Yo...Wassup? def. Hawaii Warriors 44-23
SCHEDULE OF PLAY FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 2
MATCH COURTS
*CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL: Southern Hospitality (4-0) vs. Midwest Cheeseheads (4-0) Court 9 & 10
3rd place: Texas Team Ryan (3-1) vs. Southwest Sweetness (3-1) Courts 15 & 16
5th place: Miami Dream Team (3-1) vs. Intermountain Irrationality (3-1) Courts 11 & 12
7th place: Smashing Rebels (2-2) vs. Central Coast Crushers (2-2) Courts 17 & 18
9th place: Smooth Strokes (2-2) vs. New England Strikers (2-2) Courts 7 & 8
11th place: Sparetime Junior Caps (1-3) vs. Bakersfield Ballers (1-3) Courts 19 & 20
13th place: Eastern Way (1-3) vs. Yo...Wassup? (1-3) Courts 21 & 22
15th place: Hawaii Warriors (0-4) vs. Northern Lights (0-4) Courts 23 & 24
*CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL will start at 8:30 a.m.; all other matches start at 9 a.m.
TEAM (USTA Section / Tennis Association) COACH
Smashing Rebels (USTA Pacific Northwest)................... Nancy Ansboury/Sarah Ansboury
Smooth Strokes (Smooth Strokes Academy)................ Alyce Meadors
Northern Lights (USTA Northern)................................ Gordon Reid
Team Irrationality (USTA Intermountain)...................... Mike Humphrey
Midwest Cheeseheads (USTA Midwest)......................... Rick Vetter
Southwest Sweetness (USTA Southwest)...................... Eric Mitchell
Eastern Way (USTA Eastern)...................................... Ari Roberts
Southern Hospitality (USTA Southern) ......................... Susannah Cook
Texas Team Ryan (USTA Texas)................................. Bobby Reeves
Miami Dream Team (USTA Florida).............................. Noel Cubela
Team New England (USTA New England)...................... Andre Danford
Hawaii Warriors (USTA Hawaii Pacific).......................... Tyimi Kennell
Junior Caps (Spare Time Junior Academy/USTA Nor Cal). Rob Kendall
Yo Wassup (USTA Middle States)................................ Jim Phipps
Bakersfield Ballers (Kern County Community Tennis Assoc.) Chuck Provencio and Teri Lynott
Central Coast Crushers (CA Central Coast Jr. Development Program) Bill Dunkle
TEAMS / PLAYERS:
Smashing Rebels ( USTA Pacific Northwest)
Triton Pitassi, Camas, Wash.
Rosen Ilchev, Portland, Ore.
Adnan Muttalib, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.
Victoria Tam, Rolling Hills Estate, Calif.
Jessica Emoto, Gresham, Ore.
Akari Baba, Vancouver, Wash.
COACHES: Nancy Ansboury/Sarah Ansboury
Smooth Strokes (Smooth Strokes Academy)
Jordan Harrell, Lithonia, Ga.
Morris Everitt Reese, Macon, Ga.
Sam Kennedy, Atlanta, Ga.
Brandi Nelson, Jonesboro, Ga.
Kimberly Bowen, Stockbridge, Ga.
Jasi Witherspoon, Macon, Ga.
COACH: Alyce Meadors
Northern Lights (USTA Northern)
Will Biernat, Eagan, Minn.
Tyler Kuck, Edina, Minn.
Ryan Hoverson, Grand Forks, N.D.
Morgan Marinovich, Edina, Minn.
Maddie Boyer, Edina, Minn.
Lori Ahuja, Lakeville, Minn.
COACH: Gordon Reid
Team Irrationality (USTA Intermountain )
James Swiggart, Steamboat Springs, Colo.
Matt Sayre, Denver, Colo.
Matt Oddnetto, Boise, Idaho
Taler Brazell, Las Vegas, Nev.
Amanda Brazell, Las Vegas, Nev.
Madelyn Weltzin, Boise, Idaho
COACH: Mike Humphry
Midwest Cheeseheads (USTA Midwest)
Timothy Corwin, Elm Grove, Wis.
Kyle Dunn, Fond Du Lac, Wis.
Michael Savaglio, Kenosha, Wis.
Madeleine Johnson, Onalaska, Wis.
