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Eric and Michelle Perez of No Passing Zone celebrate a winning point en route to the become Section Champions in the 18 Advanced Division.
© USTA Middle States
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The temperature was hot just like the action as nearly 300 players participated at the culminating event for the section’s Jr. Team Tennis season. The event held Aug., 4-6 at the Mercer County Park Tennis Complex in West Windsor, N.J., featured 32 teams in three age divisions. Co-ed teams from each of the age divisions – 18s Intermediate, 18s Advanced, 14s Intermediate, 14s Advanced and 12 Beginner played a round-robin style tournament,
Four teams earned the right to represent the section at the 2010 USTA Jr. Team Tennis National Championships in Surprise, Ariz., after winning the Middle States crown including teams from Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The head-to-head matches were played in a format similar to World Team Tennis, as teams played boys’ and girls’ singles, boys’ and girls’ doubles and mixed doubles matches, with the team taking the most overall games winning the match. Players from ages eight to 18 competed in the championships on their teams from local leagues across the section. Jr. Team Tennis is a league
designed to emphasize the team aspect of tennis and provide a friendly, social atmosphere in which kids can play.
"This past weekend’s event demonstrated the best elements of tennis: spirited competition, friendship, achievement, sportsmanship and fun, with four teams moving on with the honor of representing USTA Middle States at the National Championships," said Kasey Connors, USTA Middle States Jr. Team Tennis Coordinator. "The level of play was outstanding and the team format provides kids a great opportunity to play and cheer with friends."
Although the 12’s do not play at Nationals, many sections are sponsoring this division at their section championships to create awareness of the program and get more kids involved.
We captured some of the event's greatest moments in our daily photo gallieries. Find yourself, your friends or your team.
12 Beginner- Vibe Tennis- Reading, Pa.
14 Intermediate- Aces- Moorestown, N.J.
14 Advanced- Head Hunters- Pittsburgh
Dela20118 18818 Intermediate- Delaware Nightmare- Dover, Del.
18 Advanced- No Passing Zone- Allentown, Pa.
An integral part of USTA Jr. Team Tennis and the team experience is sportsmanship. USTA Middle States recognized a boy and a girl from each age division as the winner of a daily Sportsmanship Award. These winners were voted on by their peers, opposing coaches and players.
Check out the daily photo galleries to view each day's Sportsmanship All Star.