US College Signings and General College Chat 2020/21

cya · Strong Club Player

US College Signings and General College Chat 2020/21

Elegant Point · Satellite level

For the latest in College Tennis news check out Cracked Racquets who continue to be one of the biggest sources of men and womens college tennis coverage.

"Whether its weekly recaps, exclusive interviews with players and coaches, social media takeovers, or live on-site coverage of some of the biggest events each year, we have everything an NCAA tennis fan needs to stay up to date with the latest news from the sport."

www.crackedracquets.com/category/college-tennis/

cya · Strong Club Player

- Will Nolan - Auburn
- Tom Owen - Buffallo (Spring 2021)
- Jamie Bixby - University of North Alabama (Spring 2021)
- Conor Gannon (from Tennis Ireland) - Tennessee
- Max Basing - Stanford
- Matt Clegg- Drake
- Sam Nicholson - University of Montana (Spring 2021)
- Zach Fox - Lenoir-Rhyne University

- Holly Fischer - Harvard
- Sofia Johnson - ODU
- Eleanor Nobbs - DePaul University, Chicago
- Alicia Dudeney - University of Florida (verbal commitment)
- Grace Piper - University of Southern California
- Sophia Hurrion - Marshall University
- Olivia Rook - St. Mary's , California
- Amelie Fryer - Shorter University Div II (Spring 2021)
- Lucia Rizza (Tennis Scotland) - North Dakota
- Jayanne Palma - University of Idaho
- Sally Pethybridge - University of Portland
- Annabel Davis - Northern Arizona University
- Aisling McGrane - Marshall University

A few new names added for 2021 US college signings

Elegant Point · Satellite level

5 key take aways from the ITA tour : UTR circuit, mentions Brits Oscar Cutting (Memphis) and former Drake/Tulsa player turned coach Ben Lott

In an ITA Tour: Fall Circuit by UTR first, the Drake University Fall Circuit tournament was swept by a husband and wife pair. Drake Assistant Mens Coach Ben Lott and Drake Assistant Womens Coach Kristina Lott. This weekends title makes five straight Fall Circuit titles for Ben.

The Tuscaloosa Tennis Center Fall Circuit tournament may have been the most collegiate player heavy tournament up to this point in the Fall Circuit. College players made up 71% of the mens registration and 67% of the womens registration.

The mens draw came down to a three-set battle between Alabamas Zhe Zhou and Memphis Oscar Cutting. Before the finals, Cutting won two third-set tiebreaks. In contrast, Zhou did not drop a set until the finals match. The Bama grad student outlasted Cutting to win his first Fall Circuit title.

I know most people are only interested in D1, but Brit Luke Simkiss (Keiser) tops the ITA NAIA men's singles rankings.

www.wearecollegetennis.com/2020/11/16/five-key-takeaways-from-week-nine-of-the-ita-tour-fall-circuit-by-utr/

www.wearecollegetennis.com/2020/11/19/oracle-ita-naia-mens-final-fall-rankings/

cya · Strong Club Player

- Will Nolan - Auburn
- Tom Owen - Buffallo (Spring 2021)
- Jamie Bixby - University of North Alabama (Spring 2021)
- Conor Gannon (from Tennis Ireland) - Tennessee
- Max Basing - Stanford
- Matt Clegg- Drake
- Sam Nicholson - University of Montana (Spring 2021)
- Zach Cox - Lenoir-Rhyne University
- Harper Mills- Lincoln Memorial University
- Peter Alam - Pacific University

- Holly Fischer - Harvard
- Sofia Johnson - ODU
- Eleanor Nobbs - DePaul University, Chicago
- Alicia Dudeney - University of Florida (verbal commitment)
- Grace Piper - University of Southern California
- Sophia Hurrion - Marshall University
- Olivia Rook - St. Mary's , California
- Amelie Fryer - Shorter University Div II (Spring 2021)
- Lucia Rizza (Tennis Scotland) - North Dakota
- Jayanne Palma - University of Idaho
- Sally Pethybridge - University of Portland
- Annabel Davis - Northern Arizona University
- Lily Hutchinson - Tulsa University
- Aisling McGrane - Marshall University
- Abbie Tyler - Campbell University

More names added

Elegant Point · Satellite level

cya wrote:
The Realist wrote:
I was talking to Charlotte Russell's Dad a week or so ago, and he said that it was highly unlikely that Charlotte would be home from Tulane for Christmas as the University was worried that travel restrictions might mean she was not allowed back into the States in the New Year. I guess there will be other Brits in the same position
Yes quite a few of the players (including freshmen) who were able to go out initially in August for the Fall season would be staying in the States for Christmas - probably staying on campus with other international students or making their own arrangements - meeting up with new friends etc. There are some Universities (e.g. California - UC Berkeley) where the students did not go back to the States for the Fall season due to the pandemic and did their Fall coursework online - so those players are probably in the UK and will spend Christmas with their families.

