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SKILLMAN, N.J. - The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) and the United States Tennis Association (USTA) honored the 10 National winners of the 2010 ITA/Arthur Ashe, Jr. Leadership and Sportsmanship Award and the 27th edition of the ITA All-Star Team, which featured the nation's top-ranked players and National Champions from the 2009-10 season.
These remarkable student-athletes were treated by the ITA and USTA to a weekend in New York, highlighted by activities during Arthur Ashe Kids' Day at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Saturday, August 28th. The festivities began with the group being treated to an Italian feast at Carmine’s, keeping with the annual tradition. On the morning of the 28th, the student-athletes were honored at the ITA awards luncheon, hosted by the USTA in the President's Dining Room Suite. Lucy Garvin, Chairman of the Board and President of the USTA, David A Benjamin, ITA Executive Director, David Dinkins, former Mayor of New York City and a member of the USTA Board of Directors, were among those on hand to present the awards.
“The weekend was awesome! The atmosphere of the U.S open is one that I have never experienced before! Seeing all of the kids participate in the Arthur Ashe Kid's Day events was extremely entertaining. To see those kids out there having fun and laughing was very uplifting. I also had a great time at the luncheon and getting to meet new people. Thank you ITA and USTA for everything you did to make this possible.”
- Natalie Pluskota, ITA All-Star (Tennessee)
"This was an incredible experience. I feel so incredibly blessed to have been chosen to receive this award. The weekend was awesome, having a chance to meet all the other winners and everyone that worked so hard to get us there. Just being at Flushing Meadows for such an incredible day like Arthur Ashe Kids Day was phenomenal. I would have never thought that volunteering, being involved, and tennis could take me to such great places."
- Jamie Blackim, ITA/Arthur Ashe Jr. Leadership and Sportsmanship winner (Cowley CC)
The ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award recognizes outstanding individuals in all divisions at the regional and national level. This award which dates back to 1982, goes to NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and JuCo men's and women's players who have exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and leadership as well as scholastic, extracurricular and tennis achievements. The 2010 recipients include:
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MEN |
WOMEN |
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Division I: Jason Jung, Michigan |
Division I: Catherine Newman, Vanderbilt
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Division II: Lorenzo Cava, Bentley |
Division II: Natalia Ramos, FIT |
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Division III: Matt de Vlieger, Calvin
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Division III: Julia Browne, Tufts |
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NAIA: Oliver Sindayigay, Lewis-Clark St. |
NAIA: Sheryl Bon, Azusa Pacific
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JuCo: Adres Cepede, Meridian CC
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JuCo: Jamie Blackim, Cowley CC |
This 27th edition of the ITA Collegiate All-Star Team includes the nation's top-ranked men's and women's tennis players from the season-ending Campbell/ITA College Tennis Rankings at the NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and NJCAA levels, as well as champions from the 2009 ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships and 2010 NCAA Championships. Highlighting this year's team are the Campbell/ITA National Players of the Year: Irina Falconi of Georgia Tech and Robert Farah of USC.
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MEN |
WOMEN |
Division I Singles |
Division I Singles |
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Robert Farah, Southern California
No. 1 Campbell/ITA Ranking
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Irina Falconi, Georgia Tech
No. 1 Campbell/ITA Ranking
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Steve Johnson, Southern California
ITA National Indoor Champion
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Jana Juricova, California
ITA National Indoor Champion
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Bradley Klahn, Stanford
NCAA Champion
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Chelsey Gullickson, Georgia
NCAA Champion
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Division I Doubles Teams |
Division I Doubles Teams |
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Reid Carleton/Henrique Cunha, Duke
No. 1 Campbell/ITA Ranking
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Natalie Pluskota/Caitlin Whoriskey, Tennessee
No. 1 Campbell/ITA Ranking |
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Bradley Klahn/Ryan Thacher, Stanford
ITA National Indoor Champions |
Hilary Barte/Lindsay Burdette, Stanford
ITA National Indoor Champions
NCAA Champions
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Drew Courtney/Michael Shabaz, Virginia
NCAA Champions |
Kristy Frilling/Kali Krisik, Notre Dame
No. 2 Campbell/ITA Rankings
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Division II |
Division II |
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Mikk Irdoja, Armstrong Atlantic
No. 1 Campbell/ITA Ranking
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Yuan Jia, BYU-Hawaii
No. 1 Campbell/ITA Ranking |
Division III |
Division III |
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John Watts, Washington-St. Louis
No. 1 Campbell/ITA Ranking
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Julia Browne, Tufts
No. 1 Campbell/ITA Ranking
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NAIA |
NAIA |
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Alberto Gonzalez, Auburn-Montgomery
No. 1 Campbell/ITA Ranking
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Gabriela Bergmanova, Vanguard
No. 1 Campbell/ITA Ranking
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NJCAA |
NJCAA |
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Damian Hume, Collin CC
No. 1 Campbell/ITA Ranking
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Olivia Howlett, Hillsborough CC
No. 1 Campbell/ITA Ranking |
The USTA announced today that chart-topping pop superstars Jonas Brothers and TV and recording sensation Demi Lovato will hold court with tennis world # 1 Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters and Novak Djokovic at the 15th Annual Arthur Ashe Kids' Day presented by Hess Saturday, August 28 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., from 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
"We have seen some of the biggest names in tennis and entertainment on the court during Arthur Ashe Kids' Day presented by Hess," said Harlan Stone, Chief Marketing Officer, USTA. "Our 15th year will be no different, and this day of excitement and fun for kids and families, will again honor a great humanitarian and icon of our sport."
Over the years, Arthur Ashe Kids' Day has featured many of music's biggest acts including Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Jessica Simpson, Britney Spears, Jordin Sparks, Backstreet Boys, Ne-Yo, Sean Kingston, Jesse McCartney, Bow Wow and Hanson.
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