July 28, 2019

The 34th annual Dr. Pepper/Tennis Outlet Junior open concluded last Sunday with Fredericksburg area netters taking home many awards in the boys, girls and mixed doubles events.  The 83 singles participants and 44 doubles teams from throughout the Hill Country area battled over the three day event.

In an all-Fredericksburg Boys 18 and under doubles final, Noah DeLeon and Blake Boubel bested Levi Wilkins and Jorge Lopez in a hard fought final 2-6, 7-6(6), 10-6.  Fredericksburg High School girl’s tennis standout Olivia Alvarez teamed with Morgan Sales of Bourne to take top prize in the Girls 18 and under doubles.  Alvarez also teamed with Triston Anderson of Wimberley and finished second in the mixed doubles 18 and under division to the Bourne team of Morgan Sales and Ethan Evans.  Fredericksburg’s  Tatum Koennecke and Chloe Wonek claimed the Girls 14 and under doubles championship while Fredericksburg’s Rachel King and Grayson Halford finished second the Mixed Doubles 14 and under division.

July 20, 2019

The Fredericksburg Tennis Association hosted a youth tennis camp instructed by the University of Texas – San Antonio Roadrunner college tennis coaches July 11-15, 2019, at Fredericksburg High School and Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park tennis courts.  UTSA’s men’s and women’s UTSA tennis coaches vast coaching and instruction experience at various tennis clubs, academies and various colleges translated into a fun, team spirited tennis atmosphere with high levels of on court instruction, tips and strategies.  Match play, drills, stroke mechanics and personal evaluations were all part of the process that included a camp wide team competition where the Blue team bested the Orange team to claim the first ever bragging rights!  For their win, the Blue team was granted the opportunity to “water down” Orange team members with squirt guns at the camp’s conclusion. 

Our Fredericksburg High School 2019 Texas state champion tennis coach Randall King commented about the tennis camp “Bringing this level of tennis expertise right here to the Hill Country gave kids the unprecedented opportunity to hone in on their game style, stroke mechanics and tactics and  build a solid foundation, understanding and love of the game to all players regardless of level. We consider this first year with the UTSA coaches a great success.” 

June 14, 2019

FTA hosted approximately 35 kids during TENNIS WEEK for the Wellness Center Fit Kids Camp program.  In addition to an introduction to tennis, kids were divided up into like groups to perform drills, learn skills and play games.  The kids also loved the Tootsie Roll Pops and Soap Bubbles distributed to kids at the end of the sessions. 

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June 10, 2019

The second annual Centennial Bank Hill Country USTA-sanctioned Challenger tennis tournament brought 234 youth tennis enthusiasts to Fredericksburg and surrounding area tennis facilities June 8 and 9, 2019,for competitive double elimination singles tournament play.  The stifling heat and humidity did not deter juniors representing 51 cities in Texas from giving their all on the court. Many parents, friends and families watched the tennis and enjoyed the Fredericksburg area lodging, food and shopping.

The youngest kids, age 10 and under competed at the Lady Bird Johnson Park courts Saturday. While those ages 12 to 18 competed over two days, Saturday in Fredericksburg and Kerrville, and Sunday in Fredericksburg.  

Fredericksburg’s David Lindsay was victorious in the Boys 16 and under White Division controlling Joshua Pack of Schertz, Texas, 6-2, 6-0 in the finals.   Fredericksburg’s Jorge Lopez just missed a medal, losing a highly competitive match to Deven Agarwal of Boerne, Texas, 6-4, 6-2 in the consolation round Boys 16 and under Red Division.  Fredericksburg High School tennis standout Noah DeLeon made it to the semi-finals of the Boys 18 and under division where he was bested by the eventual division winner, Donald DeCotis of Shavano Park, Texas, 6-0, 5-7, 1-0(5).  

The Fredericksburg Tennis Association (FTA) plans and executes this tournament for the benefit of area junior tennis players as well as for the benefit of youth tennis in general.  Hosting this large tournament requires certified officials, site directors and local volunteers and businesses who support the event.  Those businesses include Centennial Bank, Texas Oncology, Absolute Charm Real Estate Group, Cameron-Brooks, Inc., Culligan Water, Edward Jones, First United, Fredericksburg Wellness Center, Fredericksburg Equine, Fredericksburg Medical Equipment, Fredericksburg Physical Therapy, Fredericksburg Realty, Hill Country Memorial, Hills of Texas Homes, Morgan Stanley, Mustard Design, Otto’s German Bistro, Prescription Laboratory, Select Title and Tubby’s Ice House. Additionally, local restaurants Rathskeller and Burger Burger provided lunches for tournament staff. Net proceeds are ceded into other local junior tennis programs or camps, Fredericksburg area tennis court capital improvements and scholarship programs.