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| ISSUE no 14 USTA OKLAHOMA TENNIS MAGAZINE
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Meet USTA Oklahoma's new President, Mary Jo Tasker Everything you need to know coming in 2020 Junior Tour Changes Oklahoma winners at the Section Awards
Top Junior playerstays in state
nathan han heading to norman
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USTA Oklahoma
President Mary Jo Tasker Vice President - Adults Joan DIneen Vice President - Juniors Eric Wedemeyer Secretary Peter Pappas Treasurer Dwayne Campbell NE Quadrant Peter McCorkle NW Quadrant Carmen Bond SE Quadrant Dawna Johnston SW Quadrant Rodney O'dell
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OK Executive Director
USTA OKLAHOMA BOARD
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find yourself in the game
Special Thanks to Article and Photo Contributors: usta.com soonersports.com tennisconsult.com Cover Photo Credit: Al Moore
Published by USTA OKLAHOMA
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CONTENTS
COMMUNITY COVER JUNIORS ADULTS
MEET THE NEW PRESIDENT OKLAHOMA WINNERS AT MISSOURI VALLEY AWARDS JUNIOR TOUR CHANGES DECADE IN REVIEW
2020 SCHEDULES
NATHAN HAN STARTING HIS NEW COLLEGE CAREER AT OKLAHOMA UNIVERSITY
CLICK HERE FOR COLLEGE CLICK HERE FOR JUNIORS
JANUARY ISSUE
FEATURES
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FROM OUR PRESIDENT
love to watch tennis. Tennis on TV, tennis in the parks, school tennis, tennis at our local Oklahoma facilities, ---really all tennis. Tennis players are my people! Juniors, Adults, or Seniors and professionals, we are all looking for that perfect point- It is what keeps us playing, and what connects us. I’m so excited to continue my involvement in Oklahoma tennis as USTA Oklahoma President. It is a wonderful privilege to see full courts, full leagues, and excited players of all ages across the state. Not only does Oklahoma have the numbers, excitement, and activity across the Missouri Valley, but we truly have the best staff! Your USTA Oklahoma staff does a fantastic job working to provide all the Junior tournaments, Adult Leagues, Tennis on Campus and NJTL experiences that Oklahoma Tennis players want. In addition to our local tennis, in 2019 Oklahoma hosted 2 Section Tournaments for the Missouri Valley, and –drum roll—Two National Championships! It’s good to be an Oklahoma Tennis Player! So here we go- a new year, a new season and lots more tennis! I look forward to the 2020 tennis season and can’t wait to see what this New Year brings for us all! Mary Jo Tasker
LETTER
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""...It is a wonderful privilege to see full courts, full leagues, and excited players of all ages across the state"
Tim Leos Pat Ritchie
Sportsmanship Winners
Adult player of the Year: Doug Stone Adult Recreational Player of the Year: Paula Casey Outstanding Community Service: Judy Fenner Distinguished Service: Trent Tucker Outstanding DIversity Achievement: Veterans Indoor Wheelchair Clinic @ Santa Fe Family Life Center Event of the Year: Pierce Phillips Charity, Meet Your Match: Childhood Cancer Facility of the Year: Philcrest Hills Country Club Emerging Junior Playe-Female: Tokara Henderson Female Junior Player of the Year: Vanessa Ong Outstanding High School Coach: Skip Griese Outstanding Contributor to Youth High Performance: Matias Marin Outstanding Contributor to Youth Tennis Programs: Brody Queal Outstanding Contributor to the USTA League Programs-Minh Tran Emerging Junior Player-Male: John Paul Dillon Male Junior Player of the Year: Graydon Lair Member Organization of the Year: OU Tennis Club Outstanding Junior Team Tennis Organizer: Ellie Bailey Outstanding Official: Dean Richardville Outstanding Junior Tournament: USTA OK Earlywine April Closed District Championships Tennis Family of the Year: The Han Family Media Excellence: Jacob Tobey Outstanding Adult Tournament: Children's Hospital at OU Medical Center Green's Tournament
Award Winners
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
The recipients will be honored at a Luncheon on February 1, 2020 Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center Tulsa, OKlahoma
Girls 10: Aspen Irwin Girls 12: Blythe Confer Girls 14: Reece Compton GIrls 16: Kate Miley Girls 18: Reagan Miley Boys 10: Truman Prather Boys 12: Max Beard Boys 14: Lawson Prather Boys 16: Enre Boshoff Boys 18: Nathan Han
2019 Hall of Fame Inductees
Mary Jo Tasker, USTA Oklahoma President
Meet Oklahoma's Newest President
Q&A
USTA OKLAHOMA PRESIDENT
USTA Oklahoma's Hall of fame & award ceremony
Mary Jo's 4.0 team that went to Semi's at Sectional Championships in 2019!
MARY JO TASKER
"Tennis truly is the sport of a lifetime-watching my kids play with their grandparents is priceless!"
What is your mission as President? My mission as President is keep the fun in tennis, while growing the game throughout the state. Whether it’s Juniors, Adults, Tennis on Campus, or Seniors, we get to play tennis! Oklahoman's have so many opportunities to play-it is a wonderful thing! How many children do you have? I have 3 amazing sons! Willie, JT, and Joseph. Who is your favorite tennis player? My favorite women tennis player is Serena, and my favorite male is a tie between Roddick and Aggasi. What USTA League Teams do you play on and how many do you captain? I play on Adult Women, 18, 40, 55’s and Tri-level and I play 2 levels of mixed-for a total of 9 teams! I captain 3 of them. Best Tennis Memory? My best tennis memory is a tough one. I’ve been lucky enough to go to Nationals at 9.0 mixed with my husband, Treak, and that was an amazing experience! But my absolute best would be as a High School tennis coach. I was able to be the High School coach for my son’s team when they won State, and when my son won an individual State title. And in 2019, The Bishop Kelley High School (where I currently coach) Girls won State! I was so happy and proud of both those situations. It’s so special to see young people’s hard work pay off! What racket do you play with? I play with a Head Extreme MP What is your favorite thing about the sport? My favorite thing about tennis is the people. I started to play to be able to hit with my children and husband, and found lifelong, tried and true friends. Tell us a little about your where you are from? I consider myself a southern girl. I was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, and went to high school there and in Shreveport, Louisiana. I graduated from the University of San Diego, where I met my husband. We moved to Oklahoma from San Francisco. Did your kids play tennis growing up? All my boys played tennis growing up! Two of my boys played in High School, and one played in college. All three of my boys worked at Philcrest Hills Tennis club (we spent so much time there-they made the best of it!) And my middle son, JT, was a teaching pro at LFTC in Tulsa. My husband’s family all plays tennis, and I have vivid memories of hard-fought family tennis tournaments! Tennis truly is the sport of a lifetime-watching my kids play with their grandparents is priceless!
OKLAHOMAN GARY TROST PRESENTS AT JAPANESE TENNIS CONFERENCE
What is USPTA? Founded in 1927, the USPTA is the global leader in tennis-teacher certification and professional development and is now the first and only USTA accredited association under the USTA Accreditation Program. With more than 14,000 members worldwide and 17 divisions nationwide, the association’s mission is to raise the standards of tennis-teaching professionals and coaches and to promote a greater awareness of the sport. The USPTA offers more than 60 professional benefits to its members, including on-court liability insurance, health insurance assistance, a supplemental savings plan for retirement and offers more than 200 educational events per year for members to improve their teaching skills and increase their business knowledge. USPTA Master Professional is the highest, most esteemed category of membership. Qualified applicants must hold an Elite Professional rating for 10 years, complete a required number of continuing education hours and fulfill a broad spectrum of industry service. There are only a few USPTA Master Professionals in Oklahoma, two of which being Gary Trost and USTA Oklahoma Executive Director David Minihan. The others included in this elite group are Phil Lancaster, James Shaughnessy, and Russ Warner.
