Evan Bottorff – Evansville Tennis Center

A Summer To Remember

Ryan McDaniel — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 19:51:52 +0000

As we head into Fall Programming at ETC, its time to look back and reflect on very memorable summer. Each summer, session, class, or tournament creates lasting memories for the players, coaches and parents. This past summer, like many before, gave us several to reflect on as we transition into the new school year.

ETC, since its opening in October 2012, has seen its players grow and mature as they navigated their way through high school. The kids spend several days a week with the staff and friends on court. And many of them have done this for several years creating an impactful relationship with their peers and coaches. It is always tough watching these players move on and graduate from the program, but at the same time we are excited and happy to see them move forward and succeed in the next chapter of their life.

We had several players finish their junior career this summer – the largest single class ETC has ever had graduate. While most of these players will be entering their freshman year of college a few players are currently competing in their final season of high school tennis. Watching each and everyone of them mature over the last several years has been very enjoyable and sometimes laughable. They have shown great leadership on and off the court, whether it be helping or encouraging younger players, providing rides to and from practice, helping with homework, or simply being respectful to others.

Current and former staff members have spent countless hours in the car and at tournaments with many of them. We have watched some grow from a shy insecure player who cannot remember where they left their water or bag to an social, organized, accountable, and responsible young adult. Traveling with our players is a perk of the job. Not only do we get to watch them compete, learn more about them, but we get to develop a long lasting relationship with them that will carry well beyond college life.

We would like to thank all of these players for their hard work, dedication, leadership, and attitudes. We wish you all the very best of luck in the years to come and encourage you to come back to visit.

Thank you: Lauren Marx, Lauryn Thompson, Brandon Wu, Nick Johnson, Michael Koch, Evan Bottorff, Evan Ferguson, James Vincent and Ross Effinger.

Thank you once again to all of the sponsors who allowed our Pro Circuit Event – The Women’s Hospital Classic to happen. Its because of our sponsors, volunteers and selfless Tournament Directors, Anna Hazlett and Kim Poynter we are able to host this event for 19 years. This year proved to be successful once again as fans were able to watch some of the youngest and brightest stars play. Ann Li captured her first pro title here in Evansville this year. The junior Wimbledon finalist, along with several other young Americans gave us a glimpse of what the future of American tennis holds.

Sponsors –

The Women’s Hospital (Deaconess)

Industrial Transport Services

Lic’s Deli & Ice Cream

Hollander Group
Schultheis Insurance
American Windows
MaddenCo Inc.
Jack Rogers Realtor
Anna Hazlett
Evansville Visitors & Convention Bureau
Kenny Kent Toyota
Evansville Surgical Associates
Michele Bennett Accounting
Gaslin Insurance

Award World Trophies
Evansville Living
Kempf’s Donut Bank
Howard Johnson
Body Works
Lic’s Deli & Ice Cream
Bob’s Gym
Starlight Printing
Gem Chemical
Working Distributors
Frontier Liquor
Mills Body Shop
AmeriLite
Advanced Disposal
Walmart
Sam’s Club

Several Players Qualify for Midwest Closed

Ryan McDaniel — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 18:08:08 +0000

This past weekend, multiple players from the ETC Academy group competed in one of the largest tournaments of the year. The annual CITA Qualifier hosts eight age divisions throughout the city of Indianapolis and surrounding areas. Boys and Girls from the 12s to 18s age division compete to qualify for the USTA Midwest Closed. As a group, we have had a lot of success over the years, winning multiple age groups in both singles and doubles. We consistently have one of the highest Qualifying percentages of any program within CITA. This year brought the same good fortune. More than half of our players qualified for the upcoming Midwest Closed.

Two of our Kentucky players also qualified to play in the Southern Closed. Congratulations to Jon Nunez and Caleb Buckman on qualifying for the Southern Closed. Caleb Buckman (Owensboro) made it to the third round before ultimately losing the second seed in three sets.

Sarah Monesmith, Aaron Thompson, Michael Koch and Evan Bottorff competed in the 18 and Under division, and qualified. Aaron Thompson and his doubles partner Mac Rogers won the doubles championship, while Aaron also made it to the finals of the Consolation Draw only to loose in three sets.

Dev Sanapati qualified for the Boys 16s. Nichole Henning (Girls 14s) and Chase Boyer (Girls 12s) also qualified.

