Many of the Section’s top 10s, 12s and 14-and-under junior players were brought to Sedona, Ariz., July 9-11 for the USTA Southwest Regional Training Center Camp.
This camp, held on the clay courts at the Sedona Racquet Club & Spa, was three days of intense instruction, match play and orientation into the USTA High Performance coaching philosophy. USTA National coaches Paul Lubbers, Adam Peterson and USTA Talent Identification and Development Manager Geoff Russell were on hand Sedona to present a wide range of topics including stroke mechanics, live ball feeding, nutrition, recovery, and mental training.
Other USTA Southwest coaches also participated in the camp to run drills and assist with including Joey Blake, Kellie Schmitt, Larry Lineberry, Warren Fulgenzi, David Ochotorena, Ford Oliver, Ronnie Smith, and David Critchley.
Coaches at the Regional Training Center (RTC) camp evaluated the performance and development of Southwest juniors through various metrics like physical testing, filming using the Dartfish software, on-court drills and match play, all of which will allow the USTA to keep track of Southwest juniors’ long-term progression as players.
The coaches also were in attendance to build and begin facilitating relationships with players and coaches, as well as to get feedback from each on the USTA High Performance training and development methodology used at the National Training Centers in Boca Raton, Fla., and Carson, Calif. to develop some of the nation’s best juniors. Mandatory parent and player off-court meeting sessions were also part of the weekend’s activities, as the USTA tried to explain its take on high performance development and to gather valuable insight from parents about the camps.
The mission of the USTA Regional Training Center program is to create a comprehensive system for teaching and coaching which will create successive waves of junior players, ages 12-14, with sound fundamentals, restoring American dominance in the professional and collegiate game.
Camps are held across the nation, including some dedicated facilities/programs which have been selected as Section RTC’s. The camps are set up to train hundreds of the best juniors in the country close to their homes for a fraction of the cost they would be getting otherwise.
For more information on Regional Training Centers and USTA Player Development, click HERE.
USTA Southwest Regional Training Center Camp Participants
BOYS
Nathan Ponwith (Scottsdale, AZ)
Yash Parikh (Tucson, AZ)
Warren Fulgenzi (Las Vegas, NM)
Nathan Niemiec (Litchfield Park, AZ)
Shawn Parks (Oro Valley, AZ)
Brandon Stringfellow (Phoenix)
Maximo Lawlor (Goodyear, AZ)
Ethan Katz (El Paso, TX)
Harsh Parikh (Tucson, AZ)
Luke Bridges (Mesa, AZ)
James Ponwith (Scottsdale, AZ)
Derrick Cunningham (El Paso, TX)
GIRLS
Savanah Slaysman (Phoenix)
Maddie Pothoff (Tucson, AZ)
Delaney Nothaft (Tempe, AZ)
Taylor Bridges (Mesa, AZ)
Kylie Anne McKenzie (Anthem, AZ)
Shailla Alda (Phoenix)
Alexandra Ochotorena (Albuquerque, NM)
Zoey Nelson (Waddell, AZ)
Taylor Johnson (Prescott, AZ)
Josie Frazier (Phoenix)
Carmen Corley (Sandia Park, NM)
Jenese Fulgenzi (Las Vegas, NM)