GLOBAL TENNIS
By: Casey McKenzie
Gary Trost, Director of Tennis and Fitness at Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club, is returning home following a multi-day conference in Tokyo, Japan. The conference was hosted by the Japan Professional Tennis Association (JPTA), who invited Trost to present on the USPTA accreditation process for new tennis professionals. The JPTA, like the USPTA, currently has the most rigorous certification process in their country. Speaking to attendees, Gary credited the process used here in the U.S. for helping increase the overall education level of new tennis professionals, improve the employment market, and increase the number of overall tennis player taking the court. He also spent time observing how the testing process worked in Japan. “They are very professional and knowledgeable,” said Trost. “They have the best testers and are always wanting to improve the process.” Gary Trost is President of the Board of Directors for USPTA, a national, democratically elected Executive Committee and Board of Directors.
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The purpose of the USPTA shall be to elevate the standards of tennis-teaching professionals and coaches.
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Crowell on Han: "We are so excited to add Nathan Han to the Sooner family. He embodies everything we are looking for in a recruit and has that OUDNA. Nathan was one of the most highly-recruited athletes in the country, visiting many of the top programs, and I'm really excited Nathan chose to stay home and represent the Sooner Nation. We connected with Nathan during the recruiting process and we have extreme belief in his playing ability and leadership characteristics."
NORMAN – Oklahoma men's tennis head coach Nick Crowell welcomed three new Sooners to the program Friday at the beginning of the early signing period. The class of 2020 includes Nathan Han, Welsh Hotard and Justin Schlageter. "This class is very strong and also very deep," said Crowell. "All three guys have won at the highest level. All three guys also bring different strengths to the table which will be nice for the development of the program. I'm excited to get to work with all of these great young men in Norman very soon!" The class includes top-10 Blue Chip recruits Han and Hotard and world No. 41 junior Schlageter. 2019 marks the fourth straight year that Crowell has signed at least one top-10 Blue Chip American recruit following Jake Van Emburgh in 2016; Mason Beiler in 2017; and Mark Mandlik for 2018. This is the first time in Crowell's tenure that OU has signed two Blue Chips in Han and Hotard. The No. 1 prospect in Oklahoma, Han will be the first Sooner state native to sign with OU since All-American Spencer Papa in 2014. Han has won a combined seven ITF singles and doubles titles as a junior. Han was also recognized with the Boys 18 and Under National Wes Richards Sportsmanship Award at Kalamazoo in 2019. High UTR of 13.44 Career-high 110 ITF junior ranking Rated as high as No. 2 according to tennisrecruiting.net Courtesy of soonersports.com
Top Junior Player Stays in State
The USTA reported in a survey, that nearly 50% of tennis players have an "A" average in high school and 81% plan to attend college
"Tennis makes children stronger and tougher"
In a post about a month ago, Javier went over some of the math behind playing tennis. Between tennis club memberships, tennis camps, and tennis lessons, the costs add up quickly. We get it. Tennis can be an expensive sport. But to me, there’s something special about tennis that makes it perfectly suited for kids. Let me take you through the advantages. 1. Tennis teaches hand-eye coordination Lots of sports teach you hand eye coordination but tennis is one of the only ones to do that without any contact. Sure, you might get hit by a tennis ball, but compare that to getting hit by a football player! Tennis keeps your children safe while allowing them to learn and grow in the sport. 2. Tennis is a lifelong sport. I feel like so many people underestimate this aspect of tennis. How many sports can you truly play throughout your entire life? Football is definitely out. You might play basketball and soccer into your 20’s but definitely not much longer than that. Golf is the only other sport that you can truly play throughout your life. But do you golf for exercise? I certainly don’t! Teaching kids to play tennis lets them play a sport that they can stick with for the next 30-40 years. Are you convinced yet that you need to get a tennis racquet for your child? I wrote a guide detailing how to find the best tennis racquets for children here! 3. Tennis makes children stronger and tougher Tennis can get intense at times. There are times where you’ll be running from sideline to sideline desperately trying to hit a shot back. Maybe you win the point maybe you don’t but the good news is that this running is great for you regardless. It’s been shown time and time again, tennis is a great way to get or keep in shape. On this point though, I also want to talk about the mental side of tennis. Tennis is primarily an individual sport in that it’s usually 1 vs 1 (singles) or 2 vs 2 (doubles). As I was growing up (with a tennis racquet in my hands of course), it was intense sometimes! It would be match point and everything came down to my serve. This is why I love teaching tennis to children. Learning how to deal with adversity and knowing that it ultimately comes down to you is great experience for a child to have as they grow up playing. Whether they end up playing competitively or not, I embrace the fact that tennis primarily comes down to you, the player. 4. Tennis makes children smarter I know this has been a long post so I wanted to throw in this little bonus fact. The USTA reported in a survey, that nearly 50% of tennis players have an “A” average in high school and 81% plan to attend college. In fact, even accounting for different economic circumstances of the players, the educational benefits still occurred. When you think tennis, think smart children. That’s what the science has shown. Now, if you want to grab a tennis racquet (they’ll be smarter, stronger, faster, and mentally tough, if you do) check out some of the best tennis racquets today. Article was originally published on www.tennisconsult.com/
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Why Your Child Should Pick Up a Tennis Racquet Today
The USTA Missouri Valley is excited to announce that the section will be implementing new changes to the junior structure starting January 1, 2020. As we continue our preparation for the new year, the USTA Missouri Valley will continue to release new rules, rankings, and tournaments in accordance with the changes from the USTA National office that will be fully implemented across the country by January 1, 2021. Visit this webpage for further detailed information from the USTA National office. As the USTA National office continues to release information, it is important for you to know which rules apply directly to the USTA Missouri Valley in 2020 as they will differ slightly. Here is an official summary of the structure changes being introduced specifically within the USTA Missouri Valley in 2020. The USTA Missouri Valley competition staff and Junior Competition Committee have worked to create a system that will benefit the overall well-being of the junior players. Shortly, players, parents, and coaches will receive: ● Education Materials ● Access to Webinars ● Communication Regarding Structure Changes While the USTA Missouri Valley continues to release more information, please ensure that you are subscribed to the USTA Missouri Valley e-newsletter and our RainedOut service in order to receive all updates. Subscribe to the e-newsletter by logging in to your USTA member account and subscribing to Stay Current-Section/District and Regional News. Register here to join USTA Missouri Valley’s RainedOut service. Use this packet as a resource to further understand all of the junior competition changes fully spelled out. For questions, please contact Noah Bortnick, the Junior Competition Manager: nbortnick@movalley.usta.com or 913-322-4832. Article published by USTA Missouri Valley
TOUR
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JUNIOR
JUNIOR STRUCTURE CHANGES COMING IN 2020
Note: Some tournaments might not have a concurrent Level 7 event. Please check the searchable schedule.
