MagazineIndianapolis TennisFall/Winter 2011

Women’s Indoor League marks 30 years of tennis, camaraderie

IHSAA boys’ state tournament• No. 1 Carmel goes wire-to-wire for 2nd straight team title• Schneider defends singles crown; Park Tudor duo crowned doubles champs

News & NotesCITA, Midwest hand out

awards

Ad In Multi-class

conundrum on tap?

(pro)fileFive Seasons’

Stephanie Hunn

On CourtHow to feel more comfortable at net

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contentsVOLUME 6, ISSUE 2

On the Cover: Carmel’s Mihir Kumar is fired up after winning a point in a second-set tiebreak against Park Tudor’s Brendan Tannenbaum in the state semifinals. (Photo by Scott Cooper)

10 Second undefeated season means second straight team title for Carmel boys, defeating North Central in final match.

18 ‘See-Whittle’ marks 30 yearsFrom its beginnings as an informal inter-club social event, the Central Indiana Women’s Indoor Tennis League has become must-play tennis throughout the fall and winter.

16 Players get chance to shine at ‘Showcase’ Event to promote college tennis brings out Midwest players looking for information and attention, and coaches were ready to oblige.

Plus… 4 Ad In – Did recent IHSAA tournament realignment go too far or not far enough?

5 News & Notes – Two-time NCAA singles champ to participate in second annual ‘EntouRaj for Kids’ fundraiser

6 (pro)file – Stephanie Hunn, teaching pro at Five Seasons Sports Club

8 On Court – Tips on how to be more comfortable when playing the net

22 Brad Humphrey staying positiveCrispus Attucks’ team leader keeps his spirits high after suffering paralyzing injury.

Fall/Winter 2011

Greyhounds go back to back

14 IHSAA state singles/doubles tournamentBloomington South’s Ronnie Schneider makes it two singles titles in a row, while Park Tudor’s No. 1 pair of Sam Geier and Dan Rayl takes the doubles championship.

21 ‘Rally’ has players seeing pinkFive Seasons Sports Club stages its third ‘Rally for the Cure’.

24 CITA team takes 3rd in junior NationalsThe ‘Racquet Heads’, representing the Midwest Section, finish third in the USTA Junior Team Tennis National Championships.

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Publisher’s commentary

MagazineIndianapolis Tennis

PUBLISHERScott D. CooperMember, U.S. Tennis Writers Association

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORSLinda CookBlake CrowtherTomas Johansson

PHOTO CONTRIBUTORSDoug McSchoolerJennifer ReinboldSue TannenbaumIntercollegiate Tennis Association

GRAPHIC DESIGNNardi Art, LLCRegina Nardi

Bal-Bow GrafixTerri Balon-Bowden

For advertising information, call (317) 918-0726

Indianapolis Tennis Magazine is published three times a year by Cooper Media Group, LLC Bargersville, Indiana

Contact us at Indianapolis Tennis Magazine P.O. Box 21 Bargersville, IN 46106

(317) 918-0726; (317) 422-4559 fax; or e-mail to scott@indytennismag.com

Material may not be used or reprinted without prior permission from Cooper Media Group, LLC.

Copyright® 2011, Cooper Media Group, LLCwww.indytennismag.com

Indianapolis Tennis Magazine and the Indianapolis Tennis Magazine logo are registered trademarks of Cooper Media Group, LLC.

Indianapolis Tennis Magazine is the winner of Media Awards from the USTA/Midwest Section (2007) and Hamilton County Community Tennis Association (2008).

Multi-‘class warfare’ in HS tennis?

Over the years one of the criticisms most often leveled at the IHSAA team tennis tournament was that too many of the top

teams in the state – which just happen to be within the Indianapolis metro area –all fed into the North Central semi-state, from which only one would emerge to advance to the state fi nal. That was the bad news. The good news was that the team that did survive the North Central semi-state usually went on to win the state title.

Last season, along came “Eight at State”, an initiative put forth by the Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association (IHSTeCA) and eventually approved by the IHSAA that eliminated the second round matches at the semi-state level, thus allowing both teams to advance to the state fi nals rounds. Of course, that increased the chances of a local school – or two – making it to the fi nals (since the fi nals brackets were reshuffl ed). Of course, that meant a larger crowd and, subsequently, more money for the IHSAA which began charging admission ($5 a head) for the state fi nals at the same time.

Now that we had more schools/players being able to vie for a state title (I recall a similar argument being made in support of class basketball), it was time to address the overall tournament alignment. Speaking at the IHSTeCA conference last February, IHSAA Commissioner Bobby Cox acknowledged there were several issues that worked in favor of the overhaul, specifi cally travel considerations (although, somehow, it made sense to send the winner of the North Central regional two hours north to the Fort Wayne semi-state for one match this year?).

The realignment is obviously good news for metro schools like Carmel, North Central, Park Tudor and Center Grove, which locked down this season four of the eight available fi nals spots, as well as Hamilton Southeastern that not only fi nally escaped the Carmel sectional, but now also hosts its own.

But I wonder if the realignment didn’t go far enough. Rather than have the “traditional” four semi-state sites, why not have eight (e.g., two in Indy, and one in South Bend, Ft. Wayne, Lafayette, Terre Haute, Evansville, and Jeffersonville) with a single team advancing from each?

Sure, there are many examples of schools that have no chance of going to state, but are more than happy to dominate their local sectional year after year – be the big fi sh in a small pond – and grow their trophy case. One of the questions put forth in the last few years to the membership of the IHSTeCA has been whether or not to consider multi-class tennis, even though the IHSAA considers tennis an “individual” sport. Last year, the vote was only 84-73 against. It’ll be interesting to see what the split is the next time it’s asked.

ad inPUBLISHER’S COMMENTARY

www.indytennismag.com

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TENNIS HAPPENINGS FROM AROUND THE AREA

Midwest Section, CITA list award recipientsThe USTA/Midwest Section will induct Carrie Meyer Richardson and Mark

