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.

Nine Former Players Make Initial 2015 ITA Rankings

Nine former DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships participants were ranked in the Top 100 in the first Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings of 2015. The list of ranked players includes six former boys participants and four former girls participants.

Kourtney Keegan
Photo Courtesy of Florida Athletics

Kourtney Keegan

The Blessed Trinity graduate and University of Florida sophomore opens the 2015 season ranked No. 26 in singes. The former All-Tournament Team selection is looking to follow up her 2014 ITA Southeast Region Rookie Player of the Year honors. Keegan is the only former player to be ranked in both singles and doubles. The sophomore teamed with Brooke Austin to achieve a career-high ranking of 7th in the country after capturing the USTA/ITA Southeast Regional Championship this fall. Keegan was also ranked 47th in the country with teammate Belinda Woolcock.

Abigail Owens

Louisiana State University sophomore Abigial Owens opens the 2015 season with a No. 74 national ranking after a 9-4 singles record in the fall. The Peachtree Ridge alumni has a 24-18 career record at LSU including a semi-final finish at the Jack Kramer Invitational and a Round of 16 finish at the ITA Southern Regional Championship this fall. 

Cassie Mercer

The Huntington graduate and two-time National High School Tennis All-American begins her freshman season at the University of Virginia with a No. 11 national doubles ranking. Mercer and teammate Skylar Morton recorded a 11-3 doubles winning the USTA/ITA Atlantic Regional doubles title to earn an automatic berth to the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships.

Jared Hiltzik
Photo Courtesy of Illinois Athletics

Jared Hiltzik

University of Illinois junior and 2012 DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships MVP Jared Hiltzik begins the 2015 season ranked 31st in the country. Hiltzik a two-time NCAA Tournament selection finshed as runner-up in the ITA Midwest Regional Singles Championships and was an at-large selection for the ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships. The New Trier graduate finished his sophomore season as a First-Team All-Big Ten and All-American selection.

Aron Hiltzik

The younger Hiltzik begins his freshman season at the University of Illinois ranked 62nd in the nation in singles. Aron, 2012 DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships All-Tournament Team selection, came to Illinois as the top ranked recruit in the Class of 2014. Hiltzik knocked off a pair of ranked players in route to a semi-final finish at the ITA Midwest Regionals. The 18 year old New Trier alumni has already earned a pair of ATP points with three wins on the professional circuit.

Beck Pennington

The University of Kentucky junior has made an impact for the Wildcats since he arrived on campus. Pennington, a Greenwood alumni, is ranked 92nd in the first ITA rankings of the 2015. Pennington won the White singles draw at the Fab Four in Durham, N.C. this fall and advance to the Round of 16 at the ITA Ohio Valley Regional Championships.

Ziqi Wang
The Vestavia Hills graduate begins his freshman season at Yale ranked 95th in the country. The top ranked recruit in Alabama last year Wang already has a runner-up finish at the Connecticut State Championships and a Round of 16 finish at the ITA Northeast Regional Championships. Wang's fall results include a win over Dennis Nguyen of Harvard, the No. 18 ranked player in the country.

Chase Perez-Blanco
The University of Florida freshman opens his first spring in Gainesville as half of the 50th ranked doubles team in the nation. The Gulliver Prep alumni finished his fall season with five straight doubles wins at the Florida Invitational. In singles action Perez-Blanco finished as a semi-finalist at the 2014 USTA Collegiate Clay Court Invitational.

Bradford Zitsch

The Rock Bridge graduate and University of Nebraska junior begins his 2015 season ranked 54th in the national doubles rankings. The 2014 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar teamed with Dusty Boyer to advance to the quarterfinals of the Rice Invitational and ITA Central Regional.

Huntington Dominates West Virginia Class AAA State Championship

For the Huntington High School girls the state tournament meant a chance to make history. The Highlanders, who finished in 8th place the 2015 DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships, had their ups and downs throughout the season with senior leader Cassie Mercer nursing a wrist injury. Over the weekend Huntington finally had all the pieces in place and completed their historic run marking the first time in Class AAA girls tennis history that a team has gone undefeated throughout the entire tournament and securing their fourth straight state championship.

