BY CHRIS COLE, SPECIAL PROGRAMS VICE PRESIDENT
Once again, mixed doubles teams of ALTA represented the league well at the Summer Mixed Doubles Mixer.
The players displayed excellence in the areas of talent, grit and outstanding sportsmanship. Each team was comprised of a man and a woman at least 18 years of age and an ALTA member in good standing.
Thirty teams participated in the event and were grouped in high and low levels for A, B and C divisions. With the split within each division, every team had an equal opportunity to win the division title. Play consisted of two rounds of six-game pro sets. Each division had champion and finalist teams, and each team received coveted tennis ball trophies.
We look forward to seeing everyone in a few days at the Fall Senior Mixed Doubles Mixer being held at Bitsy Grant Tennis Center.
JCL Players Are Up to the Challenge
BY DONNA GILLI, JUNIOR CHALLENGE LADDER VICE PRESIDENT
The 2018 ALTA Junior Challenge Ladder kicked off on a beautiful day at the end of August at Sandy Springs Tennis Center. Twelve courts were donated to ALTA for the JCL players to use for fun match play.
More than 50 players and their parents were on hand for some social tennis, snacks and catching up with each other after a long summer. The parents were invited to learn about the ladder and ask questions of ladder managers Patricia Winfrey and Brenda Maddaleni, and the JCL vice president.
The girls’ ladder and the boys’ ladder are now underway with more than 100 players. ALTA proudly has some of the best junior tournament players in the Atlanta area competing on our ladders. The season runs 14 weeks total, ending on Dec. 7. There will be a banquet and awards ceremony in early December to finish the year. The 2019 ladder will begin registration at the end of next July and the ladders will open again next August.
We celebrated the 2017 ladder season this summer by introducing the top 10 boys and girls on center court at the BB&T Atlanta Open on ALTA Day.
Earlier that same day, more than 20 JCL players enjoyed a tennis clinic with Wayne Bryan on the BB&T Atlanta Open practice courts. Many of the clinic players were some of our younger members from the ladder getting a taste of the tournament scene. We were thrilled to see John Isner, Ryan Harrison, Frances Tiafoe, Hyeon Chung and other pros who were warming up on the adjacent courts.
Mike Bryan also stopped by our clinic to help his dad with instruction. He offered the ladder players his best advice and allowed all of us a chance for autographs and pictures. Bryan says he believes doubles play is the best practice to improve volleys and to quicken reflexes.
Despite begin busy with school this fall, hundreds of matches already have been scheduled and played. We have implemented tennis software this season that has streamlined the process of making and receiving challenges. I have heard of great sportsmanship among players accommodating others who needed to play at a certain time or location to fit tight schedules. Most players will complete 12 challenge matches during the season, plus participate in JCL events and round robins.
Many parents have offered compliments on what a nice group of young players we have on the ALTA Junior Challenge Ladder. This keeps me busy sending T-shirts and prizes to players who have completed certain requirements or who have gone “above and beyond” in sportsmanship – a very good problem to have! Keep up the good work, and I will see you on the courts.
Top 10 girls 2017
- Peyton Lee
- Jessie Young
- Elizabeth Goines
- Hanna Giddings
- Juliana Mascagni
- Caitlyn Munson
- Kylin Sadler
- Samanatha Hogan
- Alessandra Crump
- Jada Young
Top 10 boys 2017
- Suhas Krishnan
- Jonathan Mascagni
- Garrett Johns
- Britton Johnston
- Tres Gonzalez
- Jack Sorel
- Alejandro Moreno-Latorre
- John Lasanajak
- Niles Rachal
- Paul Roberts
GIRLS JUNIOR CHALLENGE LADDER STARTING POSITIONS
1 Jessie Young
2 Sarah Yang
3 Juliana Mascagni
4 Lauren Khou
5 Kavya Patel
6 Kate Sharabura
7 Jada Young
8 Jo-Yee Chan
9 Mai Nguyen
10 Germany Davis
11 Leeza Kurtz
12 Neena Katauskas
13 Jaala Screws
14 Davonda Smith
15 Grace Pietkiewicz
16 Nina Zhao
17 Kaitlyn Chalker
18 Michelle Jones
19 Jonay Brittain
20 Alexandria Mann
21 Alexandra Alterman
22 Madison Andrews
23 Toni Rachal
24 Daniella Michelle Clayborn
25 Maya Steines
26 Mara Opre
27 Fatimah Butt
28 Kimaya Paranjpe
29 McKenzie Oliver
30 McKenzie Shelton
31 Lauren Griffin
32 Lauren Heybroek
33 Danielle Annette Clayborn
34 Ama White
35 Alyssa Davis
36 Tori Pride
37 Sydney Brantley
38 Alyssa Khou
39 Jensen Diianni
40 Katherine Grados
41 Prisha Mody
42 Lailah Rahman
43 Teri Brantley
44 Emily Oleson
45 Claire Giddings
46 Megan McKinnon
47 Trinity Porter
48 Lauryn Swatski
49 Emma Zhou
50 Deekshu Devarasetty
51 Athithi Ayyappan
52 Elle Honeycutt
53 Sofia Mulkey
54 Isabel Mulkey
55 Ella Malecki
56 Lyla Malecki
BOYS JUNIOR CHALLENGE LADDER STARTING POSITIONS
1 Jonathan Mascagni
2 Garrett Johns
3 John Lasanajak
4 Niles Rachal
5 Alejandro Moreno-Latorre
6 Robert Bauer
7 Paul Roberts II
8 Jake Young
9 Andrew Pietkiewicz
10 Blake Stoddard
11 Luca Davidorf
12 Freddie Lawrence
13 Harrison Kim
14 Asa Wong
15 Melvin Gibson
16 Paul Fridman
17 Solomon Crouch
18 Braxton Wright
19 Reese Philip Hilsen
20 Nicholas Vincent
21 Blake Hilsen
22 Matteo Maddaleni
23 Aidan Atwood
24 Parker McGowan
25 Jordan Winfrey
26 Josiah Blocus
27 Daniel Cowan
28 Stephen Zhu
29 Evan Le
30 Mark Arshavsky
31 James Weber
32 Samhith Aravind
33 Ethan Swatski
34 Harold Simmons
35 Parth Mody
36 London Vasilescu
37 Jaden Wong
38 Josue Blocus
39 Krushna Malapati
40 Matthew Marino
41 Nicolas Silva
42 Collin Sheppard
43 Kennedy Reardon
44 Kellen Simmons
45 Cooper Davis
46 Chetan Challa
47 James Cowan
48 JP Lutkuaskas
49 Harrison Kemp
50 Teo Johnson
51 Alexander Badircu
52 Kyler Kodinsky
