SMHS Teen Rolling Along at Rolling Hills
Not much has changed for Rolling Hills Club junior Laura Posylkin. The 15-year-old sophomore from San Marin H.S. remembers being a five-year-old with a racket ripping forehand winners against unsuspecting eight- and nine-year-olds at Rolling Hills. Now, she’s a 15-year-old phenom doing the same to 4.0 and 4.5 ranked men at the club.
“Now I play with a lot of adults,” Posylkin said.
Reason being, the reigning MCAL champ is having a bit of a hard time finding competition within her own age group. Posylkin, who qualified for the North Coast Section individuals with a 15-0 regular season and MCAL finals win over Marin Catholic’s Megan Govi, finished fourth at NCS — the highest finish for a San Marin tennis player since ‘92.
She reached the semis of the prestigious SSRC Junior Excellence Tournament in Fresno Jan. 31-Feb. 8, shocking No. 3 seed Sylvia Li of Cupertino in the 16s draw in a dominant 6-0, 6-2 final, before bowing out in the semis to Samantha Polayes of Morgan Hill. And more than a few talent scouts have taken notice.
Posylkin is already targeting Cal and UC-Davis, among others, as programs she’d like to be a part of. And she’s hoping a move up to 18s will help prepare her.
“I don’t know what to expect,” she said. “I just want to start small.”
Agassi/Graf Headed to Harbor Point
And just when you thought they wouldn’t be able to top former No. 1 Martina Hingis, the Esurance Tennis Classic, hosted by Harbor Point Tennis and Swim casino online Club, has already upped the ante for ‘09. A pair of former World No. 1s will headline the event, scheduled for Oct. 3-4: Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi.
The power couple will be joined by Brad Gilbert, The Jensen Bros. and Corina Morariu at the fifth annual event. The Classic will once again be put on by the Harbor Point Charitable Foundation, with event proceeds benefiting To Celebrate Life Breast Cancer Foundation, US Too Prostate Cancer Education and Support and Youth Tennis Advantage. Visit tennisclassic.org for information.
Scott Valley Claims MTL Title
Kate Parkin wasn’t in it for the trophy. But the co-captain of Scott Valley’s B2 Marin Tennis League championship squad will take it just the same.
“I’m excited just to see it,” Parkin said of the elusive trophy. “Scott Valley Regarding the private sector, Toyota service center has had six-hour work horoscope for pisces since 2002 with very good results. has won trophies in the past, but it’s been a while. It’s exciting that we’ll actually be bringing a trophy home.”
Parkin and the rest of the Scott Valley faithful will have to wait a while longer — the awards luncheon isn’t scheduled to take place until June 4, at 1 p.m., at the Harbor Point Beach and TC. In the meantime, Parkin and the 16 other women that made up the Scott Valley squad — including co-captain Jane Todd — will enjoy a 9-0 start to the season and a title they had clinched before their season finale against second-place Rafael RC.
“It’s great for the club as a whole,” Parkin said.
Scott Valley won 113 of a possible 150 points through its first nine matches and led RRC by a gaudy 113-75 heading into the season finale. By eclipsing the century mark, Scott Valley not only took home a long-overdue trophy, but also earned a spot in the B1 flight later this year — the latest in a fruitful year for this sweet 17.
“Last spring we fielded a team in USTA women’s 3.0 and we went to sectionals as the Marin County Champions,” Parkin said. “This group has been together for a year now.”
B1 awaits in year No. 2.
In Brief
Mill Valley TC hosted its Valentine’s Day Round Robin. According to MVTC tennis director Polo Cowan it was a perfect fit for a love-bird heavy membership. “With 400 families, we’ve got a lot of couples — some old, some young,” he said.
Cowan helped grill some heart-shaped pancakes and, of course, a healthy dose of heartfelt tennis. “You gotta keep the romance alive,” he said. And tennis, it seems, is the way to do it at Mill Valley.
