Evann Waschuk
is hoping 2010 will be even better than her
highly successful 2009 tennis season.
Wed Dec 30'09
Winnipeg, MB (Avi
Saper,
Canstar News) – It was a year to remember for Evann
Waschuk on the tennis courts, but all she wants from
Santa is an even better 2010.
The 16-year-old Lindenwoods resident was named Female
Player of the Year by Tennis Manitoba earlier this month,
which should come as no surprise considering she ended
the season as the province’s top-ranked female player.
In a season that included three victories in Open Tour
events, the undisputed highlight was Waschuk’s triple
crown at the province’s biggest tournament, the Manitoba
Open, where she won the women’s singles, women’s doubles
(with partner Erika Fridrik) and mixed doubles (with
Muzeen Ismath) titles.
“This was by far my best season,” said the Grade 11
Vincent Massey Collegiate student. “I consider the doubles
just as important as singles, and the women’s doubles
was the hardest one to win. We somehow pulled it out.”
Waschuk and Fridrik needed a third-set tiebreak to beat
Anita Paskvalin and Clarissa Chen for the championship.
Jared Connell, who has been coaching Waschuk since September,
calls her an “aggressive baseliner” who plays a “fearless
and athletic” style.
“She has a little more mental maturity than some of
the other girls locally,” Connell said, “and physically
she’s very athletic naturally.”
In order to keep improving, Waschuk has been seeking
out competition throughout North America.
“It’s really hard (in Manitoba),” Waschuk said, “especially
since there’s not much female competition. I mostly
play against my coach and some of the guys my age.”
Her 2009 tennis travels took her to tournaments in Toronto,
Montreal, Edmonton and Vancouver. She also went to Prince
Edward Island as a member of Team Manitoba for the Canada
Summer Games, where she finished fifth.
Earlier this month, she was in Florida for two and a
half weeks for the prestigious Prince Cup tournament
as well as a college exposure camp where players can
meet U.S. college coaches and learn about the recruitment
process.
“I definitely picked up my travelling in the past year,
and I want to do more travelling next year,” she said.
Both player and coach agree that improved fitness will
be a key for Waschuk as she competes more on the national
and international levels.
“The average rally here might be five or six shots,”
Connell said. “She needs to be playing nine or 10 quality
shots to play points on an international level.
“What she’s comfortable with as far as the length of
rallies, these girls are used to double that.”
Since she started working with Connell and a personal
trainer, Waschuk has seen an improvement.
“In Florida I saw during some matches how fit I was,”
she said, adding that she plans to work on improving
her mental and tactical “match toughness” in 2010.
On the court, Waschuk’s big goal for the coming year
is to make it to the quarter-finals at the national
championship (she’s been close before), and to establish
herself in the International Tennis Federation’s world
rankings.
Off the court, she’s hoping to secure an early scholarship
to a Division 1 school in the U.S. by the time she starts
Grade 12.
“I don’t want to have that pressure at the end of Grade
12,” she said.
Republished from the Canstar
News print edition December 30, 2009
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2010 Half-court
Community Team Tennis
Click to enlarge
Progressive tennis
is a tennis program which allows young players
to learn and play the game more quickly, efficiently
and successfully. It uses a systematic progression
of court sizes, balls, and racquets, to scale
the game down to an appropriate level for young
players.
Wed Dec 30'09
Winnipeg, MB (TM) – South Winnipeg Community
Tennis, a Tennis Canada Building Tennis Communities
Program, has announced their Half-court Community Team
Tennis league. Starting in February 2010 at the St.
Paul's High School, the league is designed for beginners
with minimal tennis experience.
Kids aged between 5 and 12 years old
will participate on teams of 4 to 6 players. The progressive
tennis format with use half-court play areas with modified
tennis balls to promote ease of learning. Games will
consist of both singles and doubles play after an initial
practice period meant to help with basic tennis fundamentals.
League play will take place between
February and May 2010 and will cost $60 per player.
The sign-up deadline is February 12th but a limited
number of spots are available. For registration details
click here.
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Tennis Manitoba
Raises a Racquet for Kids
Photos: Alan
McTavish / Bruce Waschuk - Click to enlarge
Left to right
(back row) Martin Laurendeau, Phillip Bester,
Peter Polasky, Hart Pollack, Jared Connell,
referee Grant Wuckert, (front row) Tennis Manitoba
"ball kids" Katzia Kubiz, Alexia Cholakis, Kylie
Waschuk, Cole LaCap, Conner Davis and Emily
Fridrik.
