LORENZI RACQUET CLUB

SUMMER SMASH I

Lorenzi's Summer Smash came boiling to a beginning, as the heat swarmed across the Valley, but as the night came over the day sky, the subtle and breeze and some impromptu Watermelon brought relief to the players and their parents.

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On the scene was the whole of Monte Carlo, which is represented by Ted Shively jr and his father Ted Sr who runs the pro shop, the Director of tennis and tennis professional Misha Yevtich, Ted's daughter Valerie, Stoyanka Pantic, Misha's student, and TEAM INGWALDSON, which uses the Monte Carlo and Leon Vernon's Clinics at Sunset Park as a way to develop their game... and developing it is, with Danielle, the oldest of the three sisters winning against one of the best 14/16 players in town Jacquelyn Tang. I have seen Danielle develop over the last year, and being younger, at 12, even though she looks 14, she is often paired in

matches and perception with her younger sisters, since they are all often together. Yet in reality she is as talented as many of the older players, and I could see earlier this summer she knew she could play with what some might have said were the "Better players" instead of the younger players more her age... but in junior tennis, just like adult tennis.. age means nothing. It is all about skill.

That is why VegasTennis.com has recently putting together adult/Junior tennis draws based on skill instead of age.. then the draws are competitive and fair. It makes no sence to put a 14 year old girl who has been playing every day for 4 years against another 14 year old who started this year.

In adult tennis it is by skill level rating.. 3.0, 3.5, 4.5. 5.0 and Open... VegasTennis.com is now doing mini-tournaments with draws being made by skill level.... The draw does not even separate by male and female. If you can hold your own why not play.

I have placed the Thompson twins up against many open men players and they have won...

As far as Danielle, she has proven that she can play and even beat the  "Older girls"... and any adult would laugh at the notion that 1 or 2 years difference would be considered "Older".. but to kids they actually think that is a bog difference.

Tonight Danielle and the Monte Carlo crew were there to support her and her father Dick , who is also their ever present coach, was calling in from work.

John Baltas, even though Julia is away visiting her mom, had to come down and take part in the days event. He has seen Danielle develop over the year, and it was also at The Monte Carlo that his daughter Julia got a lot of match play last year which improved her game...

But most importantly about the Monte Carlo this summer is not the excellent selection of pro's... of which has two of the best doubles players in town and one of the best singles players in town... but it is the fun environment that encourages the players to not only enjoy the game... but play it more because it is fun.

Ted Shively Sr has an excellent philosophy of letting the kids come in, swim in the wave pool and lazy river current pool, play tennis, eat and enjoy themselves without the harping and full time instruction.. and what you find is the kids actually play more. This summer at the Monte Carlo kids have been coming Tuesday's, Wednesdays and Thursday's, for $8.00, swimming and playing singles and doubles all day. No one teaches them what to do, or tells that to change their strokes... it is just a chance to get match play all day long and have fun... and that is what they do.

Coaches can now teach the player things and send them to the Monte Carlo or one of many mini-tournaments, to put to use what they have been shown. Often times it is in playing matches in competitive environments that a player will understand on a deeper level what was told to them in practice... understanding by doing!

 Dan Knight, the Director of Tennis at Spanish Trail and UNLV record holder, explained that when he grew up he was dropped off at the courts in the morning and picked up later that night and they just played all day without any supervision.. It was their own willingness and wanting to play that drove them.. and some days they were not up to it.. so what.. that is natural..

Other camps this summer includes two stalwarts in Marty Hennessy, at The Stirling Club at Turnberry Place.. and Johnny Lane at The Las Vegas Country Club. Both these gentlemen have been running camps in town for over twenty years and have collectively promoted the game of tennis as much or more then anyone.

While I see this web site as the most powerful tool to promote the game.. It is dependant on individuals like these two gentleman who literally help most beginner kids develop their tennis games on the west side of town. Dan Knight at Spanish Trail also has a camp that has been in existence for almost as long.. and is now run by Dan Maccanello and Hans...and on the East side of town is CLUBSPORT GREEN VALLEY, which while it has not been going as long is filled with quality instructors and a facility that includes a lot of extra's. The Las Vegas Country Club and Club Sport are the only camps with indoor courts, yet the kids and instructors do fine in the outside weather.

What has been lacking in town this summer is a camp environment for the more advanced tournament player. I am putting together a group of kids that are Intermediate advanced/advanced.. and getting them together at least 5 days a week at BALLY'S so they can play matches. It makes no sense to get all the kids to be good, then have nothing for the more advanced kids in the summer.

At BALLY'S the players can get warmed up, then play doubles and singles matches in a competitive and enjoyable environment........... without lessons or telling them what to do. This will allow them to put into action what ever they and their coach have been working on. Now coaches can send their players down to BALLY'S, a neutral environment where no one is trying to teach their student or coach them. It is match play only.

In the girls main draw, the 10 and under final was between Kimberly Yee and Valerie Shively. Kimberly, who is coached by her dad Adam Yee ,won it in two sets 6-2, 7-6. This was an excellent second set, and it goes to show that a great coach does not need to be a 6.0 player, they just need to put a 100% into what they are doing. Both Adam Yee and Ted Shively teach tennis and have kids that thrive in junior tennis. Being around a court all day they just play a lot, and that is a large part of the ingredient.. playing. That is why I created a MATCH PLAY CHALLENGE weekly at BALLY'S, so players can play and play and play, every day for four hours. There is no instruction, just matches.

