USTA SoCal sent some of our best and brightest Boys & Girls 18s representatives to the National Team Championships, and our teams did not disappoint. Both squads came home with first place finishes, firmly establishing Southern California as a leader in youth player development and team competition.

Facing USTA sections from across the nation, both squads met ample challenges. At Champaign, Ill., the Boys 18s dispatched Hawaii with a 7-0 team sweep, then toppled Midwest in the second round before overcoming Missouri Valley en route to the championship final.  In the final, USTA Southern was no match for #TeamSoCal as the boys posted a solid 5-2 win and hoisted the National trophy.

Closer to home, Claremont hosted the Girls National competition – an ample stomping ground for surging #TeamSoCal. After knocking off Intermountain in the opening round, the Cali girls were too strong for Florida, then swept all six singles match in their showdown with Eastern before squeaking out a nailbiter with USTA Southern, earning their own National title.

Team SoCal Boys 18s USTA National Team Champions

Jake Sands, Timothy Sah, Jacob Bullard, Ryan Seggerman, Caleb Chakravarthi, Ivan Thamma, Bryce Pereira. Coach Grant Chen with SCTA’s Trevor Kronemann.

def. Hawaii (7-0); def. Midwest (7-0); def. Missouri Valley (5-2); def. Southern (5-2).

Team SoCal Girls 18s USTA National Team Champions

Cali Jankowski, Salma Ewing, Kelly Chen, Hannah Zhao, Rena Lin, Jennifer Kerr, Solymar Colling. Coach Debbie Graham Shaffer with SCTA’s Megan Heneghan.

def. Intermountain (6-1); def. Florida (5-2); def. Eastern (6-1); def. Southern (4-3).