Virginia signee Cassie Mercer, who was not able to play in the DecoTurf Championships due to her injury, claimed her fourth straight Single State Championship with a 6-0, 6-0 victory at teamed with senior Kate Huck to claimed the No. 1 doubles State Championship. Huck, who also won the No. 2 Singles championship said ""It's amazing, especially for me, because my freshman year, we won every spot except for my second doubles, that was the only spot we lost that year, so I'm really happy because we were that close my freshman year but we got it this year." Freshman Ava Ratcliff showed promise for the future of the program with a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 3 Singles and Rachele Subik claimed the No. 4 singles title. The duo of Ratcliff & Subik paired to win the No. 2 singles title. With history on the line the No. 3 doubles tandem of Leah Simon and Nicole Oliashirazi closed out the historic year with the team's seventh title.

Ratcliff who will return as the top player for the Highlanders next year said "We lose half our team and I know there are big shoes to fill, I want to win my slot all four years."

Sixteen Former Players Named High School Tennis All Americans

Each spring the top 40 boys and top 40 girls in the country are honored as National High School Tennis All Americans by the National High School Tennis All-American Foundation. In 2014 a tournament record sixteen former participants received this honor. Eight players who participated in the 2014 tournament were among this year's honorees including Co-Most Valuable Players Martin Joyce and Michael Lorenzini. Former girls all tournament team selections Olivia Thaler and Cassie Mercer were selected for the second straight season. Five of the boys' selections, including Martin Joyce, Robert Kelly, Baker Newman, Chase Perez-Blanco and Walker Sims, were selected for the second straight year.

To be eligible to receive consideration as an All-American tennis player a student/athlete must maintain an above average academic and citizenship record, compete on a high school tennis team, and garner an individual national ranking. Among the elite group of student/athletes honored in the past as tennis All-Americans are many current and former professional tennis players, including Pete Sampras, Todd Martin, Kimberly Po, Aaron Krickstein, Jeff Tarango, Taylor Dent and Sam Querrey. All decisions for All-American honors are researched and authorized by a panel of eight (8) National District Chairmen who are highly respected high school coaches. For more information of the NHSTAAF click here.

GIRLS

Samantha Caswell • Baylor School • Chattanooga, TN

Anna Feaster • Webb School of Knoxville • Knoxville, TN

Allegra Hanlon • Ransom Everglades • Miami, FL

Cassie Mercer • Huntington • Huntington, WV

Olivia Thaler • Gulliver Prep • Pinecrest, FL

BOYS

Martin Joyce • Hinsdale Central • Hinsdale, IL

Robert Kelly • Cardinal Gibbons • Raleigh, NC

Brandon Lancaster • Saint Xavier • Louisville, KY

Michael Lorenzini • Hinsdale Central • Hinsdale, IL

Ryan Massinople • George Washington • Charleston, WV

Baker Newman • Gulliver Prep • Pinecrest, FL

Chase Perez-Blanco • Gulliver Prep • Pinecrest, FL

Oliver Sec • Beacon • New York, NY

Walker Sims • Memphis University School • Memphis, TN

Hunter Tubert • Huntington • Huntington, WV

Ziqi Wang • Vestavia Hills • Vestavia Hills, AL

2014 Boys B Division All-Tournament Team

The following players were selected to the 2014 DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships Boys B Division All-Tournament Team for their outstanding performance during tournament play.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

RYAN MASSINOPLE

SENIOR • GEORGE WASHINGTON

SINGLES

GUS BENSON
SENIOR • MODEL LAB

CHASE BRILL

SOPHOMORE • EDMOND MEMORIAL

HUNTER TUBERT
JUNIOR • HUNTINGTON


JORDAN PITTS
SOPHOMORE • SOUTH OLDHAM

DOUBLES

ZACK KOENIG & RYAN MASSINOPLE

SENIORS • GEORGE WASHINGTON

MUSTAFA GARDEZI & WES TOLSDORF

JUNIOR & SENIOR • TRINITY

PRESENTED BY

GEORGE WASHINGTON CLAIMS BOYS B DIVISION TITLE IN FIRST APPEARENCE

In their first appearence in tournament history the George Washington High School Patriots made a big impact. The defending West Virginia Class AAA State Champion added another accomplishment to their recent run of success claiming their first DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championship in the Boys B Division. A slow start and rainy conditions throughout the weekend certainly didn't dampen the spirit of the Charleston natives as they fought through adverse conditions to defeat opponents from three different states.