Phillip Bester,
Frank Dancevic, Peter Polasky with Evann Waschuk,
Female Player of the Year.
Title Sponsor:
Dr. Ernest Cholakis of Kids Dental Group with
daughter Christiana Cholakis
Jim Millican,
President of Tennis Manitoba and Awards M.C.
with Vice-President of Tennis Manitoba, Bob
Gowenlock
Wed Dec 23'09
Winnipeg, MB (Winnipeg
Free Press, Community Profile) – Tennis Manitoba's
2009 "Raising a Racquet for Kids" Awards Banquet took
place December 2nd at the Winnipeg Winter Club. Three
of Canada's world-ranked professionals - Phillip Bester,
Frank Dancevic and Peter Polasky - attended with Davis
Cup Coach and Captain Martin Laurendeau.
The group hosted a two hour clinic for Manitoba's elite
junior players, conducted a Pro-Am for donors and took
part in doubles and singles matches that thrilled spectators
when Polansky and Bester turned up the power.
The evening banquet celebrated the achievements of Manitoba's
top players for 2009 including a third national Wheelchair
Tennis title won by Lee Carter and a Community Champion
Award presented to Boris Bachynski for volunteer work
at the Victoria Beach Club.
Tennis Canada Vice President Hatem McDadi brought greetings
and shared his personal enthusiasm for the grassroots
development of the game and Dr. Ernest Cholakis, representing
title sponsor Kids Dental Group, spoke passionately
about how tennis teaches valuable life skills and lessons.
Funds raised this year will support new and existing
junior tennis programs in the Aboriginal community,
wheelchair tennis, schools, and junior high performance
players.
Tennis Manitoba thanks major sponsors: Kids Dental,
John Pollard and The Paletta Group and key contributors:
Tennis Canada, Taylor Tennis, Winnipeg Winter Club,
DIY Framing, Craig Guenther, La-Z-Boy Furniture, Quintex
Services and Wilson for their generous support.
Republished
from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December
23, 2009
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click here.
Click to enlarge
Pro-Am participants
and pro partners Phillip Bester, Dr. John Perry,
Alexia Cholakis, Allan Moorish, Lori Mann, Dean
Coburn, Frank Dancevic and Peter Polansky
Pros present awards
to juniors (back row-left to right) Phillip
Bester, Frank Dancevic, Alexia Cholakis, Peter
Polansky, Eagan Peters, (front row) Igal Mostkov,
Chad LaCap and Conner Davis
Manitoba's elite
juniors enjoyed a clinic with Canada's top ranked
professional players Frank Dancevic, Peter Polansky
and Phillip Bester and Canada's Davis Cup Coach
Martin Laurendeau and coach Dean Coburn
Visitors from
Tennis Canada receive gift of Manitoba Moose
sweaters. Back row: Frank Dancevic, Jim Millican,
Martin Laurendeau. Front row: Phillip Bester,
Peter Polansky and Dean Coburn
Table Sponsor
Doris Campeau (seated second from right) and
Pierre Campeau (standing second from right)
with guests
Tennis Manitoba
Open Tour points winners with guest pros (back
row): Alan Gardiner, Lori Mann, Phillip Bester,
Evann Waschuk, Frank Dancevic and Peter Polansky.
Front row: Jake Bergen, Jared Connell and Gregg
Tkachuk
Tennis Manitoba
board member Ainsley Bishop (front row right)
and guests
2009 Tennis Manitoba
Most Improved Players
Click to enlarge
Tennis Manitoba's
most improved player award recipient Emily Fridrik
shown at the 2009 U14 Rogers Junior National
Championships held in Mont Tremblant, Quebec.
Tue Dec 22'09
Winnipeg, MB (TM)
– Emily Fridrik was presented the 2009 Most Improved
Player Award at the 2009 Tennis Manitoba Awards Banquet.
The award recognizes the Manitoban that gains the most
points on the national head-to-head ranking system,
Roger Rankings.
After failing to win a tournament
in 2008, Emily captured the U16 Girls Singles Championship
at the Big Sand Junior Classic in April and the U14
Girls Singles Championship at the LM Architectural Junior
Open in July. Emily also competed on the Open Tour in
2009, finishing the year as the number 4 player in the
Women’s 4.5 Singles rankings after winning the Kildonan
Open.
