This past weekend, with the help of MaddenCo, the Evansville Tennis Center hosted its third and final USTA National Junior Tournament of the year. This event, similar to January and March, was a National Level 3- meaning it is the third highest national level tournament the USTA offers. However, this past weekend brought both the Boys’ 18 age division and the Girls’ 18 age division. Players from across the United States traveled to Evansville to compete and at Wesselman Park. Several college coaches were present to watch some of the nations top players.
Local standout Aaron Thompson (Mater Dei) was the only local player originally accepted based on ranking, but Evan Bottorff (Castle) and Caleb Buckman (Owensboro, KY) played as well after accepting entrance via an alternate list. Thompson advanced to the second round, only to lose to the seventh seeded Jake Beasley (Cumming, GA) 6-4,6-1.
Allen (left) Hand (right)
Thompson recovered and won his third match against Ian Altenburg (Chaska, MN) 6-4,6-4. Thompson eventually made it to the semi-finals of the consolation draw only to lose in three sets to Patrick Lazo (Alpharetta, GA) 1-6, 7-6(8), 1-0(9).
Evan Bottorff and his doubles partner, Patrick Fletchall (Carmel, IN) advanced to the semi-finals where they lost to eventual champions, Jake Beasley and Stewart Block (Bradenton, FL) 8-6.
Buckman, who lives in Owensboro, and often trains at ETC, lost in the first round against eighth seeded Grahan Conron (Bradenton, FL) 4-6, 7-5, 1-0(5). His
Duo (left) Fletchall (right)
second match was just as close and competitive. Taylor Streda (Parkland, FL) defeated Buckman 5-7, 6-4, 1-0(8).
Kollie Allen (Lombard, IL) entered the weekend as the top ranked girl with a National Ranking of 31. Allen would prove to be the best player in the draw. Allen advanced to the finals by walkover when Sophia Reddy (Eden Prairie, MN) withdrew due to illness. Allen met Clarissa Hand (Morrestown, NJ) in the finals. Hand beat Emma Jackson (La Grange Park, IL) 7-6(9), 6-2 in the semi-finals. Allen eventually beat Hand 6-4, 6-3 Monday afternoon to take the Singles Championship.
Unseeded Natalie Moyer (Kalamazoo, MI) and Anna Smith (Venetia, PA) beat fourth seeded Bozonvic (La Grange, IL) and Henry (Franklin, TN) 8-5 to secure a spot in the Girls’ Doubles Semi-finals. In the semi-finals they played top seeded Sophia
Beasley (left) Block (right)
Reddy and Zoe Taylor (Long Grove, IL). Moyer and Smith won 9-8(8). On the other half of the draw the sister duo of Christina Hand and Clarissa Hand routinely made their way to the finals. Hand and Hand beat Moyer and Smith 8-5 to capture the Doubles Championship Monday morning.
Boy’s doubles played true to the seeds with the top seeded team of Bill Duo (Portage, MI) and Lucas Horve (Forsyth, IL) met second seeded Jake Beasley and Stewart Block. Beasley and Block eventually topped Duo and Horve 9-8(7) to take home the Doubles title.
Hand/Hand (left) Moyer/Smith (right)
Top seeded Bill Duo, ranked #11 nationally, won cruised to the finals never dropping more than five games in any match. Fifth seeded, Patrick Fletchall entered the tournament ranked #187 beat both the number two and four seeded players on his way to the Boys Finals. Fletchall eventually upset Duo winning 5-7, 6-2, 1-0(4) to take home the singles championship.
Results: To see final and complete draws please click on the event.