An overnight shower on Thursday night delayed the start of the 2014 DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships presented by Subway. The rain may have slowed eventual champion George Washington in their opener but the top 4 teams all rolled easily with no opening round match was closer than 6-3. George Washington battled Ensworth to an eventual 7-2 victory, their closest result of the tournament. 

In other first round action Trinity High School, in their fifth tournament appearance, guaranteed themselves of their best finish in tournament history with a 6-3 victory of Model. Baltimore's Mount Saint Joseph defeated South Oldham 6-3 and Edmond North defeated West Virginia Class AAA state runner-up Huntington 6-3. 

In the semi-finals George Washington made quick work of Trinity defeating the Shamrocks 8-1 with the only loss a 9-8 defeat at No. 2 Singles. Edmond Memorial used strength at the bottom of the lineup to cruise past Mount Saint Joseph in their semi-final with wins at No. 3-6 Singles and No. 2 & 3 Doubles.

George Washington put on their most impressive performance of the event in the Championship as Tournament Most Valuable Player Ryan Massinople won his third straight singles and doubles matches to lead the Patriots to an 8-1 win to clinch the first tournament championship for a West Virginia team. The lone win for Edmond North came at No. 4 Singles behind Singles All-Tournament Team Selection Chase Brill.

In other tournament action Mount Saint Joseph defeated Trinity in a 5-4 nail biter to claim 3rd Place in the event. Huntington's Hunter Tubert picked up his sixth win of the event but that wasn't enough for his Highlanders to overcome Model who won 5th Place with a 6-2 victory. South Oldham got big wins at the top of the lineup by Jordan Pitts and Cameron Mount to push the Dragons to a 5-4 victory and 7th Place finish.

5TH PLACE [BOYS B DIVISION] -- MODEL 6, HUNTINGTON 2

MODEL 6, HUNTINGTON 2

Saturday, March 29, 2014 | 3:00pm
Bass-Rudd Tennis Center

SINGLES

1. Hunter Tubert (H) def. Gus Benson 8-5
2. Jack Frisbie (M) def. Austin Preece 8-2
3. Nolan Kelly (M) def. Joseph Touma 8-5
4. James Logue (M) def. Chip Sweeney 8-4
5. Cole Wilson (M) def. Tyler Staker 8-2
6. Did Not Play

DOUBLES

1. Hunter Tubert & Austin Preece (H) def. Jack Frisbie & James Logue 8-3
2. Nolan Kelly & Blake Benson (M) def. Joseph Touma & Chip Sweeney 8-1
3. Gus Benson & Cole Wilson (M) def. Tyler Staker & Grant Subik 8-2

SECOND ROUND [BOYS B DIVISION] -- HUNTINGTON 7, SOUTH OLDHAM 2

HUNTINGTON 7, SOUTH OLDHAM 2

Friday, March 28, 2014 | 8:00pm
Central Park

SINGLES

1. Hunter Tubert (H) def. Jordan Pitts 8-2
2. Cameron Mount (SO) def. Austin Preece 8-3
3. Dawson Bezehertny (SO) def. Joseph Touma 8-6
4. Chip Sweeney (H) def. Tony Liu 8-5
5. Tyler Staker (H) def. Dillon Bezehertny 8-6
6. Grant Subik (H) def. Clint Tyler 8-1

DOUBLES

1. Hunter Tubert & Austin Preece (H) def. Jordan Pitts & Cameron Mount 8-5
2. Joseph Touma & Chip Sweeney (H) def. Dawson Bezehertny & Tony Liu 9-7
3. Tyler Staker & Grant Subik (H) def. Dillon Bezehertny & Clint Tyler 8-5

FIRST ROUND [BOYS B DIVISION] -- EDMOND MEMORIAL 6, HUNTINGTON 3

EDMOND MEMORIAL 6, HUNTINGTON 3

Friday, March 28, 2014 | 12:00pm
Saint Xavier High School

SINGLES

1. Hunter Tubert (H) def. Craig Mays 8-1
2. Blake Cherry (EM) def. Austin Preece 8-2
3. Joseph Touma (H) def. McCann Bell 8-5
4. Chase Brill (EM) def. Chip Sweeney 8-1
5. Preston Choi (EM) def. Tyler Staker 8-1
6. Jacob Plant (EM) def. Grant Subik 9-7