Miles into its Hall of Fame during its annual meeting on December 3 in Indianapolis. Richardson, the former women’s coach at Purdue, competed during the formative years of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), as well as with the Indiana Loves of the original World Team Tennis league. Miles, who currently chairs the 2012 Super Bowl Host Committee, also served as the Chief Executive Offi cer of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour and was the former volunteer tournament chairman for the Indianapolis Tennis Championships. Also during the annual meeting, Barbara Wynne will be honored with the Mel Bergman Award, the Section’s most prestigious award given in recognition of continuous and distinguished service to the USTA/Midwest Section in an unselfi sh, dedicated manner for ten years or more. During its annual meeting last month, the Central Indiana Tennis Association (CITA) named Steve Wakefi eld as the winner of the Stan Malless Award for the individual making the greatest contribution to tennis within the district. Brendan Tannenbaum and Elliott Yee shared the Wilbur Schumacher Jr. Sportsmanship Memorial Award, for the outstanding junior boy player, and the Barbara S. Wynne Jr. Sportsmanship Award for the outstanding junior girl player went to McKenzie Thomas. Rick Van Horn Service Awards were given to Kristy Huck, Kavonne Mitchell, and Kathy Shaw, and the Joe Graham Memorial Award went to Jeff Burton. The Ed Miller family of Washington, Indiana, was recognized as the CITA Family of the Year.

Collegiate champ Devvarman to share ‘EntouRaj’ spotlightThe second annual ‘EntouRaj for Kids’ fundraiser will be held Saturday,

December 10, from 5 to 8 p.m., at the Five Seasons Sports Club. This year Somdev Devvarman will join Rajeev Ram and other celebrity guests, including the Indiana Fever’s Tamika Catchings, in an exhibition to raise funds for the Hamilton County Community Tennis Association (HCCTA) reading programs. The 84th-ranked player on the ATP Tour, Devvarman made three consecutive NCAA men’s singles fi nals and won two championships, including a defeat of top-seeded John Isner in the 2007 fi nal. He also won the gold medal for both singles and doubles in the 2010 Asian Games. Last February he was named “Sports Person of the Year”, along with cricketer Sachin Tendulkar in the Sports Illustrated India Annual Awards. Last year’s inaugural ‘EntouRaj’, featuring former touring pro Taylor Dent, attracted 400 spectators to Carmel Racquet Club and raised more than $13,000. Pre-sale tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children 18 years and younger. Prices will be higher on the day of the event. Be sure to watch www.hccta.org, and www.indytennismag.com for information on who’ll be joining Somdev and Rajeev on the court.

news & notes Bektas wins singles at ITA Regional

The University of Michigan’s Emina Bektas defeated Northwestern’s No. 58-ranked

Brittany Wowchuk, 6-4, 6-2, to capture the singles title at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Midwest Regional Championships last month in Columbus, Ohio. As the regional singles champion, Bektas, of Indianapolis, earned an automatic selection to the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships.

On serve in the fi rst set, Bektas broke Wowchuk in the seventh game to take a 4-3 advantage before claiming three of the fi nal four games to win, 6-4. She broke again early in the second set and again in the fi fth game to cruise to a 6-2 decision. Bektas, ranked No. 9 among the ITA’s freshman/newcomer poll, held serve throughout the championship match and is the fi rst Michigan player in program history to capture the ITA Midwest Regional singles title.

Bektas defeated another pair of ranked opponents to advance to the championship match. She rallied past Northwestern No. 53 Kate Turvy in the semifi nals, winning the last 11 consecutive points to surge to a 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (0) decision. In the quarterfi nal round, Bektas knocked off Notre Dame’s No. 38-ranked Shannon Matthews, 6-3, 6-4. The Wolverine rookie is 8-2 in her fi rst collegiate season and owns four wins against nationally ranked opposition.

In doubles play, Bektas and sophomore Brooke Bolender advanced to the semifi nal round, where they narrowly lost to Northwestern’s No. 3-ranked team, 9-7, to fi nish with a 3-1 record. The Wolverine teammates, ranked No. 17 in the ITA preseason poll, are 6-4 on the season.

The USTA/ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships were played Nov. 3-6 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y.

Photo courtesy Intercollegiate Tennis Association

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Passion for the game continues to motivate former top college player, touring pro

A CLOSER LOOK AT METRO INDY TEACHING PROS AND COACHES

At some tennis clubs, the mix of teaching pros often run the gamut from former

top high school and college players to touring pros. But at Five Seasons Sports Club, members can find all of those – plus a state hall of famer to boot – rolled into one with Stephanie (Reece) Hunn.

Stephanie started playing tennis when she was seven or eight years old at Indianapolis Racquet Club, which was just five minutes from home, taking lessons from P.A. Nilhagen, who coached her all the way through her tennis career. At Eastwood Middle School, she played on the school team and practiced from 5:30-7:30 a.m. two days a week, while also playing softball and swimming. But, she invested so much time in tennis that she decided to devote herself to it full time.

She qualified for the Midwest Closed when she was 12 years old, and she was runner-up in the girls’ 18 singles in 1988.

Stephanie would go on to win two state singles championships in 1987 and 1988 while playing at North Central High School for the late Sheila Evans, and she was a member of the teams that won the team championship in 1985, 1987, and 1988.

Stephanie says she was not the most gifted athlete, but her advantages were height, reach, and mental strength.

“One of the proudest things for me was winning the Mental Attitude Award in 1988,” she noted. “I had to learn that the battle goes on till the end, even if you lose the first set.”

High school tennis was a wonderful experience for Stephanie. “Tennis is such an individual sport,” she says. “I was into the team atmosphere from the beginning. Everybody does their part, and there’s such camaraderie and support.” In 2008, she was rewarded for all of that hard work by being inducted into the Indiana High School Tennis Hall of Fame,

By Linda Cook

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fi le(pro)

which is ironically located at North Central High School.

Both of Stephanie’s parents were Indiana University alums, so she naturally followed them, earning a full four-year tennis scholarship. As a freshman, paired with senior Kelly (Mulvihill) Stalhuth, she won the All-American tournament and the pair was ranked No. 1. They were also runners-up in the National Indoors, and Stephanie herself was No. 7 in the country her freshman year.