Alyson Coran, Mequon, Wis.
Elizabeth Konon, Mequon, Wis.
COACH: Rick Vetter
Southwest Sweetness (USTA Southwest)
Kyle Chalmers, Tempe, Ariz.
Nathan Brown, El Paso, Texas
Wilson Lambeth, El Paso, Texas
Marissa Baca, Oro Valley, Ariz.
Scarlet Rush, Phoenix, Ariz.
Caroline Amos, Tucson, Ariz.
COACH: Eric Mitchell
Eastern Way (USTA Eastern)
Aidan McNulty, Mahwah, N.J.
Davis Fleming, West Point, N.Y.
Kevin Frommer, Montgomery, N.Y.
Lilian Poling, West Point, N.Y.
Hannah Fleckenstein, Newburgh, N.Y.
Michele Lehat, Great Neck, N.Y.
COACH: Ari Roberts
Southern Hospitality (USTA Southern)
Cameron Andry, Baton Rouge, La.
Austin Heinz, Daniel Island, S.C.
Crews Enochs, Marietta, Ga.
Monica Mitta, Fairhope, Ala.
Katelyn Jackson, Roland, Ark.
Macy Polk, Powder Springs, Ga.
COACH: Susannah Cook
Texas Team Ryan (USTA Texas)
Ian O'Jon, Houston, Texas
Colin Markes, Austin, Texas
Matt Tyer, Hewitt, Texas
Marisa Quevedo, Tyler, Texas
Caroline Henderson, Dallas, Texas
Alexandria Gilbert, Dallas, Texas
COACH: Bobby Reeves
Miami Dream Team (USTA Florida)
Kevin Cubela, Miami, Fla.
Jacobo Nieto, Miami, Fla.
Jeffrey Mackenzie, Miami, Fla.
Rachel Gastaldo, Miami, Fla.
Claudia Mackenzie, Miami, Fla.
Cynthia Diaz, Miami, Fla.
COACH: Noel Cubela
New England Strikers (USTA New England)
Erroll Lawrence, Boston, Mass.
Bradley Noyes, Marblehead, Mass.
Kevin Dupont, North Dighton, Mass.
Aleksandra Drljaca, East Greenwich, R.I.
Dasha Kostikina, Acton, Mass.
Julia Cancio, Concord, Mass.
COACH: Andre Danford
Hawaii Warriors (USTA Hawaii Pacific)
Harrison Ladera, Aiea, Hawaii
Braxton Chong, Honolulu, Hawaii
Kyle Motoshige, Wahiawa, Hawaii
Chloe Gadsden, Yigo, Hawaii
Jade Griffin, Honolulu, Hawaii
Shelby Baron, Honolulu, Hawaii
COACH: Mimi Kennell
Junior Caps (Spare Time Junior Academy / USTA Northern California)
Jack Lonergan, Sacramento, Calif.
Edward Ni, Carmichael, Calif.
Nic Atkinson, El Dorado Hills, Calif.
Katie Long, Carmichael, Calif.
Bridget Guenard, Elk Grove, Calif.
Carolina Chernyetsky, Carmichael, Calif.
COACH: Rob Kendall
Yo...Wassup? (USTA Middle States)
Blaise Casselbury, Lititz, Pa.
Darren Mast, Lancaster, Pa.
Thomas Vernier, Merion Station, Pa.
Yvonne Washington, Pine Grove Mills, Pa.
Cate Ronan, Pittstown, Pa.
COACH: Jim Phipps
Bakersfield Ballers (Kern County Community Tennis Association)
Daymon Johnson, Bakersfield, Calif.
Tim Roe, Bakersfield, Calif.
Sullivan Roche, Bakersfield, Calif.
Crimson Hochhalter, Bakersfield, Calif.
Isabel Donaldson, Bakersfield, Calif.
Gracie Jacobs, Bakersfield, Calif.
COACH: Chuck Provencio and Teri Lynott
Central Coast Crushers (Southern California Tennis Association)
Eli Whittle, Nipomo, Calif.
Sean Hollister, Arroyo Grande, Calif.
Morgan Hale, Santa Barbara, Calif.
Sophia Whittle, Nipomo, Calif.
Kelsie Bryant, Carpinteria, Calif.
Lauren Hayashi, Modesto, Calif.