There is so much going on in Southern California Junior Tennis, a great time of year to celebrate Sportsmanship, Team, and Innovation.

We’ve just about completed selections for Boys and Girls 14/16 Intersectional Teams that will represent Southern California in Auburn, Alabama and Shreveport, Louisiana in July.

Boys and Girls 18s Intersectional Squads have been named, along with coaches for Zonal Competitions in 12s, 14s, and 16s, and zonal teams for the summer.

Some forthcoming advances in innovation will lead to more opportunities in fulfilling our Southern California Clay Court Sectional Quota and will increase the popularity of our Jim Buck event in September that will include a more dynamic Team approach. In an attempt to improve the sections filling of our National Clay Court Sectional Quota, we are adding a Level 4 Clay Court event that will have selection done by Universal Tennis Rating, and consist of a Round Robin format that will allow all participants at least 3 matches. Winners of each group advancing to the semi-finals. The Jim Buck (in September) will include 16 teams comprised of one boy and girl from every age division 12-18s. The round-robin format will take place at four different sites with the winner of each site advancing to the final rounds at one location in Southern California. Ranking points will be based on TEAM finish.

The SCTA is also proud to honor our Age Division Sportsmanship Winners for 2016; The staff has been hard at work in the Sportsmanship area and we are excited to announce our 2016 Sportsmanship Winners for each age division. We will acknowledge these outstanding athletes on the final weekend of the Junior Sectional Championship.

• B18’s Timothy Sah              
• G18’s Jennifer Kerr
• B16’s Robert Baylon              
• G16’s Eryn Cayetano
• B14’s Jinta Sassamori              
• G14’s Kimberly Hance
• B12’s Rio Ishakawa              
• G12’s Katherine Hui
• B10’s Simon Catanzaro              
• G10’s Margaret Hui
• Player of the Year Boys: Ryan Seggerman              
• Most Improved Boys: Max McKennon
• Player of the Year Girls: Hannah Zhao                            
• Most Improved Girls: Julia Rooney
• Triple Crown Winner: Anne Lutkemeyer

Also, we will be offering “On the Spot” Sportsmanship gift cards and opportunities from Tennis Warehouse, the official Sportsmanship sponsor of USTA Southern California, at CTC Cup and the Southern California Junior Sectionals. There will also be a Girl and Boy Sportsmanship winner daily at the upcoming Sectional Championship. All in the continued efforts to improve and keep Sportsmanship at the forefront of our game.