The NorCal Section was well represented this summer at the various team events that took place all around the country. Let’s take a look at how Team NorCal stacked up against the other sections.
The first stop took place at the USTA Boys’ & Girls’ 14 Intersectional Team Championships in Auburn, AL, June 30-July 4. The team consisting of four boys and four girls finished in 9th place. That same weekend, the USTA Boys’ & Girls’ 16 Intersectional Team Championships was held in Shreveport, LA. Team NorCal had a great showing, finishing third overall!
The next event of the summer was from July 26-30, at the BG12’s Zone Team Championships, which saw three NorCal teams compete in Tucson, AZ. When all was said and done, the NorCal teams finished in 5th, 6th, and 7th place, out of a total of 12 teams. Team NorCal didn’t go home empty-handed however, as Jack Satterfield and Georgia McDougall both won a sportsmanship award. Georgia also won the overall Sportsmanship Award for the girls out of all the sections! Congratulations to the entire BG12’s team for representing the section so well.
Picture on the left: Georgia McDougall and Jack Satterfield with the other sportsmanship award recipients. Picture in the middle: Jack Satterfield with Coach Pablo Jose Alvarado. Picture on the right: Georgia McDougall with the boys’ sportsmanship award recipient.
Team NorCal took advantage of playing on their home courts as the BG14’s Zone Team Championships was played in Stockton, CA. The NorCal Tigers made it to the championship match, losing a close one against the Bruins of Southern California, 10 matches to 8. The other two teams representing NorCal took 6th and 7th place out of a total of 12 teams.
Two NorCal teams at the Boys’ and Girls’ 14 Zone Team Championships in Stockton, CA.
Picture on the left: the whole NorCal team at BG12s Zonals. Picture on the right: The third NorCal team at the BG14s Zonals.
Traveling to Salt Lake City, Utah, the three NorCal teams who competed in the BG16’s Zone Team Championships matched up with the BG12’s teams by also finishing in 5th, 6th, and 7th places.
The Boys’ and Girls’18 traveled respectively to Urbana, IL, and Claremont, CA, to take part in the USTA National Team Championships and showed amazing grit throughout the entire competition. The Boys finished in 6th place, while the Girls’ team took 7th place.
Use to having Hawaii win the sportsmanship award every year, NorCal Girls’ 18 Team Coach Carrie Zarraonandia was excited to hear her team called up on stage as the 2018 Sportsmanship Award winner. “I was shocked when NorCal was announced as the winner because Hawaii is always so nice and they are expected to win,” Zarraonandia laughed. “But I’m really happy for my team because it shows that NorCal is doing something right, and that our players are representing the section well, which is something we have been focusing on.” Before the players went on stage, the Tournament Director called Carrie by herself, surprising her with the Sportsmanship Coach’s Award. “I was so amazed by it but I was honored to receive this award,” Zarraonandia revealed. “They had never given that award in 11 years, so I was really grateful for it.” Carrie was also grateful for the opportunity to coach the Girls’ 18 team for the first time and NorCal is proud of her accomplishments!
Carrie Zarraonandia and the Girls’ 18 NorCal team.
Carrie has also been a trainer for the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) for the last two years. A national non-profit organization that “develops better athletes, better people through resources for youth and high school sports coaches, parents, administrators and student-athletes,” it seems fitting that her infectious positivity and sportsmanlike conduct were recognized during the tournament. Carrie works tirelessly to instill the PCA’s mission into all of the NorCal players and parents she comes into contact with. “The Positive Coaching Alliance is in the first stage of creating the position of Tennis Ambassador, using NorCal’ s model of offering workshops to support coaches, parents, and athletes, while carrying the PCA message to the other 16 USTA sections throughout the country,” Zarraonandia enthusiastically explained. As Tennis Ambassador, Carrie hopes to carry the vision that both the Positive Coaching Alliance and USTA NorCal embrace.
The final team event of the summer was the Gar Glenney Cup, which was played in Irvine CA, August 18-19. After six years of taking home the trophy, Team NorCal had to concede to Southern California, but not without a fight. The overall score was 35-29, with 25% of the matches going to three sets. It was a fun and competitive weekend, and NorCal looks forward to hosting the SoCal team next year. NorCal leads the overall series 19-17.
Team NorCal and SoCal during the trophy ceremony.
Congratulations to all of the players and coaches who participated in the tournaments, and we look forward to seeing you back next year. Go Team NorCal!
To see all the pictures from these events, click here.
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