qbkkfp ^as^kq^db TRI-LEVEL CHAMPIONSHIPS,
SCHOLARSHIPS,
A N D U S TA N AT I O N A L J T T C H A M P I O N S H I P S .
I
n 2004 the Jackson Ladies Tennis Association’s (JLTA) board of directors established a college educational scholarship for one entering female freshman at a two-year or four-year community college, college or university. In the spring of each year, a committee comprised of two members of the Jackson Ladies Tennis Association board of directors and two members of the association as a whole will choose a recipient from among the qualified applicants. The scholarship will be awarded annually and will be renewable for four years at an amount of $750 per year, for a total scholarship amount of $3,000. Those applying must live in the tri-county area, perform with distinction during their school years, both academically and in community service, and play varsity tennis for their high school. Any student receiving a full tennis scholarship isn’t eligible for this scholarship. Taylor Patterson is the recipient of the 2013 scholarship. Taylor was graduated from Jackson Prep and is attending the University of Mississippi where she is in the honors college and is on the pre-med track. Taylor started playing tennis at a very early age. She credits Robert Russell for teaching her everything she knows about the game of tennis. He taught her to give 100 percent all the time in tennis. “From all of the tennis knowledge he gave me, I have used giving it 100 percent all the time as a guideline for my entire life. He taught me to never quit, always persevere,” Taylor says. She started playing tournaments at the age of eight years old, losing more than she won. “I Taylor Patterson received the JLTA 2013 Scholarship. Patterson graduated from Jackson lost every tennis tournament I played in, but Prep and is a freshman at Ole Miss. Her parents my perseverance never ceased. When I turned are Cindy and Steve Patterson. nine, I finally started to win matches,” Patterson says. Taylor played on the Jackson Prep tennis team from seventh-grade on. She has taken her love of tennis out to the community by working with the Boys and Girls Club, organizing a tennis tournament for students and faculty, and working during the summer with Russell helping teach younger kids how to play tennis and helping teach during the Prep tennis camp held each summer. Serving as the president of JLTA for 2013/2014 is Laurie McClintock and vice president is Karen de Kock. Other officers are Robin Harkey, Shawn Ward, Jennifer Bracken and Carol Ann Anthony. USTA League championships are well under way with the most recent being the Tri Level Championships and the 40 and 55 mixed doubles championships being played. The tri level was played in Tupelo, well, some of it was. The weekend was a tournament director’s worst nightmare … rain, rain, rain. Only three winners were declared by Sunday, with six more to be finished at other times and locations. Five of those winners have been declared with one still pending. From the Northside, Leah Warren’s 3.5-4.5 team won their division. Oxford was the host for the USTA League mixed doubles championships for the 40s and 55s age groups. Unlike the dreadful weather in Tupelo, the weather was perfect for tennis. The CTA sponsored a players party at The Library. Madakasira Sudhakar’s 7.0 mixed doubles team won their division. Just like the Davis Cup for professional tennis, the Southern Junior Cup represents excellence among top-level, competitive junior players from the USTA Southern
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northside sun
by JENNY MARKOW
Section. The Mississippi team consists of some of the top boys and girls in each age division, competing in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Three boys and three girls make up a team. Team Mississippi competes against teams from the other eight states in the southern section during this premier event. Not only is it quite an honor to be selected for this team, it is one of the most fun events in junior tennis because of the team spirit and camaraderie. Before heading to Chattanooga for the Southern Junior Cup, the team coaches sponsored a “Southern Junior Cup Warm Up Clinic” at Ridgeland Tennis Center. The two-day training camp included live ball drills, mental toughness, doubles tactics and match play. On Saturday night, they were all invited to Megan Humphrey’s home for a team barbecue. Coaches for the 1418s this year are Justyn Schelver and Kevin Gillette along with Levi Patton, who will coach the 12s. Here is the 2013 Team Mississippi: 12s - Eric Huey, Mathis Billman, Hank Leathers, Callie Billman, Fatimah Bashir and Madeline Hughes; 14s - Stedman Strickland, Sebastian Rios, Larry Qu, Megan Humphreys, Sylvia The new officers for JLTA are (from left, back) Shawn Ward, Jennifer Bracken and Carol Ann Anthony; (front) Viljoen and Catherine Owen; Robin Harkey, Laurie McClintock, Karen de Kock 16s - Chris Wilkins, Mason Vice, Gray Johnson, Meredith Roberts, Natalie Finch and Abby Vaughn; 18s - Davis Owen, Nathaniel Pickney, Noah Rowell, Katie Lai, Katie Reid and Victoria Roberts. Best of luck to Team Mississippi. Mississippi has a USTA Junior Team Tennis team headed to nationals for the second year in a row. The 14 Advanced team, coached by Lance St. Amant will travel to Lexington, S.C., this month to compete in the USTA National JTT Championships. Best of luck to all of you. Team members from the Northside are Megan Humphreys,
Playing a little doubles during the recent JTT mixer are Samuel Smylie and Vitor Silvas