She lettered all four years, playing No. 1 doubles each year and No. 1 singles her senior year, and was the first Hoosier woman to be named Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year. Stephanie was the Big Ten Player of the Year in 1991 and 1992, as well as an All-American for three years in doubles and two years in singles. She would go on to compile a 143-54 singles record and 123-22 doubles record, as IU collected the Big Ten championship each of her four years. She was honored as the IU Female Athlete of the Year in 1991 and finished her college career with the most doubles wins ever at IU (and a degree in General Studies). Naturally, she was inducted into the IU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002.

With a national ranking, Stephanie played satellite tournaments and received wild cards into several Virginia Slims events. She knew she would ultimately play on the pro tour, and did so from 1992-1996. Training part of the year in Florida, she played all over the world, including the main doubles draw of all four Grand Slams twice and in the singles qualifiers at the Australian Open.

On tours, she had the opportunity to play doubles against Pam Shriver, Gabriela Sabatini, Steffi Graf, and Lindsay Davenport, Helena Sukova and Lori McNeil and reached career high rankings of No. 79 in doubles and No. 218 in singles.

After four years on the tour, Stephanie felt it was time to “get on with the next part of my life. The tour was a great experience, with the people and the sights, but it was not the best lifestyle. It ’s tough to make it out there. I played all the Grand Slams, traveled the world, and didn’t lose my passion. I gave it a good go.”

She returned home and taught at IRC for two years before becoming the head pro at the Indianapolis Tennis Center. At a friend’s wedding she reconnected with Michael Hunn, whom she had known from North Central. They married in 2000 and moved to New York where he worked for American Express while Stephanie taught juniors and adults at East Hampton Indoor Tennis Club. She says it was logical for her to go into teaching, and she loves working on technique with her students.

After nine years, the family moved back to Indianapolis in 2009. Stephanie’s eight-year-old son Harrison, a lefty like his mom, and six-year-old daughter Shelby also play. Stephanie started working at

Five Seasons part-time because of her relationship with P.A., which they had maintained. She currently teaches ladies and juniors in the 8-11 age group, working to “motivate and keep strong girls in the program.” She began a once-a-month Pizza Night for her juniors, where they can play challenge matches in a more relaxed setting.

Over the last two summers Stephanie has also taught in the Washington Township Schools Tennis Program where she notes no other program like it exists in the way it is run, the goals it maintains, and the number of kids it serves. She says it is a springboard for high schoolers to teach and grow with the game, and she even incorporates the program’s vision in teaching her own children to be good sports and “if you work hard, you will improve, and the winning will come.”

“I wanted to give back because tennis gave me a lot,” she concluded. “Tennis is my passion, and I’m still doing it. Tennis is like a part of my DNA.”

Photos by Scott Cooper

Stephanie Hunn was one of several Five Seasons teaching pros who participated in the annual Rally for the Cure last month at the club.

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Good court recognition, technique can make you more comfortable at the net

By Tomas Johansson and Blake Crowther

on courtTIPS TO HELP IMPROVE YOUR GAME

Back in the day, net play was just as important as the

baseline game. Players would either serve and volley, or actively look for the first opportunity to shorten the point by coming in and putting the ball away. However, the game has changed over the years to where players would rather dictate play from the baseline by lengthening points, trading groundstrokes while waiting for the opponent to make the mistake.

This has led to a new generation of players who feel the area between the service line and net is forbidden territory. Even when an opportunity presents itself to come in on a short ball, some immediately retreat to the comfort of the baseline as soon as possible. There are ways to break down those barriers, even though some people will never feel completely comfortable at the net regardless of how much they work on it.

No doubt your teaching pro has worked with you on your continental grip for volleys, and you’ve learned to make a habit of establishing a good athletic position with your weight on the balls of your feet rather than on the heels. And you know you need to keep your hands well in front of your body with the tip of your racquet higher than your hands.

You’ve learned all the basics, but maybe you still don’t feel confident or comfortable at the net, especially in doubles. So what could the

The non-technical aspects

With the technical side covered, perhaps you’ve identified some things you already do well and still other things you need to improve upon with your volley technique. Now it’s time to move on to court positioning, especially as it relates to your doubles game, in order to make you feel more comfortable around the net. Later, we’ll examine how this also applies in a defensive situation, where you’re closer to the back court.

When it comes to doubles, we most often see club level players struggling with where they should – or should not – be on the court, not necessarily as the hitter, but rather as the player who is indirectly involved in the point. The player we see struggle most frequently is the “floater”, the player who isn’t hitting the ball at the moment.

Although the “floater” is commonly the net player, we try not to use the term “net player” because it implies that if the player is not hitting, then he or she just stands up at the net (an offensive spot on the court) regardless if his or her team is in an offensive, neutral, or even defensive situation.

You weren’t just seeing things; we did use the word “defensive” when referring to doubles. Something we try to remind players of is that, at the net, they are either a

problem be then? In doubles, there are a few non-technical aspects you may want to work on. But, first, let’s make sure the technical aspects of your volley game are sound.

How’s your technique?

It’s no secret that match or “live” play is much more different than the relatively safe and controlled atmosphere of a private lesson or clinic. However, those are the times when it’s most important to work on technique so that, when the scores do count, it becomes automatic or second nature.

It may seem like a common sense approach, but be sure to focus on these four aspects of your volley technique when practicing:

• Make sure you’re using the continental grip.• Keep the tip of your racquet higher than your hands and your hands well in front of your belly button in your ready position. Invariably, the longer a point lasts, the more your hands will tend to creep closer to your body which will negatively impact your ability to make contact in front.• Envision your preferred contact point – always in front of your body.• Stay on the balls of your feet at all times. Weight on the heels equals a poor quality shot.

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With the right grip, good body position, and racquet

head up, Ryan Harrison (left) and Novak Djokovic

warm up their volleys prior to their match in the Western &

Southern Open in Cincinnati.

Tomas Johansson and Blake Crowther

are teaching professionals at the

Westview Healthplex Sports Club.

on co

urt

Photos by Scott Cooper

If you play doubles, you’re going to get hit with the ball from time to time. That’s a fact.

potential offensive weapon (preferably) or a potential target for the opposing team.

We’re not implying that defensive or “two back” doubles is a winning strategy, but sometimes that position gives you the ability to identify the situation your team is in during the course of the point and helps determine what court position offers the best chance of winning that point.

