THACHER LOOKING TO HEAT UP HARVARD-WESTLAKE STANDOUT HOPES TO CAP OFF TOUGH YEAR WITH WIN AT WINTER NATIONALS.Byline: ERIK BOAL Special to the Daily News Something about the holiday season brings out the best in Ryan Thacher. The Harvard-Westlake of Studio City standout arrived last year in Scottsdale, Ariz., having won singles titles at four consecutive United States Tennis Association “USTA” redirects here. For other uses, see USTA (disambiguation). The United States Tennis Association (USTA) is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the United States. tournaments leading up to the Winter National Championships. A week later, he gave himself the ultimate belated Christmas present by winning the singles and doubles titles -- with partner J.T. Sundling of Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. -- in the boys' 16-under division. ``I really enjoy going to (Arizona),'' Thacher said. ``The weather is great there, not like (the Easter Bowl) in Palm Springs where the wind is such a factor or at clay courts (in Maryland) where the humidity is ridiculous. It's conducive to high-quality tennis.'' Thacher, who won his third consecutive USTA USTA United States Tennis Association USTA United States Telecom Association USTA United States Trotting Association USTA United States Telephone Association USTA United States Twirling Association USTA United States Trademark Association singles title Thursday with his 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (2) victory over Ojai's Ahmed Ismail Ahmed Ismail (born October 21, 1975 in Cairo) is an Egyptian boxer who competed in the Light Heavyweight (81kg) at the 2004 Summer Olympics and won the bronze medal. One year earlier, he captured the gold medal in his weight division at the All-Africa Games in Abuja, Nigeria. in the 18-under final of the California Bowl The California Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game played annually at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, California, from 1981 to 1991. The games matched the championship teams from the Big West Conference (formerly the PCAA) with teams from the MAC. , hopes he can finish an up-and-down year with another winter national championship when he begins competition Wednesday at Phoenix Tennis Center. The 6-foot-3 junior leads a group of more than 40 local athletes who are scheduled to participate in the week-long event held at six locations throughout Arizona. ``At all Super Nationals, the quality of opponents all the way through the draw is impressive,'' said Thacher, who has won 19 straight singles matches since losing Oct. 10 to Pedro Zerbini in the final of the Wilson Junior Championships in Costa Mesa Costa Mesa (kŏs`tə mā`sə), city (1990 pop. 96,357), Orange co., S Calif., on the Pacific south of Santa Ana; inc. 1953. It is a transportation, residential, and light industrial center. . ``I expect good quality tennis no matter who I'm playing, and I feel like if I play up to my potential, then I should enjoy some success.'' After producing some of the most exceptional results of his career during a 36-match winning streak Noun 1. winning streak - a streak of wins streak, run - an unbroken series of events; "had a streak of bad luck"; "Nicklaus had a run of birdies" that ended in January with a three-set loss to Ismail at a tournament in Whittier, Thacher dealt with several heartbreaking setbacks during the first eight months of the year. He continued to advance to tournament championship matches, but came up short in five consecutive finals. He held his own with the top 18-under players in the country, but won only five of 15 three-set matches. Perhaps Thacher's toughest loss of the year, and of his entire junior career, came Aug.13 in Kalamazoo, Mich., when he relinquished a three-game lead and three match-point opportunities in the third set to Brennan Boyajian of Weston, Fla., in a 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (5) setback in the 16-under final at the USTA Summer Hard-Court National Championships. ``Kalamazoo was a really back-breaking experience, especially having opportunities to win,'' Thacher said. ``But I took a lot that was good from it and I tried to dwell more on that. ``I know I had chances to win and didn't execute. But knowing that I was able to create those chances on such a big stage with so many people watching People watching or crowd watching is a hobby of some people to watch those around them and their interactions. This differs from voyeurism in that it does not relate