Players will be selected off the most recent USTA Missouri Valley standings list. Entry count limited to 24 players per singles event. Deadline will be the Monday prior to the tournament at NOON.
If a player is not one of the top 24 players selected, they have until NOON the Tuesday prior to the tournament to register for the concurrent L7 event.
Players will be selected off the most recent USTA Missouri Valley standings list. Entry count limited to 16 players per singles event. Deadline will be the Monday prior to the tournament at NOON.
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There is not an entry limit for Level 7 tournaments. Deadline will be the Tuesday prior to the tournament at NOON.
Level 7
2020 USTA Oklahoma Tournament Registration Process
Level 6
Level 5
If a player is not one of the top 16 players selected, they have until NOON the Tuesday prior to the tournament to register for the concurrent L7 event.
Level 3 Sectional Tournaments
Level 2 National Tournaments
You have good shot anticipation and frequently have an outstanding shot or attribute around which a game may be structured. You can regularly hit winners or force errors off of short balls and can put away volleys. You can successfully execute lobs, drop shots, half volleys, overheads and have good depth and spin on most second serves. sets
You have mastered power and/or consistency as a major weapon. You can vary strategies and styles of play in a competitive situation and hit dependable shots in a stress situation
SKILLS
This player has developed your use of power and spin and can handle pace. The player has sound footwork, can control depth of shots, and attempt to vary game plan according to your opponents. This player can hit first serves with power and accuracy and place the second serve. This player tends to over hit on difficult shots. Aggressive net play is common in doubles.
Level 4 Sectional Tournaments
Level 5 District Tournaments
TOURNAMENT PATHWAY
Level 7 District Tournaments
This player can vary the use of pace and spins, has effective court coverage, can control depth of shots, and is able to develop game plans according to strengths and weakness. This player can hit the first serve with power and accuracy and can place the second serve. This player has good shot anticipation and frequently has an outstanding shot or attribute around which his or her game can be structured. This player can regularly hit winners or force errors off of short balls and puts away volleys. This player tens to overhit on difficult shots. Agressive net play is common in doubles. FiI
This player is fairly consistent when hitting medium-paced shots, but is not comfortable with all strokes and lacks accuracy when trying for directional control, depth, pace or altering distance of shots. This player is more comfortable at the net, has improved court awareness, and is developing teamwork in doubles. Players at this level may start to utilize mental skills related to concentration, tactics and strategy
Level 6 District Tournaments
Level 1 National Tournaments
This player is learning to judge where the oncoming ball is going and how much swing is needed to return in consistently. Movement to the ball and recovery are often not efficient. Can sustain a backcourt rally of slow pace with other players of similar ability and is beginning to develop strokes. This player is becoming more familiar with the basic positions for singles and doubles, and is ready to play social matches, leagues and low-level tournaments. Ability to keep score independently.
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Level: Intermediate tournament players (Champs) Tournament Length: Up to a 2 day tournament Tournament type: Round Robin or Feed-In Scoring Format: Best of 3 with Match Tiebreak in lieu of 3rd
Level: Advance tournament players (Sweet 16) Tournament type: Feed-In through R16 Scoring Format: Best of 3 with Match Tiebreak in lieu of 3rd; Indoors singles Con Best of 3 short sets; Outdoors Consolation Best of 3 with Match Tiebreak in lieu of 3rd Draws limited: 32 FiI
Level: Emerging tournament players (Challengers) Tournament Length: One day tournament Tournament type: Non-elimination Scoring Format: Short sets
Level: Advance tournament players Tournament type: Varies Scoring Format: Best of 3 with Match Tiebreak or best of 3 full sets
FORMATS
Level: Advance tournament players (Futures & Supers) Tournament type: Feed-In through R16 Scoring Format: Best of 3 with Match Tiebreak in lieu of 3rd; Indoors singles Con Best of 3 short sets; Outdoors Consolation Best of 3 with Match Tiebreak in lieu of 3rd Draws limited: 32 FiI
Level: High level Intermediate tournament players (Dist Championships) Tournament Length: Up to a 3 day tournament Tournament type: Round Robin or Feed-In Scoring Format: Best of 3 with Match Tiebreak in lieu of 3rd
Tennis family of the year
HALL OF FAME & AWARDS
USTA MISSOURI VALLEY
The Han Family
Tokara Henderson
emerging player of the year-female
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Tokara Henderson, 12-years-old of Edmond, Okla., was the very first BCC Tennis Academy student to play in USTA sanctioned events and quickly became a role model for many others players in the academy to follow. Her success in Smashers and Challengers events catapulted her to the USTA Champs’ Circuit prior to turning 9-years-old, and this past winter her strong results elevated her to the No. 1 ranking in Oklahoma in Girl’s 12 Singles. Tokara held the top ranking for a number of months and is currently ranked No. 2 in Oklahoma and 16 in the Missouri Valley following a successful 12-month stint that saw her capture five singles titles, four runner-up finishes and two doubles titles in the 12’s age division at Champs and Missouri Valley tournaments. Tokara helped lead Team Oklahoma to the USTA Missouri Valley 12/14 Team Championship this past May in Oklahoma City, compiling a 5-3 record playing No. 1 singles and doubles. She has also played Junior Team Tennis in 2019 for The Greens Country Club’s 14 and 18’s teams and BCCTA’s new 14’s fall league team the “Bobcats”. Tokara has compiled an overall record of 38-24 in 2019 in USTA tournament and league competition for a .613 winning percentage. In September, Tokara was invited by USTA Player Development and the USTA Missouri Valley Section to participate in the 2019 TEAM USA Sectional Training Camp October 12-13 in Tulsa, Okla. – an offer she readily accepted.
The Han Family is active on all levels and different types of USTA leagues. Each family member are tennis enthusiasts, great supporters and advocates of all things tennis, and have been in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area for a long time. Patrick played at the University of Kansas, is a 5.0 Men’s USTA player, volunteer coach for Juniors. Asuko is a Women’s 4.5 player and contributor to Net Generation promo material. Michelle was on the High School Tennis State Championship team, at Cascia Hall and 2014 All State team. Nicole was 2014 Doubles State Champion and 2016 All State team. Nathan committed to University of Oklahoma is one of the top players in the state and has numerous sportsmanship wins and tournament wins.
Skip Griese served as the Ada High school coach for both boys and girls for the past 35 years. Griese has racked up nine boys State Championships and five girls State Championships. 106 players on his team have won individual State Championships and he has had 5 Academic All State teams. On and off the court, Skip Griese has been an exemplary coach and has received numerous Coach of Year throughout his career.
junior player of the year-female
Graydon Lair hometown is Tulsa, Oklahoma and trains at Tucker Tennis Academy. Lair is hardworking on and off the court and has many accomplishments to show for. He is Boys 18 National ranking of 40 and ranked #1 in USTA Missouri Valley Boys 18s. Lair won the Summer Supers and Sweet 16. He reached the round of 16s at the National Indoor Championships and was slected for USTA Missour Valley team at the 18s National Team Championships.
Graydon Lair
Vanessa Ong is committed to UCLA on a full tennis scholarhip. Her tennis resume is extradinary. Ong's National ranking of 151 and ITF high ranking of 67. She made the quarterfinals of the ITF World Tennis Tour Women's $15K in Williamsburg, Virginia and won the doubles division. Ong just recently won her first pro singles titile, the 2019 ITF World Tour Women's $15K in Lawrence, Kansas at the age of 17. Her two coaches are Trent Tucker and Matias Marin. Vanessa Ong is an extremely dedicated and passionate player and just getting started.