For example, if the opposing team is able to gain the more favorable “two up” position during a point, while your team is caught in a “one up/one back”, what does your “floater” do? Should he or she stay closer to the net and wait for an offensive opportunity that will probably never come or retreat? In this situation, the opposing team’s best strategy is to keep your teammate scrambling at the baseline by relentlessly hitting deeper and more challenging shots. If they play wisely, they will continue to keep the ball away from you, the “floater”, and wait until the chance comes to either hit you with the ball or simply hit the ball by you down the center of the court. In that common situation, as the “floater”, your best choice is to work your way back to help your teammate defend point.

Once back, look to mount your own counter-offensive either with lobs designed to force the opposing team into hitting a poor overhead – which may give you the opportunity to come in – or by dipping or chipping low balls to the opponents’ feet.

If you play doubles, you’re going to get hit with the ball from time to time. That’s a fact. However, if it’s happening more often than not, maybe you’re misreading your team’s situation and not positioning yourself, as the “floater”, accordingly.

There’s no reason to prove how tough you are by standing inside the service box while your opponents are blasting overheads at you. Although that might not

bother you, it’s certainly not helping your team to get out of that situation. While it’s great to try and always be on offense and play aggressively as a team, it’s not always possible.

Obviously, the goal for any team in a defensive situation is to not allow the opponents to win the point. A defensive team should not necessarily be concerned with winning the point on a single shot, but rather – much like a chess match – trying to reverse the situation by looking several moves/shots ahead.

We believe becoming more comfortable as a net player, or the “floater” in doubles, is about possessing good technique in addition to playing aggressively when offensive opportunities present themselves. However,

it’s also about being able to read and recognize your team’s situation, whether offensive, neutral, or defensive, and be able to adjust and reposition on the court.

With good technique, you’ll be able to more easily develop comfort and confidence with your overall net

game – volleys and half-volleys (in both offensive and defensive situations) – and more specifically as a “floating” doubles partner. No longer will you categorize yourself a defensive or offensive doubles player, baseliner, or net player, but instead a more complete tennis player.

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Dominant Greyhounds defend title

In the end, it was seemingly only a matter of when, not if, the Carmel boys’ tennis team would wrap up

its second consecutive IHSAA state championship. And even though Park Tudor gave them a scare by taking two courts in the morning semi-finals, the Greyhounds bounced back with a 5-0 win over North Central in the afternoon championship match.

It was an historic match-up between two of the most iconic high school tennis programs in the state, played on the Panthers’ home court, and the first time the teams had ever met in the state final, thanks to a realignment of the tournament pairings by the IHSAA.

In the previous 44 years of the tournament, North Central owned a record 17 boys’ state titles. Carmel came in seeking its seventh, which would tie it with Park Tudor.

“We set our goals at the beginning of the season, and number one was a team state championship,” Greyhound coach Mike Bostic said. “We had to remind them of that (after losing two courts in the semis to Park Tudor), and they came out and rose to the occasion under very hard circumstances.”

Carmel goes back-to-back with 5-0 win over North Central

By finishing with an undefeated record for the second straight season, and losing only three points along the way, some were debating this team’s place in the history books and whether or not they could lay claim to the title of “best ever”.

“I’ll just say we’re the best team in 2011,” Bostic said. “I’ve been fortunate to have coached a lot of good teams, and every year is different. Every year is a different mix of kids against different competition and you can’t compare them; you can’t.”

Although a three-set loss earlier in the day to Park Tudor’s Brendan Tannenbaum at No. 1 singles took Mihir Kumar out of the running for the individual title, he never lost sight of the bigger picture, bouncing back with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Riley Reist in the championship match.

“One of the goals on our whiteboard in the locker room is team unity and staying together,” Kumar explained. “Everyone on our team, top to bottom, is so supportive of each other, and I know how tough it is for some of them not being able to play. That’s one of the things I think about when I have to come back and play, doing it for

them, doing it for me, and doing it for the school.”

Bostic echoed Kumar’s comment, saying the goal from the first day of practice was the team title. In spite of an unblemished record over two years and back-to-back state titles, the enormity and finality of the moment got to both as they embraced afterward.

“I’ve known Mihir since elementary school when I was his PE teacher,” an emotional Bostic recalled later. “You just can’t put into words the bond that you build with kids. And he has taken some tough losses in his four years, a lot of those on this court, but he walks off a state champion. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

By SCOTT COOPER

Carmel celebrates its second consecutive state boys’ team title.

Photos by Scott Cooper

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Mihir Kumar awaits the serve from Park Tudor’s Brendan Tannenbaum during the morning semifinal match at No. 1 singles.

Kumar’s younger brother Sameer completed an undefeated of his own with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Andrew Stutz at No. 2 singles, while Chris Quammen topped Ari Gerstein at No. 3, 6-4, 6-2.

Like Mihir, Carmel’s No. 1 doubles team of Connor Dunn and Elliott Yee saw their chances of a state doubles title vanish in a three-set loss to Park Tudor’s Sam Geier and Dan Rayl in the morning semis, but they rebounded with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Luke Lohrstorfer and Jake Minner in the final match. The No. 2 team of Charlie Emhardt and Patrick Farrell claimed the championship-winning point in a 6-2, 6-2 win over Will Reifeis and Patrick McAuley.

Following the match, Dunn was announced as the winner of the IHSAA’s mental attitude award.

The loss ended a run by North Central that saw the Panthers blitz through their tournament draw without dropping a court,

Carmel’s Sameer Kumar

prepares to return a shot

during his No. 2 singles

match against Andrew Stutz

in the state finals.

Chris Quammen was a 6-4, 6-2 winner over North Central’s Ari Gerstein at No. 3 singles in the championship match.

The Greyhounds’ No. 2 doubles pair of Patrick Farrell (left)

and Charlie Emhardt finished the season with a 23-0 record,

topped by a 6-2, 6-2 win in the final match against

North Central’s Will Reifeis and Patrick McAuley.

Park Tudor’s Brendan Tannenbaum dealt Mihir Kumar

his only loss of the season at No. 1 singles, winning 6-1, 6-7, 6-0.

Carmel’s No. 1 doubles team of Connor Dunn (foreground) and Elliott Yee came into the semifinals undefeated, but were beaten by Park Tudor’s Sam Geier and Dan Rayl in three sets. However, they came back in the afternoon championship match to beat North Central’s Jake Lohrstorfer and Jake Minner 6-1, 6-0.