Good news for those players who have planned to, or are already home for Christmas.
European s could soon be allowed to enter the United States, with the White House considering lifting travel bans imposed at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Travellers from Britain, Ireland and 26 other European countries would be allowed to enter the US under proposals, reported Reuters, with airline officials made aware of the plans. Members of the White Houses coronavirus task-force, as well as officials from public health and other federal agencies, are reportedly in support of the measures. But the US president, Donald Trump, has not decided on whether to remove the travel restrictions, while the timing also remains uncertain. Officials within his administration argue that the restrictions no longer make sense given that most countries around the world are not subject to the entry ban. However with infections averaging 174K per day it's unlikely the F.O. will alow us to travel there unless it's essential travel.

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-usa-travel-exclusi/exclusive-white-house-considers-lifting-european-travel-restrictions-sources-idUKKBN2851EI

Elegant Point · Satellite level

Nice article on former college student athlete Ryan Peniston

DECEMBER 3, 2020 by BRANDON WORTKOTT

TENNIS SPOTLIGHT: RYAN PENISTON AND HOW COLLEGE TENNIS PREPARED HIM FOR THE TOUR

I had the opportunity to interview Ryan Peniston. He is from England and played college tennis at the University of Memphis. He had a successful college career and even got a head start on tour during the fall semester of his senior year. Ryan was ranked as high as 32 in NCAA singles and 13 in NCAA doubles. He also made the NCAA Final Four in doubles. Since being on tour, Ryan has been ranked as high as 359 in singles.
Read more to learn about his story.

Website is thetennisprevison.com (copied link below but doesn't seem to work.... may need to go to website and click on ATP stories)

thetennisprevision.com/2020/12/03/tennis-spotlight-ryan-peniston/

cya · Strong Club Player

- Will Nolan - Auburn
- Tom Owen - Buffallo (Spring 2021)
- Jamie Bixby - University of North Alabama (Spring 2021)
- Conor Gannon (from Tennis Ireland) - Tennessee
- Max Basing - Stanford
- Matt Clegg- Drake
- Sam Nicholson - University of Montana (Spring 2021)
- Zach Cox - Lenoir-Rhyne University
- Harper Mills- Lincoln Memorial University
- Peter Alam - Pacific University
- Joshua Schafer - Francis Marion University

- Holly Fischer - Harvard
- Sofia Johnson - ODU
- Eleanor Nobbs - DePaul University, Chicago
- Alicia Dudeney - University of Florida
- Grace Piper - University of Southern California
- Sophia Hurrion - Marshall University
- Olivia Rook - St. Mary's , California
- Amelie Fryer - Shorter University Div II (Spring 2021)
- Lucia Rizza (Tennis Scotland) - North Dakota
- Jayanne Palma - University of Idaho
- Sally Pethybridge - University of Portland
- Annabel Davis - Northern Arizona University
- Lily Hutchinson - Tulsa University
- Aisling McGrane - Marshall University
- Abbie Tyler - Campbell University
- Sarah O'Connor (Tennis Ireland) - University of New Mexico
- Tiana Fox - Mcneese State university

More names added for 2021 signings

-- Edited by cya on Friday 4th of December 2020 09:41:06 PM

-- Edited by cya on Friday 4th of December 2020 09:41:36 PM

Elegant Point · Satellite level

Allegedly Sophomore Daniel Martin will transfer from Minnesota (Big 10) when it shuts men's tennis at the end of next season, to Elon (CAA)

Lui Maxted has allegedly signed to TCU

-- Edited by Elegant Point on Sunday 20th of December 2020 05:34:32 PM

the addict · Tennis legend

I see Sofia Johnson made the list here several weeks ago. ODU are just announcing her signing ! Must be a very bright girl to be signing at her age.

https://odusports.com/news/2020/12/30/womens-tennis-manilla-inks-no-1-ranked-16-year-old-in-the-united-kingdom.aspx

Elegant Point · Satellite level

Elegant Point wrote:
Drake Uni a former favourite destination for Brit male tennis players, is being sued for renaging on scholarship promises.....The only Brit currently on the roster is Senior Freddie Powell.

Drake University promised two European tennis players tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships only to renege on that agreement after the teens moved to the U.S., according to a lawsuit filed this month.

