Junior Nationals at Beacon Hill Club, NJ – Patty Hogan reported

Patty Hogan reported on the event for PTM

For the 10th year in a row, Patty Hogan and the Beacon Hill Club hosted the APTA Junior Nationals. The growth of junior programs throughout the country is evident with a record 244 junior participants this year! Although half of the players came from New Jersey, the total represented six states and four different APTA Regions.

The event was sponsorship by Marsh, Viking Athletics, the APTA Junior Development Fund, the New Jersey Men’s Platform Tennis Association, and the New Jersey Women’s Platform Tennis League. Bulletworks also sponsored the event by providing fun favors for all players.

It would be impossible to stage a tournament this size without a dedicated corps of volunteers. Thanks go out to: Patty Hogan, Marjorie Hodson, Sheryl Barcic, Bob Considine, Susan Penney, Terry Doran, Steve Bromley, Scott Slobin, Kent Chalmers, Drew Broderick, Clay Bibbee, Tim McAvoy, Jim Clark, Anthony Fleming, Kendall Osbourne, Chris Stagg, Sarah Krieger, Leila Safford, Laurie Hissey, Ron Cummins, Mark Bliss and all the Beacon Hill members who pitched in.

Thanks also to the New Jersey clubs and their members who loaned their courts for the afternoon: Beacon Hill Club and its helpful staff, Canoe Brook Country Club, Echo Lake Country Club, Essex Fells Country Club, Montclair Golf Club, Morris County Golf Club, Morristown Field Club, Noe Pond Club, Racquets Club of Short Hills, Short Hills Club, Spring Brook Country Club and Summit Tennis Club.

The expanded Girls 10 & Under division provided stiff competition, with the finals featuring a rematch of the New Jersey Junior Open champions and runners-up. Once again, Kendall Smith and Paige Moriarty topped Erin and Megan Hines in a match that featured great sportsmanship.

Phoebe Wilks and Ariana Ross took the Girls 12 & Under medals home, with a victory over Emily Schade and Hayley Snyder.

The 14 & Under Girls finals were a rematch of the New England Junior Open, with Margaret Souther and Rachel Whitney once again victorious over Lindsay Wheeler and Carly Fink. Lindsay and Carly won the Girls 14s at the Fox Meadow Junior Open to start the season. Margaret and Rachel were Girls 12 & Under champions two years ago.

The Girls 18 & Under title was a battle between the 14 & Under Champions from the last two years. Stephanie Brown and Christie Pollin, the 2005 champs, defeated last year’s 14s winners Hana Bowers and Karen Cash at the end of a long afternoon of play.

The Boys 10 & Under division showcased our youngest talent, with 25 teams entered, including the tournament’s youngest competitor, 6-year-old Mac Bredahl. With this group on the horizon, we know that junior paddle is on the rise! Jake Colville/Stephen Zabrowski defeated Bobby Clarke and Gerard Smith to earn the gold. Bobby and Gerard are Long Island Junior Open champions.

Tyler Kratky and CJ Purse followed their wins at the Fox Meadow Junior Open and the New England Junior Open and the New Jersey Junior Open Boys 14s with a win over NJ Junior Open champs Jameson Smith and Tim Mulrenan in the Boys 12 & Under division.

The Boys 14 & Under title was successfully defended by Nick Newhouse and Jason Ottomano, who defeated last year’s 12 & Under champs, Ryan Hissey and Scott Safford, in the medal round. In 2005, Nick Newhouse won the Boys 12 title and in 2004, Hissey/Safford took home the 10 & Under gold.

The 18 & Under Boys event was a battle between Hallet Nichol/Chris Kelley and Reid Coopersmith/Evan Zimmer. Nichol and Kelly were finalists at the Long Island Junior Open and Coopersmith/Zimmer were finalists at Fox Meadow and New Jersey. Hallet and Chris won an entertaining match to claim the top prize at Junior Nationals.

All champions received APTA gold medals, a new Viking paddle and a Viking director’s chair imprinted with the title “National Champion.” Runners-up received APTA silver medals and a new Viking paddle.

Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 8, Issue 4, February, 2007