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Riley Reist led North Central into the state finals round at No. 1 singles.

The sophomore went three sets in the morning semifinal to beat Center Grove’s Luke Andersen.

Photos by Scott Cooper

The Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association (IHSTeCA) released its list of All-State and All-

Academic players following the close of the boys’ season. Indianapolis metro players named to the teams include the following:

ALL-STATE SINGLESFirst Team: Luke Andersen (Center Grove); Chris Essick (Fishers); Mark Kite (Brebeuf Jesuit); Mihir Kumar and Sameer Kumar (Carmel); Riley Reist and Andrew Stutz (North Central); Brendan Tannenbaum (Park Tudor); Joe Van Meter (University); and Alex Woldmoe (Hamilton Southeastern).

Second Team: Brandon Benedict (Perry Meridian); Caleb Knust (Plainfi eld); Andrew Stark (Lawrence North); Nick Thompson (Covenant Christian); and Luke Wojtalik (Cathedral).

ALL-STATE DOUBLESFirst Team: Raghav Vasudevan/Seth Gochnauer (Brebeuf Jesuit); Elliott Yee/Connor Dunn and Charlie Emhardt/Patrick Farrell (Carmel); Zac Defonce/Akhil Kulkarni (Hamilton Southeastern); Jake Minner/Luke

Lohrstorfer (North Central); and Dan Rayl/Sam Geier (Park Tudor). Second Team: William Reifeis/Patrick McAuley (North Central); Nick Roby/Jack Rardon (Park Tudor); Shamyl Tufail/D.J. Tucek (Fishers); K.V. Ghumaan/Ryan Smith (Franklin Central); and Jeff Yu/John Sides (Zionsville).

Academic All-State – First Team: William Vanschaik (Arsenal Technical); Scott Opell (Ben Davis); Blake Shetler (Bethany Christian); Peter Ciaccia, Grant Nice, and Raghav Vasudevan (Brebeuf); Daniel Heinekamp (Brownsburg); Connor Dunn and Elliott Yee (Carmel); Nicholas Thompson (Covenant Christian); Nicholas Gibson (Fishers); Joseph Viater (Guerin Catholic); Grant Edwards (Hamilton Heights); Ross Hunter (Indian Creek); Noah Flaniken and Michael Mayer (International); Michael Moffat and Jackson Morrow (Lawrence Central); Alden Woods (Lebanon); Kendall Ryan (Mt. Vernon-Fortville); Kyle Wilhelm (New Palestine); Luke Lohrstorfer (North Central); Jack Rardon (Park Tudor); Sam Cole and Sam Harmon (Pike); Nick Cuilla and Scott Lockwood (University); and John Sides and Jeffrey Yu (Zionsville).

Coaches announce all-state team selections

including 5-0 wins over No. 2 Ft. Wayne Canterbury and No. 5 Hamilton Southeastern and a 4-1 win in the semi against No. 6 Center Grove.

“We were 54-1 in our last 55 matches,” said Panther coach Dan Brunette, with the only loss being Reist in three sets to Center Grove’s Luke Andersen in the semifinal. “We’re already excited and hungry again for next year.”

Local schools dominateThe first year of a new tournament alignment provided the expected results as more of the top teams advanced into the state finals rounds. No. 1 Carmel, No. 3 North Central, No. 4 Park Tudor and No. 6 Center Grove made up half of the final eight teams, with all four winning in the Friday quarterfinal rounds and moving in the semifinals.

The IHSAA and the Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association had sought to adjust the brackets to not only ease the travel burden on some schools later in the tournament, but also to promote a better opportunity for the top schools to compete for the state championship. In the past, Carmel, North Central, Park Tudor and Center Grove would have all fed into the North Central semi-state with only two of the four being able to advance. Junior Luke Andersen and his

Center Grove teammates saw their title chances end in a semifinal loss to North Central.

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Team Witsken gets into HalloweenHalloween‘spirit’‘spirit’Some players may think their

game is “scary”, but they had nothing on Team Witsken when it came to things going bump in the night. Rick Witsken moved his annual Halloween activities from Fortville to his program’s headquarters at Pickwick Apartments, putting together a frightful trek through his indoor tennis facility for those brave enough to try. Named the “Indy House of Terror”, Witsken said he had plenty of help from both kids within his program as well as those from the apartment community.

The director of Team Witsken Tennis himself was more than willing to help you with your backhand slice.

Checking on their sick friend were (from left) Eva Bublick, Elijah Hunt, and Jen Delia.

Photos by Scott Cooper

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Bloomington South’s Ronnie Schneider became the first player to win back-to-back singles championships since Rick Witsken in 1987 and 1988.

Da Doo Ron-Ron

An impressive year for Bloomington South’s Ronnie Schneider was capped off last month with a

second consecutive title in the IHSAA boys’ state singles tournament, the first player to repeat since Rick Witsken accomplished the feat in 1988.

The junior already came into the tournament final with wins in two USTA National Opens, along with the boys’

Schneider tops Tannenbaum in 3-setter; Park Tudor duo claims doubles title

By SCOTT COOPER

16s doubles and singles titles at the USTA Nationals in Kalamazoo, Michigan, which earned him a spot in the main singles draw of the US Open Juniors.

But all of that mattered little when he found himself down a set to Park Tudor’s Brendan Tannenbaum in the championship match.

“I had to get off to a good start in the second to give myself a chance to come all the way back,” he explained. “But I thought I played the way I wanted to in the second and third sets, hitting big forehands to his forehand and really take it to him. And to break him right off the bat in the second set really got me going.”

With his strategy refined, Schneider was able to refocus and take the remaining two sets 6-1, 6-3.

“I thought I played outstanding overall,” said Tannenbaum, who finished the season with a 25-4 record. “I think the balls may have been a little dead in the second set, which may have helped him out, but he was definitely mentally tough in the third set. He got out to a quick lead, and with him, that’s all it takes.”

“It’s been an amazing year; one I can really look back on and be very proud of,” Schneider said of his accomplishments both on and off the high school courts.