Congratulations to all of our players who competed in the tournament. Good luck to everyone who either automatically qualified or are waiting to qualify.

MaddenCo USTA National – Fletchall and Allen Win

etcpoynter@gmail.com — Wed, 10 May 2017 17:57:32 +0000

This past weekend, with the help of MaddenCo, the Evansville Tennis Center hosted its third and final USTA National Junior Tournament of the year. This event, similar to January and March, was a National Level 3- meaning it is the third highest national level tournament the USTA offers. However, this past weekend brought both the Boys’ 18 age division and the Girls’ 18 age division. Players from across the United States traveled to Evansville to compete and at Wesselman Park. Several college coaches were present to watch some of the nations top players.

Local standout Aaron Thompson (Mater Dei) was the only local player originally accepted based on ranking, but Evan Bottorff (Castle) and Caleb Buckman (Owensboro, KY) played as well after accepting entrance via an alternate list. Thompson advanced to the second round, only to lose to the seventh seeded Jake Beasley (Cumming, GA) 6-4,6-1.

Allen (left) Hand (right)

Thompson recovered and won his third match against Ian Altenburg (Chaska, MN) 6-4,6-4. Thompson eventually made it to the semi-finals of the consolation draw only to lose in three sets to Patrick Lazo (Alpharetta, GA) 1-6, 7-6(8), 1-0(9).

Evan Bottorff and his doubles partner, Patrick Fletchall (Carmel, IN) advanced to the semi-finals where they lost to eventual champions, Jake Beasley and Stewart Block (Bradenton, FL) 8-6.

Buckman, who lives in Owensboro, and often trains at ETC, lost in the first round against eighth seeded Grahan Conron (Bradenton, FL) 4-6, 7-5, 1-0(5). His

Duo (left) Fletchall (right)

second match was just as close and competitive. Taylor Streda (Parkland, FL) defeated Buckman 5-7, 6-4, 1-0(8).

Kollie Allen (Lombard, IL) entered the weekend as the top ranked girl with a National Ranking of 31. Allen would prove to be the best player in the draw. Allen advanced to the finals by walkover when Sophia Reddy (Eden Prairie, MN) withdrew due to illness. Allen met Clarissa Hand (Morrestown, NJ) in the finals. Hand beat Emma Jackson (La Grange Park, IL) 7-6(9), 6-2 in the semi-finals. Allen eventually beat Hand 6-4, 6-3 Monday afternoon to take the Singles Championship.

Unseeded Natalie Moyer (Kalamazoo, MI) and Anna Smith (Venetia, PA) beat fourth seeded Bozonvic (La Grange, IL) and Henry (Franklin, TN) 8-5 to secure a spot in the Girls’ Doubles Semi-finals. In the semi-finals they played top seeded Sophia

Beasley (left) Block (right)

Reddy and Zoe Taylor (Long Grove, IL). Moyer and Smith won 9-8(8). On the other half of the draw the sister duo of Christina Hand and Clarissa Hand routinely made their way to the finals. Hand and Hand beat Moyer and Smith 8-5 to capture the Doubles Championship Monday morning.

Boy’s doubles played true to the seeds with the top seeded team of Bill Duo (Portage, MI) and Lucas Horve (Forsyth, IL) met second seeded Jake Beasley and Stewart Block. Beasley and Block eventually topped Duo and Horve 9-8(7) to take home the Doubles title.

Hand/Hand (left) Moyer/Smith (right)

Top seeded Bill Duo, ranked #11 nationally, won cruised to the finals never dropping more than five games in any match. Fifth seeded, Patrick Fletchall entered the tournament ranked #187 beat both the number two and four seeded players on his way to the Boys Finals. Fletchall eventually upset Duo winning 5-7, 6-2, 1-0(4) to take home the singles championship.

Results: To see final and complete draws please click on the event.

Evan Bottorff Heading to Austin Peay

etcpoynter@gmail.com — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 15:02:40 +0000

Evan Bottorff, a senior at Castle High School joined other student athletes at his school to announce his plans for college tennis. He was joined by his mother and father, who also serves as Castle’s Boys Coach. Evan committed to Austin Peay in the fall but yesterdays event made it official. He will be heading down to Clarksville, TN to play for Ross Brown. Ross previously worked at Advantage Court and Fitness, and coached at the University of Evansville and University of Southern Indiana. Austin Peay is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. Austin Peay will begin conference play April 21st.