High school coach of the year
junior player of the year-male
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Vanessa Ong
Skip Griese
The weekend was a great success filled with education, networking, reconnecting with friends, and sending attendees out with inspiration and new ideas for the New Year. The conference saw many trainings and workshops, covering topics such as local play opportunities, developing the Net Generation pathway, Junior Team Products, USTA Leagues, and more. Multiple committee meetings were held in order to make decisions that would shape the upcoming year of tennis and take a look back at the many tennis accomplishments in 2019. Fellowship, laughter, and newborn friendships could be found in the Welcome Reception, where guests enjoyed food and drinks, the announcement of the Centennial Community Campaign in 2020 was made and the year-long celebration of USTA Missouri Valley's 100th Anniversary in 2020 was kicked off with a history display and a video looking back on the section's history over the past 100 years. The weekend was capped off with an exciting Awards and Hall of Fame Luncheon, celebrating the past year of growth in tennis and giving awards to over 30 deserving individuals who have made notable accomplishments in local tennis this year. The USTA Missouri Valley was also proud to induct three new members into the USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame—Kilmeny Waterman Connor, Craig Sandvig, and Pam Sloan. See their Hall of Fame induction videos here: Kilmeny Waterman Connor Craig Sandvig Pam Sloan Check out our photo gallery to see snapshots of our annual conference! The USTA Missouri Valley has much to be proud of in 2019, and looks forward to another positive year ahead. By USTA Missouri Valley
missourivalleyannualmeeting
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2019: A YEAR IN REVIEW
It’s been an eventful year for USTA Missouri Valley. In the beginning of the year, Lisa Minihan began her term leading the section as USTA Missouri Valley president. We hosted many major tournaments including the US Open USTA Wheelchair Championships, the USTA 30s National Hard Court Championships, seven League Section Championships, two League National Championships, two Tennis on Campus section-level tournaments, the JTT Section Championships, and the final Sweet 16 tournaments. The USTA Missouri Valley was represented at the national level by many players, including multiple USTA League teams, three Junior Team Tennis teams, four Tennis on Campus teams, one Adaptive team, multiple Senior World Championships teams, NTRP nationals-competing athletes, junior athletes at the Girls’ and Boys’National Championships, and professional athletes Madison Keys, Jack Sock, Nick Taylor, and Casey Ratzlaff. The Springfield Lasers continued to represent the section as well, earning their second consecutive World TeamTennis championship title, and several Missouri Valley adult and junior players had gold, silver, and bronze ball performances. Our Net Generation Ace and Net Set Ambassador also represented our section at the US Open, connecting with other youth in the tennis community who all continue to serve the game well. Three of our facilities were recognized for national facility awards, and one was chosen for the national Organization Member of the Year award. The USTA Missouri Valley was also represented at the national level by nine of our talented officials at the US Open, and we later honored these officials and many more as we celebrated the USTA’s first-ever national Officials Appreciation Week. Our pro circuits continued to flourish, hosting seven Pro Circuit events that welcomed many notable names into our section along with hosting many grassroots-level community events. The 50th anniversary of the NJTL fell in 2019, and we celebrated by spotlighting all nine of our beloved NJTL programs in the Missouri Valley. Net Generation grew in our section, hosting seven Net Generation Community Coach Workshops, 19 schools workshops, and creating 138 new school partnerships. We continued to give back to our players, awarding Tennis Trunk boxes to lucky League players and gifting Tennis Warehouse gift cards to junior players who showed great sportsmanship. We published three issues of our Serve magazine, highlighting news and stories from around the section as well as providing important updates. Our year was capped off with the USTA Missouri Valley Annual Conference and Awards Luncheon, where we honored many deserving award winners and inducted three people into our Hall of Fame. There is much more that can be said about what our section accomplished in 2019, but we’ll just leave it to this list and continue to look ahead to 2020. What a year! We’d like to recognize all of the players, providers, volunteers, and all others who have given their time, money, and other resources to USTA Missouri Valley and contributed toward the growth of tennis in our section. Without you, we wouldn’t be where we are today as USTA Missouri Valley. Thank you! By USTA MissouriI Valley
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2019 Highlights
OKLAHOMA'S DAVID BOX WINS ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP
Michael Dowse, President of Wilson Sporting Goods Co., has been named Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the United States Tennis Association.
UCO Hall of Fame Induction
EDMOND TENNIS CENTER MAKING QUICK PROGRESS
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Two of the better tennis players in Central Oklahoma history will be forever remembered as such following their induction into the UCO Athletics Hall of Fame. Tim Ritchie and Kevin Hill were inducted as a doubles team Saturday night at the Nigh University Center.
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FIRST DECK THE HALLS DOUBLES EVENT A SUCCESS SPONSORED BY JUNIOR TEAM TENNIS
Reigning Oklahoma Adult Player of the Year David Box of Oklahoma City captured his first national singles title, winning the USTA Midwest Clay Court Championships Men’s 55 Singles title at Carmel (Indiana) Racquet Club on June 2.
NEW USTA CEO & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MICHAEL DOWSE
FAQ NTRP Rating What is NTRP? National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP)is a classification system developed in 1978 that identifies and describes the general characteristics of thirteen levels of tennis-playing ability. What is a Dynamic rating? A dynamic rating is the result of a player's current match averaged with up to three of your most recent dynamic results generated. A dynamic rating is calculated after each match. A dynamic rating may change with each match played by the player. What is a year-end rating? A year-end rating is a NTRP level assigned at conclusion of the league championship year that reflects level of ability.A player’s year-end rating shall be used to enter leagues during the following year and will be valid for up to three years for players 59 or under or two years for players 60 and over or until another rating is generated.Year End Ratings are available December 1. How does the year-end NTRP calculation work? Computerized ratings are affected by the score of a match as well as your partner’s and your opponent’s dynamic NTRP rating. Based on player dynamic ratings at the start of a match, the NTRP algorithm expects a particular outcome of a match. The actual outcome is then compared to the expected outcome and, as a result, a player’s dynamic rating adjusts up or down (or there is no change, if the outcome was as expected.) Computerized ratings are not directly affected by what position you played, your actual number of wins and losses, age, or team standing. How many matches are required to generate a Year-End rating?A minimum of three matches in qualifying leagues or NTRP tournaments opted-in for are needed to generate a year-end rating. FAQ Self-Rating What is a self-rating? A self-rating is an entry rating level determined by the new player or a player re-entering the Adult Division with an M (mixed) or T (tournament) rating, based on questions asked in the TennisLink registration process.All players must enter league tennis with a valid computer rating or self-rate using TennisLink questionnaire. When and how do I get a self-rating? If you do not have a computer rating you must self-rate before entering a USTA League program. Go to national.usta.com and you will be connected directly to TennisLink.You may click on the self-rate link and complete the process without a team number. FAQ Dynamic Disqualified Who can be NTRP dynamic disqualified? Year-end computer (C) players are not subject to NTRP Dynamic Disqualification. All other players who play in Adult Divisions are subject to NTRP Dynamic Disqualification. Can my rating level change during the championship year? Yes. ·If you receive the 3rd strike and are dynamically disqualified at your present level. If an NTRP Grievance is upheld, this may also result in raising your level. Why would I be dynamically disqualified? When a player receives three strikes, he or she will be notified that he or she has been NTRP Dynamically Disqualified. This happens because when a self-rating that is much too low for the player's ability is selected. What is a strike and how do I get one? Each time a player’s dynamic rating exceeds the maximum tolerance for the level, he or she automatically earns a "strike." How high can my dynamic rating go before I earn a “strike”? The Dynamic NTRP system allows a certain tolerance for player improvement—more for lower level players where rapid improvement is more likely; less for higher-level players. The specific improvement factor is not published because of concerns that individuals, captains or others may attempt to manage their ratings. If I receive a third strike while participating in another division, but following the conclusion of my Section Championship for a given year and Division, will I be allowed to advance to Nationals if otherwise qualified? No. The exception is if you are playing in a league using combo ratings (Mixed Adult 55 & Over, Combo). As long as the player's (at the new NTRP level of play) and his or her partner's combined ratings do not exceed the NTRP level of your team, the player will be allowed to continue to play on that team. What are the consequences of NTRP Dynamic Disqualification? In all cases, the player is disqualified from participation at that NTRP level in all USTA League programs. Each USTA Section will determine which of two methods the Section will follow at the local and the championship level. The effect on team standings may vary, depending on when the NTRP Dynamic Disqualification occurs.