In the girls 12 and under final it was Toby Miclat, who is now playing up , verses Danica Ingwaldson. The Inglwaldson's were voted tennis family of the year, and at first I did not understand why, but as I have gotten to know Dick and the girls it is apparent. They enjoy playing tennis and have the perfect mixture of competition and grace. They are on the court each day as the sun rises with Leon Vernon, who's tennis program has helped the girls with scholarships and more. Anyone can support what Leon is doing by giving a tax deductable donation. He takes players who can not afford thousands of dollars of lessons and does it for free, or at a severe discount. It makes more sense to me to see where your funds are going by watching a player develop then by giving it to a cause you never see any impact.

Leon's program is truely grass roots and worth supporting. Some of the excellent players that have come from it are the Ingwaldsons, of which took home three trophy's this tournament

In the girls 14's and 16's it was Candynce Boney, who with the assistance of Tim Blenkiron her coach, has come out of her shell winning both finals with ease. Taking second in the 14's was Danielle Ingwaldson and in the 16's  Ernestine Miclat.

The boy's 10 and under draw was won by Brian Foley, butt not before some tough matches with Christian Mayfield, who forced Brian to three sets. The final score was 6-0, 4-6, 6-3. Christian plays with Lorenzi professional Craig Witcher. Craig runs this tournament and at one time was the men's and woman's UNLV coach. In the back draw Neil Anderson won the consolation after he lost a close math to Brian Foley in the main draw. Neil plays with the Springers, who I hear have a very lively happening group of players out at Seven Hills.

In the 12 and under it was a battle, as it always is. This time Kawka was not around, so the finalsist were Kristofer Yee and Taras Motsny, both of whom have made it to many finals matches. This time it was Kristofer who pulled it off in three sets 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. Again, another Adam Yee student from Desert Palm places. The TEAM DESERT PALM, under Adam Yee, had three trophies this tournament.

In the boy's 14's Stan Breland was on fire, winning swiftly with all his opponents. He played Jonathan Fragoso, who is with the Mission Hills crew. Jonathan has developed a great deal this summer, and due to one thing... he enjoys playing tennis. Mark my words... Jonathan will be a formadable player, as will Alex Zara and Zachary Macaraeg.

In the boy's 16's it was a joy to see Lenny Whiting back on track. Lenny is not only a good athlete but a gentleman on the court with, at times, one of the best attitudes out there, I watched him go from just beginning to taking on the best players in town, and winning. He took some time off and is now back ready to compete. He made it to the finals then ran into Allan Tong's great nephew Kevin Liang. Kevin is a ranked player from Northern California and came down with his brother to train with their great uncle, whom at one time was a professional level player. Allan Tong also was the head professional at the Hollywood tennis club, and then Cambridge here in town. Now his great nephews are carrying on the tradition, and making some new traditions, like winning Lorenzi's tournament for the third year in a row. Allan told me that Kevin and he had a drill and with decent pace, Kevin and he made the ball over the net some 547 times. Kevin was a smooth and consistent player. Kevin won 6-4, 6-1.

His brother Jimmy Liang also won taking the 18 boys title. Taking second was an impressive Eric Ceniceros, who has been working with Saad Ashraaf and Rick Storozick at Mission Hills.

Mission Hills is on fire, with so many kids and so little courts. If anyone deserves a facility it is this group as they have been able to create something huge from scratch. Players who would probably never play have been given the chance to thrive due to their efforts. Each week they have a fast paced clinic scene with so much activity. It is intense and always moving, as it should be. I never have to be told to keep moving, focus or be intense. It is the choice in which I make every day in all I do. In match play or "Practise", but at Mission Hills, where some kids may be a bit lazy from spending hours with game boy or T.V. that is quickly disgarded out there and cleaned up, as from start to finish the players are on the move, and if not it is a lap.

Want to mope around and be in another world? Not at Mission Hills. It is for players who are interested in giving a 100% only. They have a great group of players that have been developed from beginners to tournament players.

I can not understand mopeyness myself. What a horrible way to feel, to mope around. It is like an inner whinning that feels awful. Why not be on fire, ready to shoot out of the gate. Tennis is a game of spirit. Have a tough spirit and that is half if not the whole thing. Match tough is what it is all about. The strokes can be figured out but having the heart is a choice, and I know it is not something someone has or does not have, because when I was younger I was mentally weak, but at one point when I chose to be right, I became a tougher more focussed individuals. Not that I a the example, but I know the difference between being focussed and aware verse lost in a day dream.

That is the choice out there... be aware or be lost.

Even if you lose, at least you did not choose to check out into mopyville. What a horrible place to be. Win with dignity and lose with dignity. That is what a player discovers, or not... it is their choice.

At Lorenzi the back draw had some winners with Brendon Aguilar taking the consolation champions trophy. Miles Martinez took the 14's consolation trophy, and Ted Shively jr, took it again this year after being in both consolation finals last year for 14's and 16's. To win this year he had to be Ramon Montez, who just got the "VegasTennis.com heart award" at the BALLYS MATCH PLAY CHALLENGE WEEK.In the Boy's 18 consolation finals, Andrew Watrous won.

In the girls 10 and under consolation finals it was Stan Breland's little sister Rabecca Clary that won it 6-0, 6-0.In the girl's 12 and under consolation finals it was Shelby Zepeda from Desert Palm that won, 6-3, 6-2 over the very talented Valerie Shively. In the gils 14 consolation final Jacquelyn Tang won it in two sets  over Danica Ingwaldson. In the girl's 16 consolation final it was Stojanka Pantic winning 6-1, 6-1.