to sex or sexual gratification. makes me that much more comfortable on the court.'' The painful lessons learned in Kalamazoo helped Thacher rally from a 5-2 deficit in the third set Thursday against Ismail to win four consecutive games en route to surviving the three-hour battle. ``That's what the great pros do when they've got somebody down. Not by hitting winners all the time, but with consistent play,'' said Barry Horowitz Barry Horowitz (born Barry Shabazz on March 24, 1960 in St. Petersburg, Florida) is an American professional wrestler, arguably best known for his stint as a jobber in the World Wrestling Federation. , Thacher's private coach, who works at Mountaingate Country Club in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . ``I want to see (Thacher) channel that energy more and play like that all the time, not just when he's behind.'' Marlon Reveche, the varsity tennis coach at Chaminade of West Hills and himself a private instructor to many top local players, will also make the trip to Arizona to accompany his daughter, Campbell Hall Campbell Hall can refer to:
``He's so unbelievably talented,'' Marlon Reveche said. ``(After Kalamazoo) he's starting to realize that with more hard work, he can accomplish whatever he wants.'' Thacher knows the path to winning his first 18-under national title will be challenging. But his desire to play on New Year's Day New Year's Day, among ancient peoples the first day of the year frequently corresponded to the vernal or autumnal equinox, or to the summer or winter solstice. In the Middle Ages it was celebrated among Christians usually on Mar. 25. should again bring out the best in the reigning Daily News Player of the Year. ``It's nice to know when I was behind that it's still there,'' Thacher said. ``If I'm in the third set and down a break, it will help me know that I've been in this position before and responded. I know that it's not impossible to come back and that I can stay in the match and I can still win it. It's not beyond my reach.'' erik.boal@dailynews.com (818) 713-3607 ATHLETE OF THE WEEK BOYS DJ Gay, Poly, Sr. Boys' basketball Gay scored a season-high 37 points Wednesday in Poly of Sun Valley's 75-57 victory over Durango of Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. in the first round of the Desert Pines Tournament in Las Vegas. It was the first of three consecutive 30-point games for Gay, who is averaging 28.3points in nine games this season. GIRLS Megan Ford, Hart, Jr. Girls' basketball Ford had 17 points and 12 rebounds Saturday as Hart of Newhall defeated Buena of Ventura 45-39 to win the Santa Barbara Santa Barbara (săn'tə bär`brə, –bərə), city (1990 pop. 85,571), seat of Santa Barbara co., S Calif., on the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1850. Tournament title. The 5-foot-11 center was named tournament MVP (Multimedia Video Processor) A high-speed DSP chip from Texas Instruments, introduced in 1994. Officially introduced as the TMS320C80, it combines RISC technology with the functionality of four DSPs on one chip. for the Indians (9-1), whose only loss this season came to Buena (10-2) earlier this month. UP & COMER Sophie Forrester, St. Genevieve, Fr. Girls' soccer Forrester leads St.Genevieve of Panorama City with 13goals and five assists this season. The forward has two hat tricks for the Valiants (6-0), who have outscored their opponents 41-2 in just six games. TRIVIAL MATTERS Hart of Newhall graduate Taylor Lilley was named the Daily News girls' basketball Player of the Year last season after making 119 of 238 3- pointers and leading the Indians to a Southern Section title. How is the sharp-shooting Oregon point guard doing in her first year in NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I? Lilley scored a team-high 27 points on five 3-pointers for the Ducks in an 85-77 opening-night victory over UC Santa Barbara. She leads the Pac-10 in 3-point shooting percentage (10 of 18, .556), but she has sat out the past twoweeks after breaking her non-shooting hand. CAPTION(S): 3 photos, 6 boxes Photo: (1) Harvard-Westlake's Ryan Thacher is playing in the USTA's Winter National Championships this week in Arizona. Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News (2) DJ Gay, Poly, Sr. (3) Megan Ford, Hart, Sr. Box: (1) ATHLETE OF THE WEEK (see text) (2) UP & COMER (see text) (3) TRIVIAL MATTERS (see text) (4) THEY SAID IT (5) USTA WINTER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS (6) DAY PLANNER |
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