Davidson Kozlowski, the Bulldogs men's tennis coach, allegedly promised Max and Ralph Maas, twins from Belgium, academic and athletics scholarships totaling more than $30,000 per year apiece to attend Drake. The Maas family was told if the brothers enrolled in January 2019 on their own dime, they would receive athletic and academic scholarships for the upcoming semesters, the lawsuit states.
But five months after they arrived in Des Moines, Kozlowski told them they would not be receiving an athletic scholarship in the fall, breaching an oral contract, according to the petition and jury demand filed June 15 in Polk County.

eu.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime-and-courts/2020/06/26/drake-university-tennis-coach-reneged-on-scholarship-offer-to-european-brothers-lawsuit-states/3206022001/
Interstingly Drake has just signed 4 new players including Brit Matt Clegg, who will transfer from in-state rival Iowa when it closes its doors on men's tennis at the end of the Spring 2021 semester.........

-- Edited by Elegant Point on Sunday 15th of November 2020 08:54:23 PM

Oliver Okonkwo will be another Brit to transfer from Iowa to Drake at the end of next semester and will join current team mate Matt who signed a couple of months ago.

Qoute from Drake Nation:

"Well good news on the tennis front. Just picked up the number 2 player from Iowa, also played 1 doubles. 2 years of eligibility left. Nice pick up. "

Elegant Point · Satellite level

College tennis Spring Semester??

With C-19 cases rising in the US and possible the highest number of cases will be seen in the next 6-8 weeks, , many predicted college tennis could be on hold until March. However the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) is moving forward with the 2021 Kickoff Weekend and subsequent Division I ITA National Team Indoor Championships. The leadership of the ITA, including the Division I Operating Committee, has approved a plan that scales back the events in size.

The Division I Women National Team Indoor Championship will be hosted by the University of Washington February 5-7th at the Nordstrom Tennis Center in Seattle, Washington. The Mens National Team Indoor Championship will be hosted the following weekend by the University of Illinois at the Atkins Tennis Center in Champaign, Illinois. The fields will consist of the seven teams advancing from their Kickoff Weekend tournaments and the respective host site

The Cracked Racquets team launched their 2021 ITA Season Preview Guide to help prepare fans for the upcoming year. Heres what college tennis fans across the country can expect from us over the next 10 weeks: Link below

Mens Draft board @ Slam Tennis

https://www.slam.tennis/ita/draft/2021/ncaam
www.crackedracquets.com/2021-ita-season-preview-guide/
www.wearecollegetennis.com/2020/11/10/ita-announces-modifications-to-the-2021-kickoff-weekend-and-di-national-team-indoor-championships/

Elegant Point · Satellite level

The Oracle ITA Division I Mens Preseason Singles Rankings, Oracle ITA Division I Mens Preseason Doubles Rankings, and Oracle ITA Division I Mens Newcomers were released Wednesday.

ITA D1 Mens Singles Rankings pre season top 125 (not sure exactly how accurate they are??)

The Baylor Bears place the most players in the top 125 with six making the cut with Dartmouth transfer Charlie Broom & Finn Bass on the roster. Will be interesting to see where they play in the line-up, Charlie could play 3,4,5 and Fin would probably not make the team..

Rankings
Alastair Gray, TCU #21
Hamish Stewart, Tulane, #40
Jack Molloy, California, #44
Ewan Moore, Tulane, #54
Arthur Fery, Stanford, #94
Charlie Broom, Baylor, #103
Barnaby Smith, Texas A&M, #103
Connor Thompson, U Sth Carolina, #118
Jacob Fearnley, TCU, #125

https://www.wearecollegetennis.com/2021/01/13/oracle-ita-division-i-mens-singles-rankings-preseason-top-125/

Oracle Mens pre-season team rankings
The USC Trojans will start out the 2021 season where they ended the 2020 season at No. 1.

The Preseason Rankings see Ohio State and Stanford move up several spots from their last rankings in the 2020 season. North Carolina and Michigan join the Buckeyes, the Cardinal, and the Trojans to round out the top five teams.

The top four teams will serve as host sites for the 2021 Kick-off Weekend. In total, 21 of the top 25 preseason teams will compete in Kick-off Weekend in order to earn a bid to the 2021 National Team Indoor Championship in Champaign.

https://www.wearecollegetennis.com/2021/01/14/oracle-ita-division-i-mens-team-rankings-preseason-top-25/

ITA D1 Mens Tennis top 10 newcomers
The Cardinal take the No. 1 spot with Arthur Fery. The United Kingdom native entered signing day with the highest UTR among incoming college freshmen. In 2019, Fery was a doubles semifinalist at the Wimbledon Boys Championships.

https://www.wearecollegetennis.com/2021/01/13/oracle-ita-division-i-mens-rankings-top-10-newcomers/

Apologies if I have missed anyone out.

