Courtside Club Honored For Wheelchair Efforts
The Courtside Club was honored for its efforts on Jan. 30 at USTA NorCal’s Aces Awards with the Organizational Service Award to Wheelchair Tennis.
Over the past six years, Courtside has raised over $70,000 for the local South Bay Smash Wheelchair Tennis Team, headed up by Sharon Kelleher Walsh and Bill Jacobsen. Additionally, members Bonnie Middlebrook and Erin Perrucci led a fundraising effort to purchase four sports wheelchairs for the Far West Wheelchair Tennis Association, while Courtside also hosted mixers between the South Bay Smash team and various members from the club.
In other Courtside news, blue-chipper Connor Farren reached the Round of 32 at the Orange Bowl in December, defeating unseeded Ryoto Tachi in the first-round. Farren — the tournament’s No. 16 seed — later fell to eventual 16s semifinalist Karue Sell. Farren, who turned 15 in the fall, lost an opening set tiebreaker before going down in straight sets 7-6 (3), 6-3. A five-star recruit according to TennisRecruiting.net, Farren continues to follow in his father Mark’s footsteps. Mark Farren was a junior at Courtside 25 years ago and went on to star at the University of San Diego. Still just a high school freshman, Farren has already expressed interest in three Pac-10 programs: Stanford, UCLA and USC.
Blossom Hill Alums Embark On Collegiate Careers
Two Blossom Hill Aces alums kicked off their collegiate careers last month -San Jose State’s Sandra Florea and University of Texas at San Antonio’s Nicci Yvanovich. Florea went 1-1 in the Spartans’ season-opening dual-match win over CSU-Bakersfield, including a key 8-6 doubles effort, while Yvanovich’s squad dropped a 7-0 loss to North Texas.
Both enter their freshman seasons fresh off a NorCal team tennis title for the Blossom Hill Aces’ 18s team — a 5-4 win over Laguna Creek a year after losing to LC in the ‘08 final. The Aces’ 18s team was joined by head coach Gene Fortino’s second 15s team in the last decade, which went on to not only win a team title, but also a win in the state’s Gar Glenney Cup final. High school sophomore Samantha Polayes becomes the longest tenured member of the Aces, who have won five NorCal team titles in the last six years.
“She’s been at 18s since 2005, she really represents a good team player,” said Fortino. “She’s very highly ranked, but she still likes playing on a team.”
Aces All Around: USTA Honors Sunnyvale TC
Thanks to nine newly paved courts and some fresh bathroom paint, the largest Community Tennis Association in the U.S.- Sunnyvale TC — was awarded USTA NorCal’s Awards Celebrating Excellence in Service (ACES) honor for League Facility of the Year. The Club resurfaced six courts just in time for the Districts in August, then worked with the city to upgrade the public restrooms-paving the way to the prestigious honor.
“Because of the push of the club and city we got this done,” said club president Geoff Ainscow.
UC-Santa Cruz’s Marc Vartabedian
It took two years for Marc Vartabedian to break into the singles lineup at UC-Santa Cruz.
“It was his junior year,” recalls Banana Slugs head coach Bob Hansen. “He lost his first singles match.”
Except he didn’t just lose it. He unraveled. A 0-6, 6-3, 6-1 implosion that punctuated a 9-0 shutout loss for UCSC at home to Fresno Pacific.
“But then,” Hansen pauses, adding just the right amount of dramatic effect, “He didn’t lose again.”
Vartabedian is unassuming. Which is tough to casino online do when you’re a 6-foot-3 collegiate tennis player. He isn’t vocal, isn’t imposing, isn’t-wasn’t ever-a blue-chip anything. He was a three-star recruit out of Los Alamitos H.S. ranked No. 398 nationally.
“I had major holes in my game,” Vartabedian admits.
But for everything Marc Vartabedian isn’t, for everything he wasn’t, he is-and has been for some time now a winner.
“One of the really fortunate things for him was that in 2007 he made the doubles lineup,” Hansen says. “He wasn’t in the mix with singles, but he developed his doubles game.”
