Eight past participants selected for the inaugural Hall Of Fame class

The DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships is proud to announce our initial class of eight Hall of Fame inductees. These players have made an impact not only on our event but in high school and collegiate tennis. These players exemplify what high school tennis is all about and have received numerous honors for their on-court and off-court success. Beginning in 2016 we will annually induct one male and one female past participant to our Hall of Fame. 

Samantha Caswell

The Chattanooga native was a driving force behind Baylor School three straight DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championship titles. Caswell was a three-time Most Valuable Player and All-Tournament team selection all-four year. She was also selected as a 2014 National High School All-American. Caswell is currently a freshman at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga where the Mocs are off to a 4-0 start and Caswell remains undefeated in Singles and Doubles. Samantha holds a number of tournament records including most consecutive wins with 19.

 

Brett Clark

Clark is one of three past participants to receive the prestigious honor of being named National High School Coaches Association Athlete of the Year. The 2012 Barron Collier graduate finished his career with a 13-3 all-time record at the DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships earning back-to-back All-Tournament team honors. Clark finished his senior year as the 9th ranked recruit in the nation. He was also two-time National High School All-American selection. The University of North Carolina junior had a 107-45 record entering this season and has been ranked as high as 35th in the ITA National rankings.

 

Joey Fritz

Fritz was the 2010 Most Valuable Player in the Boys B Division. He led his Cincinnati Country Day team to the tournament title going undefeated in tournament play. The nation's 19th ranked player in his class Fritz was named a 2010 National High School All-American. He went on to play his collegiate tennis at Amherst. During his collegiate career Fritz was a three-time ITA Division III Singles All-American. He capped off a 60+ win collegiate career with an NCAA Division III Singles Championship and the title of Intercollegiate Tennis Association Senior Player of the Year.

 

Jared Hiltzik

 

The 2012 DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships Most Valuable Player has already made a huge impact at the collegiate level. Hiltzik, who came out of high school as the top ranked recruit in the country in the class of 2012, signed with his home state University of Illinois. As a junior Hiltzik has already been named Big Ten Freshmen of the Year, First-Team All-Big Ten twice, Big Ten Tennis Athlete of the Week five times and ITA Scholar Athlete twice. Hiltzik reached the ITA National Indoor Championship match as a sophomore and he entered his junior season with a 60-22 overall record and is currently ranked 23rd in the ITA Division I Singles Rankings.  

Kourtney Keegan

The 2012 tournament participants became the first female participant to ever receive National High School All-American honors receiving the award back-to-back in 2012 & 2013. Keegan was the 2012 USTA Georgia Junior Player of the Year and 2012 USTA G18 National Clay Court Championships consolation singles winner. As a freshman Keegan won a team-best 32 doubles matches and was selected as the ITA Southeast Region Rookie Player of the Year. Keegan has a Career-High ITA singles ranking of 26th and is currently ranked 4th in the country in the ITA Doubles rankings. She also received ITA Scholar Athlete honors as a freshman.

 

Cassie Mercer

University of Virginia freshman Cassie Mercer, a 2013 DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships All-Tournament Team selection, was named the 2014 Girls Tennis Athlete of the Year by the National High School Coaches Association. Mercer was a four-time West Virginia Class AAA Singles, Doubles and Team State Champion. In her freshman season with the Cavaliers she won the USTA/ITA Atlantic Regional doubles title to earn an automatic berth to the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships. She has a 26-18 overall record this year is currently ranked 21st in the country in the ITA Doubles rankings.

Chase Perez-Blanco

Perez-Blanco received quite the list of honors during his time playing high school tennis. The 2013 DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships All-Tournament Team selection was also named a National High School All-American in 2013 & 2014 and was selected as the 2014 Boys Tennis Athlete of the Year by the National High School Coaches Association. Perez-Blanco was a two-time Individual State Champion and three-time Team State Champion at Gulliver Prep. As a freshman at the University of Florida he began the spring ranked 50th in the nation in the ITA Doubles rankings.

Olivia Thaler

Gulliver Prep alum Olivia Thaler was a 2013 DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships All-Tournament Team selection. The William & Mary freshman was a two-time Florida Doubles State Champion, two-time Florida Team State Champion, two-time Miami-Dade Player of the Year and two-time National High School All-American. Thaler is currently 21-15 overall in her freshman season.

We are honored to have had these fantastic players participate in our event. They provide a great example for our future participants as to how to succeed both on and off the court. Beginning in 2016 we will honor one male and one female with induction into the DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships Hall of Fame.

Former Tournament MVP Wins NCAA National Championship

In 2010, defending Ohio Division II Singles State Champion, Joey Fritz and his Cincinnati Country Day team came to compete in the DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships Boys B Division. Fritz went 4-0 in tournament play to lead the Indians to a grueling 3-2 win for tournament championship.Fritz's victory in the championship match took less than thirty minutes helping earn the nation's 19th ranked senior Most Valuable Player honors. 

Fritz went on to finish his senior season as an Ohio Division II Singles State Finalist. He was named a First-Team All-State selection by the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association. Fritz also become just the third player in tournament history to be named a NHSTAAF All-American. 