DOUBLES

1. Hunter Tubert & Austin Preece (H) def. McCann Bell & Preston Choi 9-7
2. Chase Brill & Jacob Plant (EM) def. Joseph Touma & Chip Sweeney 8-4
3. Blake Cherry & Craig Mays (EM) def. Tyler Staker & Grant Subik 8-1

7TH PLACE -- SAYRE 7, HUNTINGTON 2

SAYRE 7, HUNTINGTON 2

Saturday, March 22, 2014 | 1:30pm
7th Place Final | E.P. Sawyer State Park

SINGLES

1. Madeline Rolph (S) def. Ava Ratcliff 6-0, 6-0
2. Julian Mok (S) def. Kate Huck 6-0, 6-0
3. Molly Manella (S) def. Rachele Subik 7-5, 6-1
4. Nicole Oliashirazi (H) def. Grace Headley 6-4, 6-1
5. Allison Harris (S) def. Leah Simon 6-0, 6-3
6. Morgan Staker (H) def. Isabel Green 6-2, 6-2

DOUBLES

1. Madeline Rolph & Julian Mok (S) def. Kate Huck & Rachele Subik, forfeit
2. Molly Manella & Grace Headley (S) def. Ava Ratcliff & Nicole Oliashirazi, forfeit
3. Allison Harri & Isabel Green (S) def. Leah Simon & Morgan Staker, forfeit

ORDER OF FINISH

Singles: 1,2,5,6,4,3
Doubles: ---

Match Time: 1:14

SILVER BRACKET -- GIRLS PREPARATORY 8, HUNTINGTON 1

GIRLS PREPARATORY 8, HUNTINGTON 1

Saturday, March 22 2014 | 9:00am
Silver Bracket | E.P. Sawyer State Park

SINGLES

1. Michelle Fleenor (GPS) def. Ava Ratcliff 2-6, 6-0, 10-7
2. Kate Huck (H) def. Jennie McBrayer 6-1, 4-6, 10-7
3. Maddox Bandy (GPS) def. Rachele Subik 6-2, 6-4
4. Danielle Simms (GPS) def. Nicole Oliashirazi 6-1, 6-0
5. Analisa Stratienko (GPS) def. Leah Simon 6-1, 6-1
6. Virginia Hammond (GPS) def. Morgan Staker 6-0, 6-3

DOUBLES

1. Michelle Fleenor & Jennie McBrayer (GPS) def. Kate Huck & Rachele Subik 8-5
2. Jenna Thorstenson &Maddox Bandy (GPS) def. Ava Ratcliff & Nicole Olisahirazi 8-5
3. Virginia Hammond & Ayushi Sinha (GPS) def. Leah Simon & Morgan Staker 8-0

ORDER OF FINISH

Singles: 4,6,5,1,2,3
Doubles: 3,1,2

Match Time: 2:38

POOL PLAY -- HUNTINGTON 7, ASSUMPTION 2

HUNTINGTON 7, ASSUMPTION 2

Friday, March 21, 2014 | 6:30pm
Group C | Saint Xavier

SINGLES

1. Ava Ratcliff (H) def. Carolyn Morris 7-6, 5-7, 10-6
2. Kate Huck (H) def. Kelly Morris 6-2, 6-4
3. Rachele Subik (H) def. Lauren Buller 6-4, 6-3
4. Nicole Oliashirazi (H) def. Victoria Cameron 5-7, 6-4, 10-6
5. Leah Simon (H) def. Haley Smith 7-5, 7-6
6. Edo Ighadaro (A) def. Morgan Staker 6-4, 6-1

DOUBLES

1. Kelly Morris & Carolyn Morris (A) def. Kate Huck & Rachele Subik 8-6
2. Ava Ratcliff & Nicole Oliashirazi (H) def. Victoria Cameron & Lauren Buller 8-2
3. Leah Simon & Morgan Staker (H) def. Kendel Hieatt & Haley Smith 8-6