In fact, Hansen notes Vartabedian was last on his singles depth chart. As a freshman, though, he was a national champion. As a sophomore, an All-American. By ‘08, he was part of the No. 1 doubles team in the country.
“And I was not a huge fan of their game,” Hansen continues. “I didn’t think they had enough punch.” Again, a long pause for effect. “They made me eat my words.”
Two national championships later, Vartabedian is now atop the singles lineup.
“My singles game started to come together,” he says. “I filled those holes. I started to play the points that suited my style. I started finding my game, finding what I was good at.”
It’s safe to say, he’s found it. Never was it more evident than last year’s D3 national semi. Tied with No. 2-seed Emory 4-4, Vartabedian gutted out a 6-4, 6-4 career-definer that Hansen remembers photographically.
“The game he served to close it out, he had five enormous serves,” Hansen says. “Every first serve was on the line. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. He was exceptional in that whole run. It’s a huge challenge to be all of a sudden looked at to lead the team. But he likes the pressure. He’s won a lot, it’s not going to be easy, but I don’t think he’ll be deterred.”
Winners rarely are.
Chamisal to Host U.S. Open National Playoffs
Salinas’ Chamisal Tennis & Fitness Club will host the U.S. Open National Playoffs NorCal Qualifying Tournament, May 17-23.
The U.S. Open National Playoffs, which will provide an opportunity for all players ages 14 and older to earn a wildcard into the ‘10 U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament.
The event at Chamisal will be one of 16 sectional qualifying tournaments held throughout the country. The champions from each sectional tournament will advance to the U.S. Open National Playoffs, which will be held in conjunction with the U.S. Open Series this summer.
“We’re so excited that the USTA has opened up the opportunity for all tennis players to participate in our sport’s greatest spectacle,” said USTA NorCal ED Steve Leube.
USTA Northern California US Open National Qualifier website.
Chamisal TC tennis director Scott Krueger will be organizing the event — the first of its kind. But Chamisal is no stranger to heavy-hitting events. The club has also played host to the Stahl Elite 16 Invitational, Sam Linder $5,000 Open, the Women’s National Hard Court Championships and the Adult League Sectionals.
For info, visit usopen.org. The U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament will be held Aug. 24-27 in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.
Eagle Fustar Designated Regional Training Center
Eagle Fustar Tennis, which operates on the campuses of Santa Clara University, West Valley College and Mission College, and is headed by Brian Eagle and Nick Fustar, has been designated a USTA Certified Regional Training Center as the USTA continues to expand its efforts to develop champions.
“Eagle Fustar has done a wonderful job of developing talent since its inception,” said USTA Player Development’s Martin Blackman. “This partnership was established with the invaluable support and cooperation of the USTA NorCal section, led by Margie Peterman, Steve Leube and Summer Verhoeven.”
One of the Eagle Fustar juniors experiencing tremendous success is Eric Johnson, who is coached by Fustar and Ogidi Obi. Last month, he won the 18s at the Copper Bowl in Tucson, Ariz. In addition to winning a gold ball in doubles, Eric won three ITF events.
“We’re excited to have the privilege to work with the USTA in developing some of the most talented junior tennis players in Northern California,” said Fustar, a former Fresno State standout.
Eagle Fustar will help identify talent in players as young as six-years-old, run programs using the QuickStart format and host QuickStart tournaments for players eight-and-under and 10-and-under.
For additonal information, visit eaglefustar.com.
In Brief
Former Fresno State star Jelena Pandzic is back in action. The Croat has announced that she will launch her comeback with NorCal-based Eagle Fustar Tennis. In ‘07, Pandzic was one of the biggest movers in pro tennis, winning four straight $10,000 events and winning 26 straight matches and skyrocketing to No. 262. Pandzic reached a career-high of No. 136 the next year after qualifying and winning a round at Roland Garros. Her ‘09 season was cut short due to a calf injury, but after months of rehab, she’s ready to take the court again.
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