JTT Nationals: What an Experience!
November 5, 2008 03:52 PM
More than 500 juniors comprising 64 teams from all across the country including five teams from Middle States headed south for the USTA Jr. Team Tennis National Championships at the Mobile Tennis Center in Mobile, Alabama. The event was quite successful for Middle States squads highlighted by a third place finish by the Jabs from Central Pennsylvania.
The event marks the culmination of a year-long series of competitions at the local, district, and section levels. The National Championships serve as the crown jewel of USTA Jr. Team Tennis. The Jabs finished second at the 2007 JTT National Championship and hold the top two finishes by any teams from Middle States.
The team from Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education had a very succesful weekend as well going undefeated in pool play including a win over eventual the National Champion from USTA Northern.
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| 2008 JTT National Sportsmanship Winner- Kevin Lam |
In addition to the Jabs remarkable run other event highlights included team gifts exchanges in which Middle States squads presented other teams a gift with a local flair. The sweetest gift our teams could provide came from the "Sweetest Place on Earth," in the form of customized Hershey chocolate bars.
Their were also player parties, live entertainment and a chance to tour the U.S.S. Alabama, a battleship which has seen duty in World War II and Iraq.
Kevin Lam, a member of team DUECE from Willingboro, N.J., knows a thing or two about being a "Good Sport." After being voted by fellow participants the Sportsmanship Award winner at the USTA Middle States Jr. Team Tennis Section Championship this summer, things didn't change for Lam as he was named Sportsmanship Winner at the National Championship.
The Smashers from New Jersey personalized their experience through a fun team blog which was updated regularly throughout championship weekend. >">Click here to read their blog.
Other stories include:
| The Doctor is In |
 Jess Klinger is nothing but determined. Six weeks ago, the 16-year-old from Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, was a mere two points away from clinching a singles win for her Hershey High School tennis team when she severely turned her right ankle, tearing three ligaments. |
| Middle States Team Serves Up Sweet Treat For Opponents |
 In following the tradition of the player gift exchange, where teams give gifts to their opponents before their first match, the JABS, from Mechanicsburg, PA, representing the Middle States Intermediate division, are giving sweets treats to their opponents |
14's Advanced
Deuce- Willingboro, NJ- Coach Millie Sams- 6th place
Cheyenne Brown (Dayton), Chental Bembry (Monmouth Junction), Lauren Altschuler (Voorhees), Breezy Maravich (Moorestown), Ryan Dickerson (Marlton), Kevin Taylor (Burlington), Kevin Lam (Absecon) and Michael Perrone (Mount Laurel).
14's Advanced (Wild Card)
Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education- Philadelphia- Coach Allan Blackwell- 7th Place
Declan Hahn (Bryn Mawr), Julianne Herman (Philadelphia), Jordan Lieb (Newtown Square), Zach Lieb (Newtown Square), T.J. Morgan (Wayne), Alexandra Nuzhdin (Southampton), Reeta Raquel Shrestha (Gladwyne), Mathieu Sullivan (Philadelphia), Claire Uhle (Blue Bell), Connie Wang (Collegville)
14's Intermediate
Smashers- Vorhees, NJ- Coaches Christine Wu-Connell and Matt Heyse- 10th Place
Amanda Connell (Cherry Hill), Adrienne Kaye (Egg Harbor City), Erica Pascocello (Haddonfield), Mary Kate Maloney (Bridgeton), Ben Bertino (Marlton), Luke Timber (Cherry Hill), Kyle Sparkman (Medford) and Mike Conover (Medford).
18's Advanced
Fantastic Fuzz- Hanover, PA- Coach J. Michael McLaughlin - 11th Place
Michael McLaughlin (Hanover), Mikesh Desai (York), Seth Heller (Biglerville), Corinne Jones (State College), Katrina Lynn (Berwick), Jenna Hessert (Dillsburg) and Melissa Plowman (York).
18's Intermediate
Central Penn Jabs- Harrisburg, PA- Coaches Allan & Annette Grossman - 3rd Place
Jess Klinger (Hummelstown), Amelia Capuano (Boiling Springs), Jenna Laubauch (Mechanicsburg), Andrew Grossman (Mechanicsburg), Steve Rozman (Steelton) and BJ Bush (Dillsburg)
3rd: Middle States (Central Penn JABS, Mechanicsburg, PA)
(L to R): Coach Allan Grossman, Amelia Capuano, Andrew Grossman, Jenna Laubach, Stephen Rozman, Jessica Klinger, William Bush and Coach Annette Grossman