December 2nd Adult Ratings are Released on Tennislink.
What does the letter after my rating mean? S- Self-rate A- Appeal C- Computer D- Disqualified M -Mixed exclusive year-end T -Tournament exclusive year-end
ADULT LEAGUE RATINGS
NTRP LEVEL BY LEVEL INFO VIDEOS:
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FAQ
greens country club
Jerry Ollison accepting a gift from the Oklahoma Tennis Foundation of 22 tennis rackets and 5 ball hoppers. Jerry holds tennis camps and clinics for a large group of underprivileged children in the OKC area. The Greens Country Club donated the 22 rackets.
Please go through the quick and easy process to opt into the USTA Oklahoma Adult League Communication Center before the season kicks off. Communication Center allows for League administrators and coordinators to easily message players who have registered and subscribed to receive League communications. Players can take advantage of the new TennisLink Communication Center feature by subscribing to messages under Event Communication while completing their league registration 1. Login to the TennisLink “My Tennis” page. 2. Under USTA League, click Subscribe next to desired team, as seen in this image. 3. In the Event Communications box, enter the required fields, as seen in this image: email ddress cell number 4. Ensure that the ”Receive announcements and communications related to this league via email and/or text message” box is checked. 5. Click Subscribe. Please contact Michelle O'Quin at oquin@ustaoklahoma.com with further questions.
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adult league
communication opt in
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PREPARE YOUR GAME TO COMPETE
2. Have your bag/equipment ready - racquets strung and gripped, healthy snacks, lots of water, sports drink if needed, extra clothes, extra pair of shoes, towel, hat, sunscreen, etc.
3. Visualize mentally the match that you will play (and be prepared for positive outcomes as well as adverse situations).
By Dr. Larry Lauer & USTA Player Development Coaches
1. Rest: Follow a consistent schedule of at least eight consecutive hours.
3. Breakfast: Choose juices, fruits, yogurts with cereals, toast, etc. (no milk, cheeses, butter, pastries).
Pre-Match Tips: Prepare Like a Champion
1. Practice the way you want to play. This includes practicing between points routines.
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PREPARE YOUR BODY TO COMPETE
1. Choose three “how to play the game” goals to focus on before and during the match. These are usually things you have been working in practice; focus on tactical and competitive goals such as following your routine, running for every ball, dictating with your forehand, etc. 2. Rest seated alone in a quiet and cool place the final 15-30 minutes prior to your match (without talking to other players), listen to music or read (no distractions, phones, computers, etc., these things require mental energy and can make you mentally tired prior to the match).
4. Hydration: Drink 1.5 liters of water with electrolytes two hours before the match begins and continue to drink during the match.
5. Training before the match: * Physical warm up: 15 minutes * Technical warm up "on court" 30-45 minutes, including specific plays/situations in preparation of opponent. For example, beging aggressive on 2nd serve returns.
Preparing to play a tennis match with positive energy is similar to entering the highway when driving. You don’t want to enter the highway at 30 mph; you may get run over! Instead, if the speed limit is 65 mph, accelerate to 55-60 mph as you enter the highway. As you prepare for a match, use the time to mentally and physically get close to match speed with your shots, movement and mind. This will help you get off to a fast start and compete with your game plan immediately.
2. Wake up: Rise a minimum of two hours before the match (if match is at 8am). The optimal wake-up time is three before the start of a match to be alert at match time.
To Read the SERVE
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DECADE IN REVIEW
As 2019 draws to a close, USTA.com is taking a look back at the top storylines, headlines and highlights from the decade in American tennis. Here, we take a look behind the numbers of U.S. players on the court and the outreach efforts off the court. Four U.S. men have finished inside the Top 10 in the year-end rankings: Andy Roddick (No. 8, 2010); Mardy Fish (No. 8, 2011); Jack Sock (No. 8, 2017); John Isner (No. 10, 2018). 5: Nick Taylor and David Wagner took home five medals at the Paralympics during the decade. The duo teamed up to win gold in quad doubles in London in 2012, with Wagner also winning a silver medal in the singles competition and Taylor claiming bronze. Four years later in Rio, the pair won silver in quad doubles, with Wagner adding to his collection with a bronze medal in singles. 7: Team USA has won more tennis medals at the Olympics this decade than any other nation. In London in 2012, Serena won gold in singles and teamed with sister Venus to take the top prize in women's doubles. Sibling success continued for the U.S., as Mike and Bob Bryan won gold in the men's doubles event. Mike Bryan also won a bronze medal with Lisa Raymond in mixed doubles. Four years later in Rio, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jack Sock won gold in the mixed competition, beating fellow Americans Venus and Rajeev Ram in the championship match. Sock also partnered with Steve Johnson to win bronze in men's doubles. Medals won by the U.S. at the Pan American Games. In 2011 in Guadalajara, Mexico, Irina Falconi and Christina McHale won gold and bronze, respectively, in the women's singles competition before partnering to win silver in women's doubles. Nicholas Monroe and Greg Ouelette also won a bronze medal in men's doubles. In 2015 in Toronto, Dennis Novikov won a bronze medal in men's singles. And at the most recent Games in 2019 in Peru, Usue Arconada and Caroline Dolehide won gold in women's doubles, with Dolehide also claiming silver in singles. 9: Grand Slam doubles titles won by Bethanie Mattek-Sands. The second half of this decade has seen Mattek-Sands become arguably the greatest American doubles player of her era. She won her first Grand Slam doubles title at the 2015 Australian Open, and she has gone on to win four more major women's doubles titles and four mixed doubles titles, including the 2018 and 2019 US Open. She also won the 2016 Olympics mixed doubles title with Jack Sock and helped Team USA to a Fed Cup title in 2017 and a runner-up finish in 2010. Mike and Bob Bryan have won nine Grand Slam men’s doubles titles together this decade, including the Australian Open (2010, 2011, 2013), the French Open (2013), Wimbledon (2011, 2013) and the US Open (2010, 2012, 2014). In addition to their success at majors, the twins also won the 2014 ATP Finals title, a 2012 London Olympics gold medal and a remarkable 26 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles, including each of the nine events at least once. In the first half of the decade, between 2010 and 2014, the Bryans won 28 of the 65 Grand Slam and Masters 1000 tournaments they entered. 