ORDER OF FINISH

Doubles: 2,1,3
Singles: 6,5,3,1,2,4

Match Time: 3:14

POOL PLAY -- PINE CREST 9, HUNTINGTON 0

PINE CREST 9, HUNTINGTON 0

Friday, March 21, 2014 | 10:30am
Group C | Top Gun Academy

SINGLES

1. Stephanie Taylor (PC) def. Ava Ratcliff 6-1, 7-5
2. Kaely Malik (PC) def. Kate Huck 6-1,6-1
3. Demi Snyder (PC) def. Rachele Subik 7-6, 6-0
4. Amanda Rabin (PC) def. Nicole Oliashirazi 6-1, 6-3
5. Katarina Stevanovich (PC) def. Leah Simon 6-0, 6-1
6. Dani Shecter (PC) def. Morgan Staker 6-0, 6-0

DOUBLES

1. Stephanie Taylor & Demi Snyder (PC) def. Kate Huck & Rachele Subik 8-3
2. Ines de Bracamonte & Kaely Malik (PC) def. Ava Ratcliff & Nicole Oliashirazi 8-0
3. Carly Feldman & Dani Shecter (PC) def. Leah Simon & Morgan Staker 8-0

ORDER OF FINISH

Doubles: 3,1,2
Singles: 6,5,2,4,3,1

Match Time: 2:53

2014 Boys B Division Tournament Pairings Released

The schedule and pairings have been released for the 2014 DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships Boys B Division presented by Subway. The 2014 tournament will feature 8 teams from five different states including two defending state champions.

The top half of the tournament bracket is highlighted by Oklahoma Class 6A 3rd place finisher Edmond Memorial (Edmond, OK). The Bulldogs are led by sophomores Chase Brill and Craig Mays and Oklahoma Class 6A No. 2 Doubles state finalists McCann Bell and Preston Choi. Edmond Memorial will open tournament play against Huntington (Huntington, WV). The 2013 West Virginia Class AAA runner-up is led by West Virginia Class AAA Singles state champion Hunter Tubert, the state's top ranked junior. Kentucky state quarterfinalist South Oldham (Crestwood, KY) returns five of their top six players from last season including Kentucky's top ranked sophomore Jordan Pitts. South Oldham will meet Mount Saint Joseph (Baltimore, MD) in the opening round. The Gaels are the defending Maryland private school state champions and finished 7th in last year's DecoTurf High school Tennis Team Championships Boys A Division. Mount Saint Joseph is led by Villanova commit Matt Phelps.

The bottom half of the bracket will feature Trinity (Louisville, KY) led by Kentucky Doubles quarterfinalist Austin Strause and Doubles semi-finalist Mustafa Gardezi. The Shamrocks will open tournament play against Kentucky rival Model Lab (Richmond, KY). Model Lab is led by Kentucky commit Gus Benson, a Kentucky Singles quarterfinalist. The bottom bracket also includes West Virginia Class AAA state champion George Washington (Charleston, WV). George Washington is led by West Virginia's top ranked senior Ryan Massinople, a Furman commit. The Patriots open play against Ensworth (Nashville, TN). Ensworth is led by senior Bobby Bethke.

The tournament semi-finals will take place on Saturday at 8:30am. The 2014 tournament Championship will take place at 2:30pm at Saint Xavier High School.

2014 Girls Tournament Pairings Released

The schedule and pairings have been released for the 2014 Girls DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships presented by Subway. The 2014 tournament will feature 12 teams from 7 different states including five defending team State Champions. The twelve teams have been split into four groups for opening round pool play on Friday. Based on results in pool play teams will be split into one of three brackets on Saturday.

Group A features defending Georgia Class 6A State Champion Walton (Marietta, GA) with four of Georgia's top juniors including Jessica Cramer, Johanna Keeline, Bella Kuse, and Suzanne Zenoni. The Raiders will be making their first tournament appearance along with Sayre (Lexington, KY). Sayre features Kentucky's top ranked junior and 2013 Kentucky Girls Singles State Champion Madeline Rolph and Army commit and state quarterfinalist Julian Mok. Highlands (Fort Thomas, KY) will be making their third tournament appearance and are led by the state's second ranked junior Meredith Laskey and return four of their top 5 five players from last season's regional championship. 

Group B features three-time defending tournament champion and Tennessee Division II Class AA State Champion Baylor (Chattanooga, TN). The Red Raiders have won a tournament record 11 straight matches behind Chattanooga commit and three-time Tournament MVP Samantha Caswell. Defending champion Baylor also includes former All-Tournament team selections Harper Caswell and McCall Morgan. This group also features back-to-back Florida Class 3A State Champion Barron Collier (Naples, FL) led by sophomore Kaeli Smashey, but the Cougars return just two players from last season's state championship in Hannah Etten & Emily Wyman. Arizona Division II semi-finalist Notre Dame Prep (Scottsdale, AZ) rounds out the group behind seniors Sarah Eversman and Caitlin Railson, Arizona Division II Doubles 3rd Place finisher. 