Other players in Manitoba to gain more than 200 Rogers
Ranking points in 2009 were Kevin Kylar, Alan Gardiner,
Cole LaCap, Alexia Cholakis and Muzeen Ismath. For more
Rogers Ranking details
click here.
Proceeds from this year’s awards banquet will go
towards supporting the development of wheelchair tennis,
grassroots programs, school initiatives and junior development
programs. To check out the other award winners profiled
in the Tennis Manitoba 1st Serve magazine
click here.
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right to you? Sign up today for a free subscription
to the Tennis Manitoba eNews. To find out how
click here.
2009 Tennis Manitoba
Sportsmanlike Awards
Click
to enlarge
2009 Tennis
Manitoba sportsmanlike award winners
Jake Bergen (top) and Anika Campeau.
Mon Dec 21'09
Winnipeg, MB (TM)
– Nice guys don't always finish last, especially this
year on the tennis courts in Manitoba. While Jake Bergen
was winning over new friends with his friendly courtside
manner, he was also dominating the 2009 Tennis Manitoba
Open Tour 3.5 level tournament events.
On December 4th at the fourth annual Tennis Manitoba
Awards Banquet, Jake was presented the 2009 Tennis Manitoba
Most Sportsmanlike Player.
Junior player Anika Campeau was the recipient of the
Art Foster Most Sportsmanlike Junior
award, in honor of
2006 Manitoba Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Art Foster.
A longtime member of the Kildonan Tennis Club, Jake
has been a fixture in the tennis community for many
years. His pleasant demeanor has been appreciated by
tournament directors and officials at tennis tournaments
in Manitoba for quite some time. Jake continues to be
a calm and steady player on the tennis court and he
has the utmost respect for the game which is reflected
in his attitude toward his opponents. His conduct on
the court sets a great example for all tennis players
in the province. Jake also continues to post strong
results, finishing the year as the # 1 player in the
Men’s 3.5 Singles rankings.
Anika Campeau was a tremendous teammate as a member
of the Canada Summer Games training team this past year.
Although she was not named to the final roster she continued
to work extremely hard in an effort to support the other
members of the team. Anika always shows respect for
her opponents, coaches and officials and displays a
positive attitude on and off the tennis court. Her great
work ethic and desire to win, combined with her focus
on fair play, make her a complete player. Anika is a
great role model for the young junior players that are
competing in our sport.
Proceeds from this year’s awards banquet will go
towards supporting the development of wheelchair tennis,
grassroots programs, school initiatives and junior development
programs. To check out the other award winners profiled
in the Tennis Manitoba 1st Serve magazine
click here.
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right to you? Sign up today for a free subscription
to the Tennis Manitoba eNews. To find out how
click here.
Rogers Rookie
Tour wraps up 2009 as a Big Success
Thu Dec 18'09
Winnipeg, MB (TM)
– The final Rogers Rookie Tour is scheduled for this
coming Sunday, December 20th from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at
the Winnipeg Winter Club. However, the 2009 edition
of the national program that was designed to bridge
the gap between entry-level tennis and the provincial
competitive junior circuit has been a smashing success
in Manitoba. Only Ontario had more kids attend Rogers
Rookie Tour events held in that province during the
past year.
The mission of the Rogers Rookie Tour is to create a
positive, fun, entry-level competition opportunity for
starter junior tennis players. The under 12 age groups
use the Progressive Tennis format. Progressive tennis
is a program for 5-12 year olds which allows young players
to learn and play the game more quickly, efficiently
and successfully through a progression of court sizes,
balls, and racquets.
All participants will get a Rogers Tour t-shirt, towel,
sling bag and sweatband. Events will be held for 3/4
and 1/2 court tennis. Participants that are capable
of three hit rallies can play the 1/2 court events at
the tournament.
For more information, a complete schedule and a copy
of the Rookie Tour entry form
click here.
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to the Tennis Manitoba eNews. To find out how
click here.
Lee Carter Video
Profile
Click
to enlarge
Lee Carter
Mon Dec 14'09
Winnipeg, MB (TM - Sean Grassie) – Lee
Carter continues to bring great pride to the Manitoba
tennis community. The Winnipegger is now a three-time
Canadian wheelchair champion in singles and doubles
after his wins in November. And he’s looking to give
back by helping to increase participation in wheelchair
sport.