12: Serena Williams has thrived this decade, continuing her run of reaching at least one major singles final each year since 2007. She has won 12 of her 23 Grand Slam women’s singles titles since the start of 2010, including three Australian Opens (2010, 2015, 2017), two French Opens (2013, 2015), four Wimbledons (2010, 2012, 2015, 2016) and three consecutive US Opens (2012-14). Add in five more major finals, four Grand Slam women’s doubles titles and Olympic singles and doubles gold medals in London in 2012, and it’s easy to see how much Serena has dominated. Medals won by Team USA’s wheelchair tennis athletes at the Parapan American Games. The U.S. topped the medal count in 2011, with Mackenzie Soldan winning gold medals in singles and in doubles with Mary Kaiser, who was runner-up in the singles competition. Jon Rydberg and Stephen Welch won gold in men's doubles, with Welch also taking bronze in men's singles. In Toronto in 2015, the U.S. won four medals: Rydberg won a silver in men's singles; Kaitlynles
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Continue...DECADE IN REVIEW
25
Verfuerth took silver in the women's competition; Emmy Kaiser won bronze in women's singles; and Kaiser and Verfuerth teamed to win bronze in women's doubles. In 2019, Team USA took home five medals: Kaiser and Dana Mathewson won gold in women's doubles; David Wagner took silver in quad singles; Casey Ratzlaff and Chris Herman won silver in men's doubles; Bryan Barten won bronze in quad singles; and Mathewson captured bronze in women's singles. 18: Team USA won its record-extending 18th Fed Cup title in 2017, beating host Belarus to claim its first championship since 2000. The U.S. swept Germany in the first round and edged Czech Republic in the semis before winning the decisive doubles rubber in Minsk to seal the victory. Team USA has won 25 total titles at the Australian Open since 2010. David Wagner has had a hand in nine of those, winning three quad singles titles and eight quad doubles titles in Melbourne. 30: American juniors have won 30 Grand Slam titles, including 15 singles titles by 15 different players, in the past 10 years. An American player has won at least one junior title at every US Open this decade, except in 2014, with New York City proving to be the most successful Slam for young U.S. players (11 titles), followed by London (eight titles), Paris (seven) and Melbourne (four). Taylor Townsend won more junior championships than any other American this decade, winning four titles in an incredible 2012 season that saw her lift the singles trophy at the Australian Open and doubles titles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open. The other Americans who won singles titles at Grand Slam tournaments since 2010 are: Jack Sock (2010 US Open), Bjorn Fratangelo (2011 French Open), Grace Min (2011 US Open), Samantha Crawford (2012 US Open), Noah Rubin (2014 Wimbledon), Tommy Paul (2015 French Open), Reilly Opelka (2015 Wimbledon), Taylor Fritz (2015 US Open), Kayla Day (2016 US Open), Whitney Osuigwe (2017 French Open), Claire Liu (2017 Wimbledon), Amanda Anisimova (2017 US Open), Sebastian Korda (2018 Australian Open) and Coco Gauff (2018 French Open). 40: Of the 40 Grand Slam events that have been held this decade, at least one American has lifted a trophy at 37 of them. The lone exceptions are in Paris, where an American failed to win any of the events in 2012, 2014 and 2016. 44: The number of different Americans to win a Grand Slam title over the past 10 years, among the singles, doubles, junior and wheelchair categories. 101: Total titles won by Americans at Grand Slams since 2010. Team USA has won 37 titles at the US Open, 25 at the Australian Open, 22 at Wimbledon and 17 at the French Open. The most successful tournament was the 2010 US Open, which saw the Bryan brothers win the men’s doubles title, Vania King win the women’s doubles championship, Liezel Huber and Bob Bryan win mixed doubles, Jack Sock win boys’ singles, David Wagner win quad singles, and Wagner and Nick Taylor win quad doubles. Three times, the U.S. has won five events at one Slam, including at the 2017 Australian Open and the 2011 and 2018 US Opens. 7/16/18: Sloane Stephens peaks at a career-high ranking of No. 3 in the world. Stephens is one of only three U.S. women, and the only active player, to reach No. 3 or higher but never reach No. 1. The other two are Pam Shriver, who reached No. 3 in 1984, and Andrea Jaeger, who reached No. 2 in 1981. Stephens is one of only 11 American women to be ranked inside the Top 3. 1973: One American has reached at least one championship match between all the events at every Slam going back to at least 1973. Serena Williams ended the season as world No. 1 for the third year in a row and for the fifth time in her career. 300,000: In 2017, the USTA launched Net Generation, the official youth tennis of the USTA. It aims to inspire the next generation of tennis players by encompassing all aspects of youth play for kids ages 5-18 by providing family-friendly, safe and clear connections to the sport through official USTA tennis programs, as well as a lifestyle platform to celebrate individuality, creativity and self-expression. By having a unified youth brand, Net Generation makes it easier for kids and their parents to learn about tennis, get into the game and stay in it. There are currently more than 300,000 youth tennis accounts in Net Generation, which is designed to make tennis fun and accessible for children of all ages and abilities. In addition, more than 30,000 coaches, teachers and organizers have completed the USTA Safe Play Program as approved providers, and almost 24,000 people have downloaded the Net Generation mobile app.
2015
2020 JUNIOR Tour SCHEDULES
High level Intermediate tournament players (Dist Championships) Tournament Length: Up to a 3 day Tournament Tournament type: Round Robin or Feed-In Scoring Format: Best of 3 with Match Tiebreak in lieu of 3rd
junior
L5
L7
Intermediate tournament players (Champs) Tournament Length: Up to 2 days Tournament type: Round Robin or Feed-In Scoring Format: Best of 3 with Match Tiebreak in lieu of 3rd
usta
Emerging tournament players (Challengers) Tournament Length: One day tournament Tournament type: Non-elimination Scoring Format: Best of 3 Short sets with a 7 pt Tiebreak in lieu of a 3rd.