Following his outstanding high school career Fritz signed to play his collegiate tennis at Amherst. “It was really difficult. I struggled a lot with nerves," said Fritz following his freshman year for the Lord Jeffs "It’s different going from individual competition to team competition. I really enjoy the team environment more than the individual one.” His transition to the collegiate level was seamless though as he was a key contributor on the Amherst team that captured the 2011 NCAA Division III National Championship. Fritz's 6-1, 6-2 win over Emory's Nicolas Szureck helped the Lord Jeffs clinch the 5-2 victory for the programs first national title.

During his sophomore season Fritz continued his success winning the USTA/ITA New England Regional Championship singles tournament in the fall. Despite not competing in the NCAA singles or doubles tournaments in the spring Fritz garnered ITA Division III Singles All-American honors. During his sophomore season he was also named an ITA Scholar-Athlete.

Moving to the top of the lineup his junior season Fritz posted a 11-3 record including notching six wins in a row during a key stretch in April. He was named First-Team All-NESCAC and his on-court success helped Fritz garner ITA Division III Singles All-American honors for the second straight season. He was also selected for the CoSIDA Capital One At-Large Academic All-District first team.

Fritz took a 43-17 career record into his senior season. He rolled off an 18-5 regular season record as the top-ranked singles player in the ITA’s Northeast Region. Fritz's accomplishments included a season-best eight-match win streak and an 18-5 doubles record as half of the top-ranked doubles pairing in the region. His success earned his NESCAC Player of the Year honors.

He began his championship run playing the top singles spot for the Lord Jeffs who captured their second NCAA team championship with a 5-3 victory against the Claremont-M-S Stags. Fritz's run for the NCAA Division III Singles Championship began as the No. 2 overall seed. Fritz won the coveted prize with a 6-2, 6-1 victory against top seed Warren Wood of the host Claremont-M-Sc Stags. The singles championships was the first in Amherst history. During his tournament run it was announced that Fritz had been named Intercollegiate Tennis Association Senior Player of the Year. 

"Going into this week, the team championship means everything to us," Fritz said. "This individual championship is great, but it's icing on the cake. In the [singles final] match, that is probably the best I have served all week. I needed it because my legs were really tired."

Fritz's success at Amherst were not just on the court, he was once again named to the CoSIDA Capital One At-Large Academic All-District first team and received a bachelor's degree in Asian languages and civilizations. Fritz plans to work in Beijing, China, for Admissionado, an education consulting firm which advises Chinese students how to get into American universities.

Nine Former Players Named ITA All-Americans

Jared Hiltzik from Illinois Athletics

Jared Hiltzik -- University of Illinois

The Fighting Illini sophomore has accomplished a number of accolades in his first two seasons in Champaign, Illinois. The former tournament Most Valuable Players list now includes 2014 ITA Division I Singles All-American. Hilzik completed his sophomore season of play with a a 17-6 dual match record finishing the year at 31-11 overall in singles. He was selected as the eighth overall seed in the 2014 NCAA Division I Singles Championships. He is a two-time First-Team All-Big Ten selection and was selected as Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2013 after finishing dual match play with a 13-4 record at No. 1 singles.

Joey Fritz from Amherst Athletics

Joey Fritz -- Amherst College

The 2010 DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships Boys B Division Most Valuable Player clinched his place in Amherst history this year claiming the NCAA Division III Singles Championship. Over the course of his illustrious four-year career, Fritz has racked up a 68-22 overall record. He led his Amherst squad to 30-win seasons in all four years and a NCAA Division III National Championship as a freshman and senior. Fritz was selected as the 2014 NESCAC Player of the Year and is a two-time First-Team All-NESCAC selection in singles and was selected as First-Team All-NESCAC for doubles as well in 2014. Fritz's collegiate accomplishments now also includes back-to-back ITA Division III Singles All-American selections and a doubles All-American selection this season.

Emerson Walsh -- Johns Hopkins

The Johns Hopkins freshman got off to a hot start in his collegiate career winning the winning the ITA Southeast Regional Championship in the fall. The Trinity alum finished his first collegiate season with a 20-9 doubles record with freshman teammate Michael Buxbaum. He earned the third overall seed the NCAA Division III Doubles Championships. Walsh was a First-Team All-Centennial Conference selection for doubles and finished the season as half of the nation's 6th ranked doubles team in the ITA Division III rankings. His accomplishments earned him the honor of ITA Division III Doubles All-American.

Palmer Campbell -- Middlebury

The Montgomery Bell Academy alum had an outstanding sophomore season for Middlebury. Playing the No. 2 doubles slot for the Panthers Campbell and teammate Brantner Jones tallied a successful 24-9 record. The duo won the USTA/ITA Small College National Tennis Doubles Championship last fall and ended the season ranked 21st nationally, the highest of any No. 2 team in the country. The team's overall record included a 4-1 record during Middlebury’s five NCAA Tournament matches. Campbell was selected as First-Team All-NESCAC for doubles and was named an ITA Division III Doubles All-American.