Center Grove’s Luke Andersen claimed third place in the tournament, defeating Angola’s Georg Albrecht in the consolation match. Plainfield’s Caleb Knust became the first player from his school to qualify for the state quarterfinals, but fell to Andersen in his opening round match.

Having dealt rival Carmel its first loss at No. 1 doubles all season in the semifinals of the team tournament a week earlier, Park Tudor’s Sam Geier and Dan Rayl parlayed that momentum into a doubles title with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Floyd Central.

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Brendan Tannenbaum took an early one-set lead over Schneider,

but the Park Tudor senior eventually lost

4-6, 6-1, 6-3.

Senior Sam Geier (left)and freshman Dan Rayl gave Park Tudor its third

boys’ state doubles title overall and the first

since 1998.

Photos by Scott Cooper

“We started out a little rough, but then we got it together in the second set,” Geier said. “We started getting our returns in, and that’s what it was really all about.”

It wasn’t a typical varsity pairing, with the senior Geier matched up with the freshman Rayl, but both admitted they were able to develop a good connection over the season.

“It’s definitely a different type of pressure, but I felt confident having Sam as my partner knowing he’s had experience in this position before,” Rayl said.

For the fourth year in a row, Zionsville placed a doubles team in the state quarterfinals; however, John Sides and Jeff Yu lost in their first-round match to Evansville North in three sets.

Local teams gain berth in USTA League Nationals

Seven local USTA League teams represented the

Central Indiana Tennis Association (CITA) and the Midwest Section at the National Championships this fall. They were: 2.5 Women (Switzer-IRC); 3.0 Senior Women (Switzer-IRC); 3.0 Senior Men (Bane-IRC); 4.5 Women (Shippy-West Indy); 7.0 Mixed Doubles (Gaynor-West Indy); 9.0 Mixed Doubles (Shippy-West Indy); and 8.0 Super Senior Women (Matsumoto-IRC).

In addition to those teams qualifying for Nationals, other CITA summer league adult division winners were: 3.0 Women (Switzer-IRC); 3.0 Men (Bane-IRC); 3.5 Women (Hastings-Independent); 3.5 Men (Rohrbacher-The Bridgewater Club); 4.0 Women (Hirschfeld-The Bridgewater Club); 4.0 Men (Tammen-West Indy); 4.5 Men (Broshears-Park Tudor); and 5.0 Men (Burton-Park Tudor).

Other division winners in the senior leagues were: 3.5 Women (Lett-IRC East); 3.5 Men (Bane-IRC); 4.0 Women (Pearson-Carmel Racquet Club); 4.0 Men (Perdue-IRC); and 4.5 Men (McKenna-Carmel Racquet Club).

Other mixed doubles division winners included: 6.0 (Gomez-IRC) and 8.0 (Allen-West Indy).

Additional division winners in the super seniors were: 7.0 Women (Ferguson-Russell Road Racquet Club); 7.0 Men (Bane-IRC); and 8.0 Men (Hacker-Heritage Christian School).

Center Grove’s Luke Andersen lost to Schneider in the

semifinals, but came back in the afternoon to win the consolation match for third place.

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Showcase put spotlight on players’ on-court skills By SCOTT COOPER

MORE THAN 60 high school players from throughout the Midwest had the opportunity to show off their talents to college coaches last summer during the College Tennis Showcase organized by the USTA/Midwest Section at North Central High School.

Think of it as being somewhat like a tennis version of the NFL Scouting Combine.

“Since the Midwest Section is so big, this was a great chance for players to come in and be seen by coaches from all over,” said Andrea Calvert-Sanders, the Section’s director of junior and adult competition. “Each player received

UIndy men’s and women’s tennis coach John Venter

takes in some of the action that was spread out

over several courts at

North Central High School.

Park Tudor junior Graham Reinbold played a familiar opponent, fellow Panther teammate Brendan Tannenbaum, in his first singles set.

an information session about college recruitment, and the coaches had access to the player profile forms that were submitted.”

While the Section has provided informational sessions to pro-spective college players in the past, including one last winter at Five Seasons Sports Club, the unique twist on this offering was the chance for players to show their on-court skills to college coaches from throughout the region in a series of singles and doubles matches.

“It put everyone in one central location, so in a short amount of time I saw kids from all over the Midwest,” said UIndy men’s and women’s coach

John Venter. “It’s a huge help to me in terms of convenience.”

Venter said there were certain players he was interested in seeing and still others who reached out to him in advance of the event.

“I’m not so much worried about the score,” he added. “I can see rankings and ratings on a computer, but I was looking for the little things like footwork, second serves, and how they responded to certain points or situations.”

The event drew a mix of both seniors and underclassmen, so players wore wristbands to let coaches know which ones they could talk to under college recruiting guidelines.

Carmel’s Dan Rodefeld puts a forehand back in play.

Drew Hurt returns a forehand during her first set of singles.

North Central’s Chelsea Carter, runner-up in last season’s girls’ state singles tournament, warms up her volley prior to her set.

Junior Michael Rubeiz of Carmel goes for the slice backhand during his match.

Avon’s Nick Thompson

follows through on his

first serve.

Hayley Wild was one of many looking to catch the eye of a coach at the Midwest College Tennis Showcase.

Ali Lebovits was one of 34 girls participating in the Tennis Showcase.

Photos by Scott Cooper

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CIWITL at 30

The Central Indiana Women’s Indoor Tennis League (CIWITL)

presents stay-at-home moms, wives, and working professionals with flexible schedules with a nearly perfect tennis-playing scenario: the ability to play two matches during the middle of the day, socialize during the lunch break, and still be done in time to be home for the kids or to tend to other afternoon activities.

Commonly referred to as “See-Whittle”, the daytime league was formally started in 1981 by P.A. Nilhagen out of the Indianapolis Racquet Club after five years as an informal inter-club competition.

“Our ladies wanted to play matches,” he explained of those initial matches that began in 1976 between his groups at IRC and those of good friend Kurt Ehrhardt in Kokomo. “Other clubs began to hear about them and

Women’s League has become part of the routine for many Central Indiana players

By LINDA COOK

became interested. Kendal Hammel, who was in Anderson at the time, wanted to get involved, and we also starting playing against Racquets Four on the south side.”