oklahoma
L6
January 11-12
OKCTC
Oak Tree
January 25-26
February 8-9
Indian Springs
March 7-8
Kickingbird
March 14-15
March 28-29
Westwood
April 18-19
RH-91
May 23-24
Union
June 6-7
Duncan
June 13-14
Earlwine
June 20-21
LaFortune
July 2-3
July 11-12
July 25-26
August 1-2
August 8-9
August 22-23
August 29-30
September 5-6
Oakwood (Enid)
September 12-13
September 26-27
October 3-4
October 17-18
October 24-25
November 21-22
tournaments
April 24-26
Earlywine
May 29-31
June 26-28
July 17-19
August 14-16
September 18-20
October 9-11
www.usta.com minihan@ustaoklahoma.com
March 7
March 14
March 28
First Serve
April 18
April 25
May 23
May 30
June 6
June 13
June 20
June 27
July 3
July 11
Ada
July 18
July 25
August 1
August 8
August 15
August 22
August 29
September 5
First Serve (OKCTC)
September 12
September 19
September 26
October 3
October 10
October 17
October 24
boys & girls ages 10 & under
usta oklahoma
smasher
www.usta.com davidminihan@ustaoklahoma.com
2020
7-10 YEAR OLD PLAYERS WITH NET EXPERIENCE AND ARE READY TO WORK THROUGH THE PROGRESSION FROM ORANGE TO GREEN BALL
February 15, 2020
March 7, 2020
March 14, 2020
April 18, 2020
April 25, 2020
May 16, 2020
May 23, 2020
June 6, 2020
June 27, 2020
July 11, 2020
July 18, 2020
August 1, 2020
August 22, 2020
September 5, 2020
September 26, 2020
October 3, 2020
October 24, 2020
November 15, 2020
December 6, 2020
14u & 18u ADVANCED play to advance to Section Championships JUNE 23, 24, 25
*NEW
TBA
Want to play? Contact your local tennis facility Tulsa: Casey McKenzie mckenzie@ustaoklahoma.com OKC: Randy Painton randypainton@sbcglobal.net
ADVANCED LEAGUE QUALIFIER
JUNIOR TEAM TENNIS
2020 schedule
JUNE - JULY 10 MATCH PLAY IN TULSA MON/WED 10u & 14u TUES/THURS 12u & 18u MATCH PLAY IN OKC TUES/THURS DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS JULY 13 & 14 SECTION CHAMPIONSHIPS JULY 21-23 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS TBD
SPRING LEAGUE
FALL & WINTER LEAGUE
SUMMER ADVANCING LEAGUE
MARCH 1 - APRIL 12 MATCH PLAY DAYS SUNDAY AT 2PM MARCH 1, 8, 22, 29 APRIL 5, 12
2020 College Tennis SCHEDULES
"I am thrilled to add Lenka Stara to our roster for the spring," Young said. "She is a player I have watched several times, and I am always impressed with her ball-striking ability and competitive spirit. She will make a real difference for our program this spring."
4 members of the Oklahoma State women's tennis team earned individual rankings in the latest singles and doubles polls released by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Junior Lisa Marie Rioux Sophomore Bunyawi Thamchaiwat Newcomer Ayumi Miyamoto Freshman Dariya Detkovskaya
Jan 11
Abilene Christian
Stillwater, OK
10 AM
Wichita State
6 PM
Jan 12
Oral Roberts
2 PM
Jan 17-19
Freeman Inviational
Las Vegas, NV
All day
Jan 25
San Diego
3 PM
Jan 26
ITA Kickoff
Jan 31
Arkansas
Feb 1
Tulsa
Chicago, IL
Feb 7-10
ITA National Team Indoor Champsionships
Feb 16
Pepperdine
1 PM
Mar 6
Texas Tech
Mar 8
TCU
Manhattan, KS
Mar 13
Kansas State
Lawrence, KS
Mar 15
Kansas
Coral Gables, FL
Mar 18
Miami
11 AM
Mar 22
Iowa State
Austin, TX
Mar 27
Texas
Waco, TX
5 PM
Mar 29
Baylor
Orlando, FL
Apr 3
UCF
Norman, OK
Apr 10
Oklahoma
Apr 11
West Virginia
Apr 16-19
Big 12 Championships
May 1-3
NCAA 1st & 2nd Rounds
May 9-10
NCAA Super Regional
May 14-17
NCAA Finals
May 18-23
NCAA Indvidual Championships
2020 OSU Women's Schedule
Matej Vocel and Dominik Kellovsky were named the No. 1 doubles team in the country in the final fall ITA national rankings. Emile Hudd and Luke Hammond also make appearances in the singles and doubles rankings. Vocel and Kellovsky finished the fall season with a national title at the ITA Fall National Championships in Newport Beach, Calif. The top-ranked Cowboy duo entered the fall season ranked No. 18 in the country and logged two wins over top-50 doubles teams in the country during its championship run. This is the second time in recent history that a Cowboy duo has been ranked No. 1 in the country with Arjun Kadhe and Julian Cash being the other. Luke Hammond and Emile Hudd also make appearances in the national rankings at No. 19. Hudd appeared in the preseason rankings at No. 39 in doubles with partner Mathieu Scaglia. This is the first time the pairing of Hammond and Hudd have received a top-60 ranking together. Courtesty of okstate.com
Jan 12 San Diego San Diego 10:30 am Jan 17 Lamar Stillwater, OK 1:30 pm Jan 17 Bryant Stillwater, OK 6 pm Jan 25 Columbia Knoxville, TN TBA Jan 26 Tennesse/Arizona State Knoxville, TN TBA Jan 31 Ole Miss Oxford, Miss 6 pm Feb 2 Memphis Memphis, TN 12 pm Feb 7 San Diego Stillwater, OK 12:30 pm Feb 9 Northwestern Stillwater, OK 11 am Feb 14-17 ITA National Indoor Championship Madison, WI All Day Feb 21 Michigan Stillwater, OK 5 pm Mar 1 Wake Forest LaJolla, CA TBA March 5 California LaJolla, CA TBA March 6-8 Pacidfic Coast Doubles Lajolla, CA TBA March 13 Tulsa Stillwater, OK 5 pm March 15 University of Missouri, KS City Stillwater, OK 5 pm March 15 Abilene Christian Stillwater, OK 12 pm March 19 Tulane New Orleans, LA 1 pm March 24 Texas A & M Stillwater, OK 4 pm March 27 TCU Fort Worth, TX 5:30 pm March 29 Texas Austin, TX 1 pm April 3 Oklahoma Stillwater, OK TBA April 10 Texas Tech Stillwater, OK 2pm April 12 Baylor Stillwater, OK 1 pm April 16-18 Big 12 Championships Stillwater, OK TBA May 1-3 NCAA Regionals Stillwater, OK TBA May 9-10 NCAA Super Regionals Stillwater, OK TBA May 14-23 NCAA Championships Stillwater, Ok TBA
Cowboys 2020 Schedule
sooner 2020 Schedule
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The Sooners' highly-competitive schedule features matchups with 12 teams who qualified for the 2019 NCAA Championships and 11 teams who finished the season in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's top 30. 13 of OU's matches will be played at the Headington Family Tennis Center. Nick Crowell "We are very excited to announce the spring 2020 schedule," said Crowell. "This year has us playing one of the most challenging schedules in the country while also playing a lot of high-quality matches on our home courts at the Headington Family Tennis Center. We love playing at home and invite all of our fans to come out and cheer on your Sooners."