Ben Shklyar -- UW-Whitewater

Shklyar, who finished the season having played with three different doubles partners, claimed his first ITA Division III Doubles All-American selection. The UW-Whitewater junior finished his season with a 23-10 overall doubles record including a 10-6 record at No. 1 doubles for the Warhawks. In the fall, Shklyar paired with teammate Byron Balkin to win the ITA Midwest Regional Doubles title. 

Joulia Likhanskaia -- Bowdoin

The Bowdoin freshman set a number of records her freshman season including tying the school record for wins by a freshman with a 19-3 record during the spring. The Winter Park alum finished the year ranked 19th nationally in the ITA Division III rankings. Likhanskaia was named First-Team All-NESCAC for singles and selected as NESCAC Rookie of the Year. She enjoyed win streaks of six and nine matches in singles play during the spring season. Likhanskaia and teammate Emma Lewis also finished the year ranked 18th nationally in doubles. Her accomplishments earned her the honor of ITA Division III Singles All-American.

Bronte Goodhue -- Sewanee

Girls Preparatory School alum Bronte Goodhue is the only former girls participant to be selected as an ITA Division III All-American in both singles and doubles. The Sewanee junior captured All-American accolades for the second straight year. Goodhue finished the season ranked 15th in the nation in singles and 10th in the country in doubles in the ITA Division III rankings. Undefeated in both singles and doubles during the Tigers championship winning run through the conference tournament, Goodhue was named Southern Athletic Association Player of the Year and received First-Team All-Conference honors.

Madeline Benn -- Skidmore

Skidmore freshman Madeline Benn was dominant in her freshman year of play for the Thoroughbreds. The Gulliver Prep alum was a five-time Liberty League Rookie of the Week selection and received First-Team All-Liberty League honors in both singles and doubles. Benn and Liberty League Player of the Year Ford Lee advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Doubles Championships. Benn's honors make her just the ninth women in school history to receive All-American honors. The duo of Benn/Ford finished the season ranked 14th in the nation in the ITA Division III rankings. The final ranking cemented Benn's selection as Liberty League Rookie of the Year and ITA Division III Doubles All-American.

Jessica Bourque -- Stevens

The 2011 DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships Girls B Division Most Valuable Player has garnered plenty of honors in her first three seasons at Stevens. Her freshman year she was named Empire 8 Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Her sophomore season she was honored as First-Team All-Empire 8 for both singles and doubles with 20 singles wins and 15 doubles wins. Bourque led the Ducks this past fall with 14 singles wins en-route to being named Empire 8 Player of the Year and First-Team All-Empire 8 for the second and third time respectively. Additionally, Bourque represented Stevens for the third-straight year at the ITA Northeast Regional Championships, playing for the first time in doubles with senior Lisa Tessitore. The junior currently stands top-five in school history for career wins. Borque and Tessitore were selected as ITA Division III Doubles All-Americans.

Former Participants Find Success at NCAA Division III Level

If you want to see how successful past DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships players are at the collegiate level then look no further than the Preseason NCAA Division III Men's Rankings. Five different tournament alums are ranked in the Singles Rankings and four of the top 10 doubles teams in the country consist of past participants.

The singles rankings are led by Hinsdale Central alum Rafe Mosetick who is ranked 12th nationally. Mosetick, a 2011 tournament participant, finished his freshman season at Emory with a 21-6 record advancing to the quarterfinals of the ITA Regionals. Joey Fritz, 2010 Boys B Division Most Valuable Player for Cincinnati Country Day, is ranked 14th nationally for Amherst. Fritz finished his junior season with a 12-4 record finishing the season the ninth ranked singles player in the nation and earning All-American honors. Fritz is also of the nation's 9th ranked doubles team. Montgomery Bell Academy alum and Middlebury sophomore Palmer Campbell is making a big splash at the Division III level. Campbell is currently ranked 18th in the country in singles and is half of the nation's top ranked doubles team. Campbell and partner Brantner Jones won this fall's USTA/ITA Small College National Tennis Doubles Championship. Ben Shklyar, a 2011 singles and doubles All-Tournament team selection, is ranked 40th nationally in singles for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. The sophomore transfer from Cleveland State University is also ranked 7th nationally in doubles. Jack Kasbeer, a fellow Deerfield alum, enters his freshman season with Carnegie Mellon ranked 47th nationally singles. Emerson Walsh, a 2011 Boys B Division singles and doubles All-Tournament team selection, enters his freshman season at Johns Hopkins with high hopes ranking 5th in nation in doubles.

2013-14 NCAA Division III Men's Singles Rankings

Rank

Player

School

12

Rafe Mosetick

Emory

14

Joey Fritz

Amherst

18

Palmer Campbell

Middlebury

40

Ben Shklyar

Whitewater

47

Jack Kasbeer

Carnegie Mellon

2013-14 NCAA Division III Men's Doubles Rankings

Rank	Doubles Team	School
1	Palmer Campbell/Brantner Jones	Middlebury

5

Michael Buxbaum/Emerson Walsh

Johns Hopkins

7

Byron Balkin/Ben Shkylar

UW-Whitewater

9

Ben Fife/Joey Fritz

Amherst