Thank you for the detail re the cricketers! I watched loads as a kid and couldn't place either. However Ian Hutchinson's wiki entry made me chuckle the highlight being

"whilst playing for Cross Arrows cricket club he scored 204 in 102 balls (which he doesn't shut up about) before lunch including 14 sixes. "

Thanks again to the O for the detail.

Norrie was ranked #2 in the preseason rankings that came out in September, but because he skipped the fall college season, he got dropped. He'll have to work his way back in the individual rankings if he returns to TCU in a few weeks. Cam's main college rivals are #1 Petros Chrysochos (Wake Forest), #2 Mikael Torpegaard (Ohio State), #3 Michael Redlicki (Arkansas), #4 Skander Monsouri (Wake Forest), #5 Hugo di Feo (Ohio State), #6 Nuno Borges (Mississippi State), #6 Christian Sigsgaard (Texas), #8 Tom Fawcett (Stanford), #9 Christopher Eubanks (Georgia Tech) and #10 Nicholas Alverez (Duke). In the Big12, there's also #18 Spencer Papa (Oklahoma), #25 Jolan Cailleau (Tech) and Texas' new Japanese phenom #36 Yuya Ito (who Cam just beat at Waco). TCU is #7 in the (more important) team rankings - #2 in the collegetennistoday rankings.

An article about Kim Schmider who is at Indiana

http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2016/11/21/general-student-spotlight-kim-schmider.aspx

Added the Men's Central Region to the recent post re regional rankings - Julian Cash, Vinny Gillespie and Calum MacGeoch

The Optimist wrote:

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I did notice that all 3 had all left after their freshman year and thought it a bit odd - think I even commented on it when I listed those who had left/moved.  Asked around a bit and it seems (only rumours and hearsay!) that they were not 'cut' as such but that they found the coach so unpleasant (probably deliberately so judging by the other forum) that they asked to transfer.  Two have gone to Texas State (where Pippa Carr has been very happy for 3 years) and I think Ella has gone to Georgia Southern (where Paige Christian is in her second year).  There is one Brit left at Long Beach State - senior Laura Eales - so presumably she is OK with the regime.  I don't know whether these girls used Sarah B, Pippa L, another agency or arranged things themselves but if an agency were used they should have been flagging up the player turnover.  Even if they were doing it themselves, the rosters over the years are in the public domain so it is easy to see a turnover and it should raise an alarm bell.  Not all colleges will develop a player, some coaches are downright unpleasant and some teams are divided.  Mainly these are in the minority but players looking to head over should be aware of this and have their eyes open.  Do your research.  Do players stay 4 years?  How long has the coach been there?  Do they have a bad record with injuries?  When you visit remember they want you to like them but don't be afraid to ask awkward questions.  You should be given time alone with the team.  Ask them about injuries, what is the coach's style - authoritarian, laid-back, how do they deal with things if you go through a rough patch on the court, how are they when the team loses, how do they choose the line-up, how much time do they devote to those who don't make the lineup etc etc.  Contact players you know who are already over there and ask the reputation of the team you are thinking of joining - you can guarantee every other team in California probably knows that LBS can be a difficult place.  College tennis really can be a fantastic experience but there are the odd horror stories.  Don't be so desperate to go that you accept anywhere.  Really put some thought into it.

Edit: I have since been told that Ella, Georgie and Alex in fact were asked to move on rather than the other way around but are happier in their new surroundings.  Also that Holly Reid was not cut as per the poster on the other forum but asked to leave for family reasons.

 

-- Edited by The Optimist on Friday 4th of November 2016 11:16:54 AM

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 Clearly the stars are not aligned for Ella.  Georgia Southern has announced that it is merging with neighbouring Armstrong State (who I think may be Div 2 tennis champs).  It seems that all sports scholarships from both unis will be honoured (that is all athletes can complete their degree for free even if not playing for the new merged uni) but obviously not all athletes from both institutions will get to play.  I do hope if doesn't adversely affect Ella (or indeed Paige Christian) as all things considered I'd say the girl needs a break.

Added John Horoz-Garner to the list of those already out there.

And another on Hannah Brett of McNeese State who holds the current longest winning streak

http://southland.org/news/2017/1/25/WTEN_0125170848.aspx?path=wten