Jan 11 Abiline Christian Norman, OK 1 PM Jan 12 Tennessee Norman, OK 1 PM Jan 20 Bryant Norman, OK 11 AM Jan 20 Oral Roberts Norman, OK 3 PM Jan 25-26 ITA Kickoff Weekend Starkville, MS TBA Feb 2 Kentucky Lexington, KY 12 PM Feb 7 Arkansas Norman, OK 5 PM Feb 14 ITA Indoor Championships Madison, Wis TBA Feb 28 Florida State Orlando, Fla. 4 PM Mar 2 Pepperdine Norman, OK 2 PM Mar 7 UMKC Norman, OK 1 PM Mar 8 Nebraska Norman, OK 12 PM Mar 8 Arkansas-Pine Bluff Norman, OK 5 PM Mar 11 Tulsa Tulsa, OK 5 PM Mar 15 Cornell Ithaca, NY 12 PM Mar 20 Texas A&M Norman, OK 5 PM Mar 27 Texas Austin, TX 5 PM Mar 29 TCU Fort Worth, TX 1 PM Apr 3 Oklahoma State Stillwater, OK 5 PM Apr 9 Texas Tech Norman, OK 5 PM Apr 11 Baylor Norman, OK 1 PM Apr 16 Big 12 Championships Stillwater, OK TBA May 1 NCAA 1st & 2nd Rounds TBA TBA May 8 NCAA Super Regional TBA TBA May 14 NCAA Finals Site Stillwater, OK TBA May 19 NCAA Championships Stillwater, OK TBA
Courtesy of soonersports.com
OU's challenging schedule includes nine matchups with teams that made the 2019-20 NCAA tournament as well as seven teams that finished in the ITA's top 30. The Sooners will play 10 contests at home. "We have a tough schedule with a lot of opportunities against top-25 teams," said Cohen. "We grew a lot as a program this fall and we are looking forward to the challenges ahead." The Sooners will open the season at the Miami Invite, hosted by the University of Miami Jan. 18-20. OU then heads to Raleigh, N.C. for its third straight ITA Kickoff Weekend. The Sooners will face host NC State while Florida and Rice square off on the other side of the bracket on Jan. 25. The winners of those matches will play each other Jan. 26 with a trip to the ITA National Women's Team Indoor Championships (held Feb. 7-10 in Champaign, Ill.) on the line.
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sooners release 2019 schedule
Jan 18 Miami Invite Raleigh, NC 11 AM Jan 25 NC State Raleigh, NC 11 AM Jan 26 ITA Kickoff Raleigh, NC TBD Feb 1 Oral Roberts Norman, OK 10:30 Feb 1 UMKC Norman, OK 1 PM Feb 7 ITA Indoor Championships Champaign, IL TBD Feb 8 Arizona State Tempe, AZ 12 PM Feb 15 Pepperdine Norman, OK 12 PM Feb 22 Texas A & M College Station, TX 12 PM Feb 29 Purdue West Lafayette, IN 12 PM Mar 1 Illinois Champaign, IL 11 AM Mar 6 TCU Norman, OK 5 PM Mar 8 Texas Tech Norman, OK 12 PM Mar 8 Arkansas-Pine Bluff Norman, OK 4 PM Mar 13 Kansas Lawrence, KS 5 PM Mar 15 Kansas State Manhattan, KS 12 PM Mar 18 Tulsa Tulsa, OK 12 PM Mar 20 Iowa State Norman, OK 5 PM Mar 22 Old Dominion Norman, OK 1 PM Mar 27 Baylor Waco, TX 5 PM Mar 29 Texas Austin, TX 12 PM Apr 1 Wichita State Norman, OK 3 PM Apr 5 UCF Lake Nona, FL 12 PM Apr 10 Oklahoma State Norman, OK 5 PM Apr 12 West Virginia Norman, OK 12 PM Apr 16 Big XII Tournament Stillwater, OK TBD May 1 NCAA 1st & 2nd Round TBD TBD May 9 NCAA Super Regional TBD TBD May 14 NCAA Team Finals Stillwater, OK TBD
Tulsa Men's 2020 Schedule
The Golden Hurricane competed in six events overall. Of the six tournaments, four counted towards individual records, as the Golden Hurricane went 20-27 in their singles matches and 6-10 in doubles competition. Sophomore Kody Pearson became the fourth Golden Hurricane to win the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Central Regional Singles Title in Norman. A native of Australia, Pearson clinched an automatic bid to the Oracle ITA National Fall Championships in Newport Beach, Calif., where he advanced to the Consolation Semifinals. Between the two events, he captured three-ranked wins against student-athletes ahead of him in the standings. Pearson ended fall competition ranked 98th in the 2019 Oracle ITA Division I National Fall Rankings.
Jan 12 Arkansas Pine Bluff Tulsa, OK 9 AM Jan 12 Mercer Tulsa, OK 2 PM Jan 19 Bryant Tulsa, OK 1:30 PM Jan 19 Illinois State Tulsa, OK 6 PM Jan 24-26 Utah Columbus, OH TBA Jan 24-26 Ohio State/Purdue Columbus, OH TBA Jan 31 Texas A & M Tulsa, OK 6 PM Feb 7 Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL TBA Feb 9 LSU Baton Rouge, LA TBA Feb 19 Arkansas Tulsa, OK 6 PM Feb 23 Cornell & Binghampton Ithaca, NY TBA Feb 28 Texas Tech Lubbock, TX TBA Mar 1 Omaha & ORU Tulsa, OK 11 AM Mar 6 TCU Fort worth, TX TBA Mar 8 Texas Austin, TX TBA Mar 11 Oklahoma Tulsa, OK 6 PM Mar 13 OSU Stillwater, OK TBA Mar 15 Baylor Waco, TX TBA Mar 27 USF Tulsa, OK 5 PM Mar 28 Drake Tulsa, OK 2 PM Mar 29 Tulane Tulsa, OK 12 PM Apr 1 Wichita State & Temple Tulsa, OK 9 AM Apr 5 UCF Tulsa, OK 12 PM Apr 10 Memphis Memphis, TN 1 PM Apr 12 SMU Dallas, TX TBA Apr 16-19 AAC Championships Tulsa, OK TBA Apr 16-25 NCAA Championships Stillwater, OK All day
Lady Hurricane's 2020 schedule
Jan 12 Arkansas Pine Bluff Tulsa, OK 9 AM Jan 12 Mercer Tulsa, OK 1PM Jan 18 La Tech Tulsa, OK 9 AM Jan 18 Montana St. Tulsa, OK TBA Jan 19 Wyoming Tulsa, OK 8:30 AM Jan 25 ITA-Mississippi St. Durham, NC TBA Jan 26 ITA-Duke, Kansas St. Durham, NC TBA Feb 1 OSU Stillwater, OK TBA Feb 7 Arkansas Fayetteville, AR TBA Feb 9 Abiline Christian Tulsa, OK 1 PM Feb 15 DePaul Lafeyette, IN 2 PM Feb 16 Purdue Lafeyette, IN 12 PM Feb 25 Kansas Lawrence, KS TBA Mar 14 Wichita St. Tulsa, OK 1 PM Mar 18 OU Tulsa, OK 1 PM Mar 20 Old Dominion Tulsa, OK 1 PM Mar 27 USF Tulsa, OK 5 PM Mar 29 UCF Tulsa, OK 12 PM Apr 1 ORU Tulsa, OK TBA Apr 1 Temple Tulsa, OK TBA Apr 4 N. Texas Tulsa, OK 12 PM Apr 5 N. Dakota Tulsa, OK 10 PM Apr 9 SMU Tulsa, OK 3 PM Apr 15-18 American Athletic Championships Tulsa, OK All day May 1-3 NCAA Regional Championships TBA TBA May 9-10 NCAA Super Regional TBA TBA May 14-23 NCAA Championships Stillwater, OK All day
The Golden Hurricane competed in four tournaments, where they went a combined 48-29 in singles competition and 16-17 in their doubles matches. At the Saint Francis Health System ITA Women's All-American Championships, the doubles tandem of Martina Okalova and Vera Ploner went 2-1 against nationally-ranked opponents, en route to a spot in the Consolation Semifinals. Okalova finished fall play ranked No. 52 in the 2019 Oracle Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division I National Fall Rankings. It's the highest singles ranking of her career. The senior was also named the American Athletic Conference's Women's Tennis Player of the Month for September. Courtesty tulsahurricane.com
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