Those first competitions spawned a more formal four-team league that included IRC, Anderson, Racquet Four and Carmel Racquet Club, but it only included one division for ladies rated 4.5 and higher (which is now the A League).

“Everyone thought it was a suc-cessful league, so now we had more and more people wanting to get involved,” Nilhagen said of the

league that eventually expanded to include Muncie and Lafayette.

“Everyone played once, and whoever had the most wins won the league (IRC was the first champion).”

There was also a desire to expand the number of levels, so a B League was included and the league took on its new moniker shortly thereafter. Nilhagen wrote rules for the new league and presided over the annual meetings of the other club pros to review procedures, designate divisions, and address any other pertinent matters.

“The first year we had 10 rules, and now we have four pages,” Nilhagen remembered. “It seems like there was always something coming up.”

The two original levels were eventually joined by others at C (3.5), Q (3.0), and X (2.5). There has also been a change at the top, as Nilhagen handed off the coordi-nator duties in 2006 to Greg Griffey, Carmel Racquet Club manager.

Coaches meet at the end of July to plan for the upcoming season. Matches begin the third week of September and end the second week of May. This year there are 11 A teams, 22 B teams (in two divisions), 28 C teams (in three divisions), 12 Q teams, and six X teams. The clubs pay $40 a team, which covers administrative expenses. Addition-ally, each player pays $15 for court time and balls, all of which goes to the host club.

Each match is made up of six courts of doubles, except for the X league, where only three courts are played. Pros generally set the lineups, with the rules stating that they be arranged according to strength. Play begins at 11 a.m., with players having 75 minutes to complete their

It’s smiles all around following the early match between (from left) Hewook Lee, Marty McCarty, Katie Samons, and Amy Rhoades.

“This league is unusual; it’s the only one where this type of format is played. Not only has it been a tremendous income revenue stream for the clubs, but there have been a lot of friendships formed over the years.”

–CIWITL founder P.A. Nilhagen

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Denise Fry returns a backhand during her CIWITL match.

first match using no-ad scoring and a tiebreak in lieu of a third set. Following a lunch break, they’re back on the court for the start of the second round of matches.

To keep the competition fresh, teams on adjacent courts (1 and 2; 3 and 4; and 5 and 6) exchange opponents while keeping the individual doubles teams together. Afterward, the results are entered on a master score sheet which is then faxed to the league facilitator.

At season’s end, a playoff establishes the final standings, with each league champion team receiving a banner to proudly display in their club. Those results are also used to seed teams for the following season, ensuring that B and C league divisions are balanced in terms of strength.

“This league has been a great way of making the city as active as it is,” Nilhagen said. “This league is unusual; it’s the only one where this type of format is played. Not only has it been a tremendous income revenue stream for the clubs, but there have been a lot of friendships formed over the years.”

One new rule twist this season has been meeting with mixed reviews from the players. In the past, the host team provided food for the pitch-in between matches, but some pros at this summer’s annual meeting said their players were finding it too difficult to bring food to the matches. They also claimed the lunch break unnecessarily extended overall match times. Although the change

was upheld on a very close vote, some individual teams and clubs have chosen to ignore it and continue the tradition on their own.

“There’s a wonderful thing about the camaraderie of sharing food and breaking bread together,” said Carmel’s Paula Klipsch. “It’s all about the social aspect of meeting new people over eating and making friends.”

Some players who work before and after the matches prefer the food-less format since they don’t have to take the extra time to stop and buy something on the way to the match, while others agree two matches and lunch do take a big chunk out of the day. Griffey said the concerns will be addressed through a questionnaire that will be distributed at the end of the season.

Janet Niemeier (right) and Heather Douglas play during their second match of the day. Pamela Greenwalt returns a serve in her

match with partner Ilia Macdonald.

Photos by Scott Cooper

Sarah Binford (back) watches partner Nora Hiatt volley.

Allison Gritton returns a shot as she and Butler CIWITL teammate Tri Price compete against their counterparts from IRC.

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THE GARFIELD PARK COURTS were among several IndyParks tennis facilities receiving a makeover throughout the summer and fall, thanks to a $1.5 million grant from the Lilly Endowment. Improvements included

resurfacing (most with the US Open blue and green scheme), new nets and new fences. Many also received permanent lines to accommodate QuickStart tennis. Park courts that were upgraded were Broadway & 61st Street; Broad Ripple; Brookside; Ellenberger; Garfield; Greene; Krannert; Riverside; Sahm; and Tarkington. The majority of the courts were finished and ready for play by the end of August.

Players will no doubt welcome the changes to the courts at Garfield Park, a longtime staple of local tennis. The photos show the courts during reconstruction (above) and after completion.

Photos by Scott Cooper

news & notesCONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

Players whose teams made it to the state fi nals rounds were among those who participated in the annual

Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association Boys’ All-Star Match, which took place October 29 on the campus of DePauw University.

Named to the Northeast Squad were Connor Dunn of team state champ Carmel, state doubles champ Sam Geier of Park Tudor, and state singles runner-up Brendan Tannenbaum of Park Tudor. They were joined on the team by Brandon Dubuque (Marion); Luke Lohrstorfer (North Central); Jake Minner (North Central); Reid Imel (Norwell); Akhil Kulkarni (Hamilton Southeastern); and Ethan Grove (Delta).

On the Northwest Squad were Leonard Matthews III (Merrillville); Ryan Heuer (Munster); Nicholas Thompson

(Covenant Christian); Daniel Heinekamp (Brownsburg); David Hollis (West Lafayette); Carter Perry (LaPorte); Matt Calderon and Noah Flaniken (International School); and Daniel Smith (Crown Point).

Members of the Southeast Squad were Pete Andres (Our Lady of Providence); Jacob Loveland, Nick Quinkert, Luke Gillenwater, and David Williams (Silver Creek); Ryan Smith (Franklin Central); Jarret Oldham (Floyd Central); Matt Fox (South Central); and Taylor Kinney (Indian Creek).

On the Southwest Squad were Ethan Claretto and Chris Holcomb (Terre Haute North); Caleb Knust (Plainfi eld); Brandon Davis and Brandon Bauer (Castle); Tony Walterman and Conner Whiteside (Center Grove); Austin Foster (Terre Haute South); and Trent Wallace (Gibson Southern).