Group C features Florida Class 2A 3rd Place finisher Pine Crest (Fort Lauderdale, FL) returns freshman Stephanie Taylor, state semi-finalist at #1 singles, and #3 singles State Champion Ines de Bracamonte. Virginia signee, Cassie Mercer, will lead West Virginia Class AAA State Champion Huntington (Huntington, WV) along with fellow Doubles All-Tournament team selection Kate Huck. Assumption (Louisville, KY), the last Kentucky team to win the tournament championship in 2009, returns to the event for a tournament record tying 5th time. The Rockets are led by sisters Carolyn Morris and Kelly Morris and junior Hallie Pennington. 

Group D features two-time tournament runner-up Girls Preparatory School (Chattanooga, TN) in their first appearance since 2012. GPS is led by Washington & Lee commit Michelle Fleenor. This group also features Florida Class A Runner-Up Ransom Everglades (Miami, FL) and a trio of Division I commits including Allegra Hanlon (Cornell), Claudia Mackenzie (Navy), and Lindsey Mendelson (Columbia). Defending Oklahoma Class 5A State Champion Duncan (Duncan, OK) rounds out Group D behind No. 2 singles state finalist Alex Bowers and Doubles State Champions Sydney Henricks and Carly Kirkland.

The champions of each division will meet in the tournament semi-finals with Group A meeting Group B and Group C taking on Group D. The tournament championship will take place on Saturday, March 22nd at 3:00pm at Top Gun Academy. 

Twelve Past Participants Named National High School All Americans

Congratulations to the twelve past participants that were named National High School All-Americans. The National High School Tennis All-American Foundation has presented the honors annually since 2000. The honors are given to the top 40 boys and top 40 girls high school players in the nation who have exhibited an above average academic and citizenship record, competed on their high school tennis team, and garnered an individual national ranking.

The following players were selected as National High School All-Americans for 2013:

Hudson Blake - Senior - Brophy Prep (Phoenix, AZ)

Sean Donohue - Senior - Saint Xavier (Louisville, KY)

Martin Joyce - Sophomore - Hinsdale Central  (Hinsdale, IL)

Aaron Jumonville - Senior - Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville, TN)

Kourtney Keegan - Senior - Blessed Trinity (Roswell, GA)

Robert Kelly - Junior - Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, NC) 

Joulia Likhanskaia - Senior - Winter Park (Winter Park, FL)

Cassie Mercer - Junior - Huntington (Huntington, WV)

Baker Newman - Junior - Gulliver Prep (Pinecrest, FL)

Chase Perez-Blanco - Junior - Gulliver Prep (Pinecrest, FL)

Walker Sims - Junior - Memphis University School (Memphis, TN)

Olivia Thaler - Junior - Gulliver Prep (Pinecrest, FL)

Congratulations to all of these players on this fantastic accomplishment!

2013 Girls A Division All-Tournament Team

The following players were selected to the 2013 DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships Girls A Division All-Tournament Team for their outstanding performance during tournament play.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

SAMANTHA CASWELL

JUNIOR • BAYLOR

SINGLES

HARPER CASWELL
JUNIOR • BAYLOR

KATIE FITT
JUNIOR • RAVENWOOD

MCKINLEIGH LAIR
SOPHOMORE • JENKS

JOULIA LIKHANSKAIA
SENIOR • WINTER PARK

CASSIE MERCER
JUNIOR • HUNTINGTON

JOSIE ROGERS

SOPHOMORE • DOBYNS BENNETT

LIZA SOUTHWICK

SENIOR • HARPETH HALL

OLIVIA THALER

JUNIOR • GULLIVER PREP

DOUBLES

MCCALL MORGAN & HARPER CASWELL

JUNIORS • BAYLOR

IRIS HAO & KATIE FITT

JUNIORS • RAVENWOOD

KATE HUCK & CASSIE MERCER

JUNIORS • HUNTINGTON

ESTEFANIA NAVARRO & OLIVIA THALER

FRESHMAN & JUNIOR • GULLIVER PREP

PRESENTED BY