NewsAthleticsUpper SchoolStudent LifeService
Schecter captures state title
Jul 11, 2005 10:57 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Michael Schecter has played some great tennis this summer, taking third at the Georgia Junior Closed Challenger and recording a top-32 finish at the Southern 16s Closed Championships.
Schecter kept that roll going on Saturday [July 9] as he won the Boys 16s singles championship at the Georgia State Junior Clay Court Open Championships in Columbus, Ga.
Schecter, who entered the tournament as the No. 4 seed, beat Bryan Song of Selma, Ala., 6-2, 6-1 in the championship match.
"I know that I've been playing really well recently," said Schecter. "I went to a high-intensity tennis camp at Florida State University and that helped out my game a good bit. I was playing six hours a day and that helped me come into the tournament with some confidence.
"I played well, especially in the finals. That was my best match. I'm very pleased and excited with how I did."
Schecter, who is ranked 12th in Georgia and No. 110 in the nine-state Southern Section, won five matches to take home in the championship. His biggest win came in the semifinals, when he took out top-seeded Ivan Ho of Loganville, Ga., 6-1, 6-3. That came one match after surviving a three-set battle with Garrett Mertl that Schecter won, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.
Schecter was the No. 1 singles player for Darlington this spring, keeping him from playing in many tournaments. However, Schecter feels like he is starting to make up for lost time.
"I do think I'm starting to get better," said Schecter. "If I hadn't done high school tennis this spring, I would have played more tournaments and I might be playing better right now. But school tennis is fun and I enjoy it."
There aren't many clay court tournaments for juniors in the South, but Schecter has fared well when he's played on the surface.
"My game is as a baseline player who comes to the net every so often," said Schecter. "I'm not a big power player. I don't serve and volley. My game is one that is better suited to clay courts and that helps me when I am playing these tournaments."
After winning the state championship on Saturday, Schecter is back in action today as he is competing in the Burger King Southern Open Championships, another clay-court tournament that will be played in Columbus.
"I literally just got in," said Schecter. "I was an alternate and they had somebody pull out (Saturday) and I was able to get into the tournament. Winning the state title this week really helped me get in.
"I'm going to walk into this tournament confident because of how I've been playing. I looked at hte draw and I think I have a good chance of playing well."
*Written by Joseph Myers, Rome News-Tribune Sports Writer, published 7/10/2005
Schecter kept that roll going on Saturday [July 9] as he won the Boys 16s singles championship at the Georgia State Junior Clay Court Open Championships in Columbus, Ga.
Schecter, who entered the tournament as the No. 4 seed, beat Bryan Song of Selma, Ala., 6-2, 6-1 in the championship match.
"I know that I've been playing really well recently," said Schecter. "I went to a high-intensity tennis camp at Florida State University and that helped out my game a good bit. I was playing six hours a day and that helped me come into the tournament with some confidence.
"I played well, especially in the finals. That was my best match. I'm very pleased and excited with how I did."
Schecter, who is ranked 12th in Georgia and No. 110 in the nine-state Southern Section, won five matches to take home in the championship. His biggest win came in the semifinals, when he took out top-seeded Ivan Ho of Loganville, Ga., 6-1, 6-3. That came one match after surviving a three-set battle with Garrett Mertl that Schecter won, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.
Schecter was the No. 1 singles player for Darlington this spring, keeping him from playing in many tournaments. However, Schecter feels like he is starting to make up for lost time.
"I do think I'm starting to get better," said Schecter. "If I hadn't done high school tennis this spring, I would have played more tournaments and I might be playing better right now. But school tennis is fun and I enjoy it."
There aren't many clay court tournaments for juniors in the South, but Schecter has fared well when he's played on the surface.
"My game is as a baseline player who comes to the net every so often," said Schecter. "I'm not a big power player. I don't serve and volley. My game is one that is better suited to clay courts and that helps me when I am playing these tournaments."
After winning the state championship on Saturday, Schecter is back in action today as he is competing in the Burger King Southern Open Championships, another clay-court tournament that will be played in Columbus.
"I literally just got in," said Schecter. "I was an alternate and they had somebody pull out (Saturday) and I was able to get into the tournament. Winning the state title this week really helped me get in.
"I'm going to walk into this tournament confident because of how I've been playing. I looked at hte draw and I think I have a good chance of playing well."
*Written by Joseph Myers, Rome News-Tribune Sports Writer, published 7/10/2005
