Junior Nationals – 256 players!

The statistics: 36 volunteers, 4 APTA regions, 5 states, 8 championship teams, 15 clubs, 55 courts, and 2807 games played!

They came by car, plane and train. They drove themselves or arrived with parents and siblings in tow. They returned from college to renew old rivalries or tried competition for the first time. They arrived with hopes of a title, or just a fun day of paddle. More than 250 junior platform tennis enthusiasts participated in this year’s Junior Nationals. All of them had a fun day of play. Sixteen of them went home with gold medals.

A few years ago we made a prediction that the future of platform tennis looked bright. Following this year’s Junior Nationals we realize that it is not just bright, it is absolutely brilliant! For the second year in a row we saw an increase in the number of participants, with a record 256 juniors entered in the tournament this year. The level of play is high and the level of sportsmanship just as high. These kids really get it!

Following check-in, lunch and a group photo, the various age groups dispersed to sites around the area for round robin play. Top finishers from these round robins advanced to bracket play to determine who would compete for the medals.

Congratulations to gold medalists: Chris Kelley & Hallet Nichol (18 & Under) and Stephanie Brown & Christie Pollin (Girls 18 & Under) who were each repeat champions this year; former 12 & Under Champs Tyler Kratky & CJ Purse (14 & Under) and Corey Delaney & Nicki Ross (Girls 14 & Under); Gardner Tregellas & Will Burger (12 & Under) and Jamie Jones & Stephanie Webster (Girls 12 & Under); and Liam Breen & Harry Colville (10 & Under) and Emily Simonds & Cami Adajian (Girls 10 & Under).

Silver medalists: Jay Schwab & Cole Barris, Kate Macauley & Karen Cash, Ryan Hissey & Scott Safford, Kelsey Jones & Samantha Webster, Dan Adajian & Peter Simonds, Hannah Kratky & Isabel Lee, Bobby Clarke & Robbie Gavigan and Kendall Codey & Jessica Millar.

Financial help came from Viking Athletics, the APTA, New Jersey Women’s Platform Tennis League and the anonymous. Their donations kept the entry fees low and the quality high for this tournament.

Special thanks to Patty Hogan and Kendall Osbourne (Tournament Directors), Patrick Clark, Cohn Siracuse and Andrew Beacham (Special Assistants), and all the other volunteers who made this day special for our junior players.