The women's rankings are out - usually Tennpar (that wasn't a hint TP smile ) does those, as I'm not so familiar with the women players

-- Edited by Elegant Point on Saturday 16th of January 2021 12:02:06 PM

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Elegant Point wrote:
The Oracle ITA Division I Mens Preseason Singles Rankings, Oracle ITA Division I Mens Preseason Doubles Rankings, and Oracle ITA Division I Mens Newcomers were released Wednesday.

ITA D1 Mens Singles Rankings pre season top 125 (not sure exactly how accurate they are??)
The Baylor Bears place the most players in the top 125 with six making the cut with Dartmouth transfer Charlie Broom & Finn Bass on the roster. Will be interesting to see where they play in the line-up, Charlie could play 3,4,5 and Fin would probably not make the team..
Rankings
Alastair Gray, TCU #21
Hamish Stewart, Tulane, #40
Jack Molloy, California, #44
Ewan Moore, Tulane, #54
Arthur Fery, Stanford, #94
Charlie Broom, Baylor, #103
Barnaby Smith, Texas A&M, #103
Connor Thompson, U Sth Carolina, #118
Jacob Fearnley, TCU, #125

https://www.wearecollegetennis.com/2021/01/13/oracle-ita-division-i-mens-singles-rankings-preseason-top-125/

Oracle Mens pre-season team rankings
The USC Trojans will start out the 2021 season where they ended the 2020 season at No. 1.

The Preseason Rankings see Ohio State and Stanford move up several spots from their last rankings in the 2020 season. North Carolina and Michigan join the Buckeyes, the Cardinal, and the Trojans to round out the top five teams.

The top four teams will serve as host sites for the 2021 Kick-off Weekend. In total, 21 of the top 25 preseason teams will compete in Kick-off Weekend in order to earn a bid to the 2021 National Team Indoor Championship in Champaign.
https://www.wearecollegetennis.com/2021/01/14/oracle-ita-division-i-mens-team-rankings-preseason-top-25/
ITA D1 Mens Tennis top 10 newcomers
The Cardinal take the No. 1 spot with Arthur Fery. The United Kingdom native entered signing day with the highest UTR among incoming college freshmen. In 2019, Fery was a doubles semifinalist at the Wimbledon Boys Championships.

https://www.wearecollegetennis.com/2021/01/13/oracle-ita-division-i-mens-rankings-top-10-newcomers/
Apologies if I have missed anyone out.
The women's rankings are out - usually Tennpar (that wasn't a hint TP ) does those, as I'm not so familiar with the women players

-- Edited by Elegant Point on Saturday 16th of January 2021 12:02:06 PM

I saw videos on Twitter from Baylor yesterday of Finn winning a singles and a doubles match in some event? Not sure what , but it was played this week

Elegant Point · Satellite level

Jon H wrote

I saw videos on Twitter from Baylor yesterday of Finn winning a singles and a doubles match in some event? Not sure what , but it was played this week

_________________

Due to the current pandemic situation, many teams are restricting their travel and Baylor played two instate teams on Saturday , Charlie B played #2 singles in their match vs Abilene Christian and Finn B played #4 singles vs Lamar. Possibly reflecting 1st and 2nd teams??

Cracked rackets has an interesting article on the Baylor Bears:

Finn Bass and Adrian Boitan return for their 3rd year on campus in Waco, and will be attempting to make a leap with their games now that theyve tasted college tennis at the highest level. Bass made his debut for the Bears last spring, and started his career with a season-best five-match singles win streak. The 511 United Kingdom native excelled in the lower part of the lineup, going 9-3 in singles and 10-3 in doubles. Coach Woodson surely loves his aggressive game style as Bass is always looking to move forward and finish points at the net with his soft hands.

Broom produced a decorated career as a three-time All-Ivy League selection at Dartmouth. Hailing from Hertfordshire, England, the 510 right-hander compiled a 75-42 singles record and a 63-27 doubles mark during his time as a member of the Big Green. Just like Stachowiak and Furman, Broom has collected invaluable experience playing at the top of the lineup in singles and doubles, so transitioning to the Big 12 should be no problem. Hes been ranked as high as #27 in the country in singles and #7 in the country in doubles throughout his college career. Broom will be another important chess piece for Coach Woodson to utilize this spring.

https://www.crackedracquets.com/college-contenders-baylor-210107/