Champ level players travel to Plano

Plano, Texas played host to the championship qualified players of all ages from all over the state this past weekend. Led by coaches Brookes, Boyce, and Schoenmakers, the ATA team traveled north to the Plano Fall Championship Major Zone, poised for a positive weekend.

Raymond Traweek ran through his boys’ 16s Red draw, taking the title without surrendering a set. In the finals Traweek faced Christian Kim, where he found his fifth win, 6-1, 6-4. After a first round loss, Garrett Callen bounced back to beat Byron Koonce, the number eight seed, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 and earn a spot in the consolation quarterfinals.

In the boys’ 16s Blue draw, Ryan Burak, the number eight seed, beat Austin Megli 6-1, 6-3 to advance to the round of 16 where he fell to the eventual champion in two tight sets, 6-4, 6-3.

After falling in the first round, Breck Spencer fought to win four matches and claim the consolation championship of his boys’ 14s White draw. In the finals he faced T. Liu, taking the title by a score of 6-0, 6-1.

In the boys’ 14s Blue draw, Greyson Brilliant beat C. Galvin 7-5, 6-0 to earn a spot in the semifinals. Neel Kumar outlasted C. Kantor in a tough three set match, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals. Daniel Howell beat Z. Wooden 6-3. 6-1 before meeting the number one seed the next round. Pierce Kelley played two tough matches earning valuable tournament experience.

In the girls’ 14s Red draw, Carli Knezevich fought hard to earn a three set victory first round, then rallied to win two more matches to reach the semifinals. Smrithi Hariharan defeated E. Allen 6-2, 6-1, to earn a spot in the quarterfinals. Allie Carlisle beat B. Plata, the number three seed, 6-2, 6-0 to reach the semifinals and log her third win of the tournament.
"Allie had a huge breakthrough this tournament,” coach Brooks said. “I was very proud of her. She executed what we have been working on in practice and had an exceptional attitude. She played the best tennis I have seen her play, and showed that she is definitely ready to do some damage in girls 14s.”

Meghan O’Malley competed hard in two tough matches in her girls’ 12s Red draw, earning useful exposure at her young age.

It was no surprise to the coaching staff when the ATA junior athletes earned three spots in semifinals and a tournament championship while in Plano. Success is not earned the weekend of the tournament, rather in the commitment to preparation that precedes the tournament, and these athletes are a perfect example.