Category: Associations & Organizations - Company: Prince Tennis |
Juniors Get “Plugged In” at Prince Challenge Cup IV
T-Bar M Tennis Academy Crowned Best Junior Tennis Academy in the USA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Zach Perles
One Advantage Court
Bordentown,
609-291-5932
zperles@princesports.com
10/16/06 - Bordentown, NJ – T-Bar M Academy of Dallas solidified its status as the best junior tennis academy in the USA by taking top honors at the Prince “Plugged In” Challenge Cup IV, held recently at the Mike Wolf Tennis Academy in Overland Park, Kansas. T-Bar-M Tennis Academy became the first three-time champion and a repeat winner.
Prince “Plugged In” (PPI) is an exclusive program that brings together 33 junior tennis academies from around the United States through Challenge Cup events, training seminars and online networking. The Prince “Plugged In” Challenge Cup IV, which featured 144 matches, was the culmination of a season of hard work and dedication that allows the PPI academies to showcase their talented players and the progress they have made during the season. T-Bar M was one of six teams competing in Challenge Cup IV. Players from T-Bar M include:
Stuart Keplar, Andrew Dobbs, Jessica Alexander – 18 and Under
Alex DeChatellus and Amy Allin – 16 and Under
Shane Vinsant and Abby Stainback – 14 and Under
Luke Stainback and Tatum Nowlin – 12 and Under
“I love to see kids traveling from so far, putting it all on the line for no points or rankings, just pride,” said Elliott McDermed, tournament director and head coach at Mike Wolf Tennis Academy.
The PPI Challenge Cup IV helped the Prince “Plugged In” Academies measure the development and performance of their players and academy programs, and the event gives the players added pressures that cannot be found on the normal junior circuit.
“T-Bar-M continues to be the most consistent team performers at the Prince PPI Challenge Cups,” said Ken Merritt, Director of Teaching Programs at Prince. “This is a major factor in their success as an academy and why their players are having major achievements in junior tennis. They should be very proud of what they are accomplishing as a premier U.S. tennis academy because I know everyone at Prince is very proud of them.”
USTA Director of Men’s Tennis Rodney Harmon was also in attendance as a guest of Prince Sports to lend his experience and knowledge to the event. He lent his expertise in a clinic and Q&A session with tournament participants.
“This a great concept,” said Gonzaga University head coach D.J. Gurule. “It shows us what these kids can do in a team environment.”
Final Team Results
1. T-Bar M Tennis Academy – Dallas
2. St. Stephens Academy – Austin, Texas
3. Trent Tucker Tennis Academy – Tulsa, Okla.
4. Mike Wolf Tennis Academy – Overland Park, Kan.
5. Elite TNT Academy – Houston, Texas
6. Lifetime Tennis and Fitness – Minneapolis
About Prince Sports
Prince Sports, Inc., based in New Jersey, is a recognized leader in game-improvement technologies and engineering-based high-performance sports equipment. Since 1970, Prince and Ektelon have revolutionized tennis, squash and racquetball with innovations including “Oversize,” “Longbody” and “Extender” racquet technologies, Natural Foot Shape footwear technology, Synthetic Gut String and Electronic Ball Machines. In 2005, Prince introduced O3, another breakthrough that features an expanded sweet spot (up to 54 percent) and increased racquet speed, a combination only possible with O3 Technology. In 2006, Prince developed M Series footwear with Precision Tubes, the latest innovation that gives players maximum cushioning, stability and ventilation. Prince Sports has operations on three continents and distribution in over 100 countries. For more information, please visit www.princetennis.com.
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