State champs among those competing in HS All-Star match

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Players put ‘Rally’ in the pinkpink!3rd annual event raises funds for breast cancer research

Alice MacPhail, Kerrie Harris and Holly Horton (left to right) talk about their recently-completed set. (Photo by Scott Cooper)

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About $1,400 was raised during the third annual 'Rally for the Cure' at Five Seasons Sports Club. The event was one of several activities

sponsored by the club during the month of October to generate funds to benefit breast cancer research. The ‘Rally’ included a chance for players to play doubles with Five Seasons teaching pros, with a dinner and auction afterward.

Five Seasons Sports Club teaching pros took the court with local players for the fundraiser. (Photo by Jennifer Reinbold)

Maureen Winningham (right) celebrates a winning point with Marilyn Atkinson.

(Photo by Scott Cooper)

Pink was the offi cial color of the day for the third ‘Rally for the Cure’

(Photo by Jennifer Reinbold)

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Staying positive

The young man mostly kept his head down, allowing only his eyes to do a quick sweep of the room, as he entered the

eastside Moose Lodge on a sun-splashed day last month. Even though his arrival had been eagerly awaited, most of those standing in line at the buffet or talking among themselves had no idea he’d arrived until someone shouted, “Brad’s here!”

As low-key as he tried to stay, it wasn’t going to work. Not today, anyway, for two reasons. First of all, Bradley Humphrey was the guest of honor at this event, one of many he’s shared with hundreds of friends, relatives and well-wishers. And, secondly, it’s hard to blend in when you’re in a wheelchair.

In wake of accident, Brad Humphrey motivated to ‘keep going’

By SCOTT COOPER

For three seasons, Humphrey was among those instrumental in reviving the boys’ tennis program at Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet School. And as the Tigers’ number one singles player, he became the de facto team leader.

This school year, after another summer as an instructor with the Indianapolis National Junior Tennis League (NJTL), Humphrey was looking forward to his senior season. But, all that changed on August 13 when a sudden gust of wind ahead of a storm front collapsed the stage rigging onto several hundred spectators at the Indiana State Fairgrounds who had gathered to hear the band Sugarland.

The accident left seven people dead and dozens injured including Humphrey, who was positioned at the front of the stage and suffered a paralyzing spinal injury. He has no recollection of the accident and only remembers waking up in the hospital afterward.

He eventually left the hospital the last week of September and actually returned to school on October 24. But, before that, he made a return to the tennis court, visiting his teammates at a practice and even getting the chance to hit a few balls.

Brad’s absence from the tennis court was yet another hurdle for the undermanned Attucks team to tackle. Coach James Garner, who asked for a moment of silence on Brad’s behalf prior to the team’s first match of the season against Speedway, was a regular visitor at the hospital and helped with some of Brad’s rehabilitation assignments.

“One of the first things I did when I saw him was tell him this wasn’t getting him out of

AT A FUNDRAISER at the eastside Moose Lodge, Humphrey was not only ready to return home, but also looking forward to his upcoming return to school. (Photo by Scott Cooper)

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ATTUCKS COACH JAMES GARNER and his team observe a moment

of silence in support of Brad prior to their first match of the

season against Speedway. (Photo by Scott Cooper)

PLAYERS from the schools participating in the John Shirley Invitational tournament at North Central High School signed a card that was later presented to Brad. (Photo by Sue Tannenbaum)

HUMPHREY’S PLAY at the No. 1 singles spot was one of the cornerstones in

the rebuilding of the tennis program at Crispus Attucks.

(Photo by Scott Cooper)

tennis practice,” Garner recalled. “So I brought him some tennis magazines and left them there so he could work on his mental practice while he was there.”

“It was really good,” Brad said of the coach’s support. “He was telling me to keep a positive attitude and keep going.”

Family and friends have helped to organize several fundraisers to help offset Brad’s medical bills, and volunteers made sure his home was accessible once he was ready to leave the hospital. Although there are still ongoing doctor appointments, Brad’s rehab has been reduced to just two therapy sessions a week.

“I’ve been very grateful,” Brad said of the outpouring of support. “People are helping out, and it’s very nice.”

The high school tennis community also came together to support Brad. The Park Tudor boys’ tennis team not only donned green shirts in support of Brad, but gathered signatures on a poster board from the players who participated in the John Shirley Invitational at North Central High School in late August. A gift basket also came courtesy of the tennis team at University High School.

Part of the philosophy Garner has instilled in his team kept Brad going through the initial days in the hospital, and still keeps him motivated today. In fact, Brad has already returned to the tennis court thanks to Julie Fritz and the wheelchair tennis program she coordinates through the Indianapolis Com-munity Tennis Association.

“I just have to keep that positive attitude and not give up,” he said.

A team from Central Indiana representing the USTA/Midwest Section finished third in the USTA Junior Team Tennis 14 & Under (Advanced)

National Championships in Surprise, Arizona last month. They finished behind teams from the USTA/Southern and USTA/Texas sections.

Members of the team dubbed the ‘Racquet Heads’ were John Armstrong, Alex Bertolini, Kiersten Carlson, Caroline Combs, Brigitte Hodge, JJ Kroot, Claire Reifeis and JT Wynne. Head coach for the group was Hector Clavijo, and he was assisted by Jenny Reifeis and Cheryl Armstrong.

The team held a fundraiser earlier last month at the Indianapolis Racquet Club to help defer some of their travel costs.

The CITA Junior Team Tennis 14 & under team at its fundraiser. From left are: Claire Reifeis, Caroline Combs, Kiersten Carlson, Alex Bertolini, JT Wynne, JJ Kroot and John Armstrong. Not pictured is Brigitte Hodge.

‘Racquet Heads’ take 3rd atJr. Team Nationals

Photos by Doug McSchooler

This page is compliments of the Indianapolis Junior Tennis Development Fund

Alex Bertolini hits a backhand during a fundraiser for the Racquet Heads.

Alex Bertolini hits a backhand during a fundraiser for the Racquet Heads.

Claire Reifeis and team parent Debbie Carlson talk during a break.

JT Wynne returns a forehand during a fundraiser at IRC for the CITA Junior Team Tennis team.