Sean Grassie and fellow Red River College student Dan
Timmerman produced this video of Lee for a class project.
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Change of guard
at 2009 Winnipeg Indoor Open
Photos: B Waschuk
Click to enlarge
Alexia Cholakis
(pictured top to bottom), Sean LaCap, Will McPherson
& Dong Wong Kang, Jake Bergen & Joe Cyr, and
a supportive crowd at the Winnipeg Winter Club.
Thu Dec 10'09
Winnipeg,
MB (TM) – The final Tennis Manitoba Open Tour tournament
of 2009 held this past weekend at the Winnipeg Winter
Club featured a new set of champions. In the Men’s Open
final Sean LaCap defeated Stephen Dubienski, the winner
of the event for three years leading up to this final,
6-4, 6-2.
On the women’s
side the open singles event was settled in a three set
marathon lasting over 2 hours. Fifteen-year-old Alexia
Cholakis was victorious over fourteen-year-old Kylie
Waschuk 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.
The youth
movement continued in the Men’s 4.5 title which went
to sixteen-year-old Will McPherson. The 4th seed McPherson
defeated unseeded Dong Wong Kang 6-4, 6-2 after getting
past number 1 seed Marc Lloyd in the semi-finals. The
Women’s 4.5 title went to Lisa Bayco after outlasting
junior Lea Savatic in their round robin match, 6-2,
6-7, 10-8.
Five time
event champion Glen Dyck was defeated by Jake Bergen
in the Men’s 3.5 event semi-finals. Jake continued on
to win the finals in a very close match with unseeded
Joe Cyr 7-5, 6-4.
The Men’s
Open Doubles title went to juniors Igal Mostgov and
Muzeen Ismath who defeated Western Canadian Senior National
title holders Jared Connell and Geoff Kirbyson 9-5.
The junior pairing of Kylie Waschuk and Anika Campeau
were able to win their round robin to take the Women’s
Open Doubles title, while Hugh Hull and partner Myles
Kraut were victorious in the Men’s 3.5 Doubles category.
Thanks to
tournament director Peter Otto and his supporting staff
at the Winnipeg Winter Club for hosting a successful
event. Well done David Kives and Grant Wuckert for their
officiating services which helped keep everyone on track.
For complete
2009 Winnipeg Indoor Open draws and results
click
here.
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to the Tennis Manitoba eNews. To find out how
click here.
Juniors sweep
Top Player Awards
File Photo:
B Waschuk
Click to enlarge
Evann Waschuk
and Sean Bailey shown at the 2009 Kildonan Open
Tennis Championships where they both won the
open singles and doubles, and also made it to
the open mixed doubles event finals.
Wed Dec 9'09
Winnipeg, MB (TM) – And the winners are... The top players
of 2009 were announced December 4th at the fourth annual
Tennis Manitoba Awards Banquet. Evann Waschuk and Sean
Bailey took home the grand prize of Top Female and Male
players of the year, respectively.
Evann Waschuk finished her year as the top ranked female
player in the province and captured three Open Tour
events. Among her tournament victories was her first
ever Manitoba Open Singles Championship. In addition
to the singles title at Manitoba’s premier tournament
of the year, Evann added the Women’s Doubles and Mixed
Doubles championships to earn the Triple Crown. She
represented Manitoba at the U16 and U18 Rogers Junior
National Championships and was also an integral part
of Team Manitoba at the 2009 Canada Summer Games.
Sean Bailey completed his junior tennis career by teaming
up with Chad the Bronze Medal in Men’s Doubles at the
2009 Canada Summer Games. This was Manitoba’s first
medal at the Games since 1973! Sean also represented
our province at the U18 Rogers Junior National Championships
and reached the quarter-finals at the ITF Junior tournament
in Burlington. On the local scene, Sean captured the
Men’s Singles title at the Kildonan Open and was the
top Manitoban at the Manitoba Open.
This was the first year in the awards four year history
where juniors took home both the Male and Female of
the Year honours. The Tennis Manitoba Awards Banquet
not only honours the most outstanding players and community
members in their category, but also ensures a strong
tennis presence in the future.
Proceeds from this year’s awards banquet will go towards
supporting the development of wheelchair tennis, grassroots
programs, school initiatives and junior development
programs. To check out the other award winners profiled
in the Tennis Manitoba 1st Serve magazine
click here.
