Thursday, 09/23/2010

Greetings Cal Alum and Cal Tennis Supporters,

It has been an exciting few weeks for the Golden Bears men's tennis team. In the past week alone, the team has been to San Quentin, Belvedere Tennis Club, and this weekend will be in St. Helena for the 2010 Land Rover Napa Valley Tennis Classic. Check out below for more details on the latest happenings with the Golden Bears.

Ben Mclachlan Competes in 2010 US Open Juniors:

In early September, Cal freshman Ben Mclachlan competed in the 2010 US Open Juniors in New York City, under the watch of his coach (and former Cal Assistant) Lan Bale. Mclachlan was entered in both singles play, and doubles play with doubles partner Sam Barry. Mclachlan and Barry won their first match over the team of Juan Sebastian Gomez and Yasutaka Uchiyama 2-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-5) before bowing out in the second round.

2010 UVA Fall Classic Sunday, September 12:

The California men's tennis team proved their prowess at the UVA Fall Classic with two doubles titles and a singles title. California earned their first doubles title in the Blue flight with No. 17-ranked senior Pedro Zerbini and No. 122-ranked sophomore Christoffer Konigsfeldt. The pair breezed by William and Mary's Ben Guthrie and Sebastien Vidal in an 8-2 victory. The second doubles title came from No. 123-ranked junior Nick Andrews and sophomore Riki Mclachlan's teamwork to bring home the Orange flight championship with a final score of 8-5. The third title came from No. 122-ranked Christoffer Konigsfeldt's defeat of Philippe Oushoorn from the host Virginia Cavaliers. Konigsfeldt took the Orange singles flight title in three sets, 6-3, 6-7, 6-0.

Going to San Quentin (and Getting Out):
 
Our team arrived at 7:30am Saturday morning to play with the ‘Inside Team’ at San Quentin. It’s a place I’ve driven past a thousand times, and was always a little curious about, but had never set foot inside. We had to be cleared to enter the prison weeks in advance, and even then it was no picnic trying to get past the guard at the front gate. Every article of our clothing had to be cleared in advance to ensure we didn’t wear anything that might cause problems inside.
 
Nobody on our team had ever been inside, so there was plenty of nervous energy (and some fear). Most of that disappeared when we went into the yard, met the tennis director, and started to chat with the inmates. They were pleasant, friendly, and anything but intimidating. After playing with them and talking about everything from how long they’d been in prison to what they were in for, it felt as if we were in a public park playing with local players. Except that most of them were in for Murder. Really.
 
We stayed and played an extra hour, and then we went on a private tour of the prison led by Lieutenant Robinson, the director of public affairs for San Quentin. He took us through the cell blocks, into a couple of very tiny cells, and the mess hall (where there are a couple of incredible murals), and then he took us where tours don’t normally go – into the ‘hood’. He told us to stay close. We did. It was what I thought the whole experience would be – somewhat frightening and depressing.
 
We finished the tour at the gas chamber. Very somber. Lieutenant Robinson shared many entertaining stories about the history of the prison and its prisoners. We left San Quentin not talking too much, processing what we’d experienced in the four hours we spent on the Inside. Overall, a most rewarding and memorable experience.
 
Belvedere Tennis Club:
 
On Sunday, the men’s and women’s teams headed to Belvedere for a fundraiser for Cal Tennis (the day after the men visited San Quentin – talk about a contrast). Long time Belvedere Director of Tennis, Cary Stansbury, is retiring after a great career on the courts. Stansbury, a former Cal #1, set up the fundraiser 6 years ago to help the tennis teams reach their fundraising goals. The members at BTC enjoyed playing with the Cal players and one of the highlights was the doubles exhibition in the evening. This year it featured players Cary Stansbury had coached through the years. The Cal tandem of Zach Gilbert and Sky Lovill, former Stansbury pupils, put on a great show and won the match 10-8. The event itself raised over $10,000 for Cal Tennis. A special Thank You to BTC GM Jay Potter, and the BTC members for a wonderful day on the courts.

2010 Land Rover Napa Valley Tennis Classic:

On September 24-26th, the Bears will play in the prestigious USTA and Land Rover sponsored Land Rover Napa Valley Tennis Classic at the Meadowood Golf Club in St. Helena, CA. The Golden Bears will be battling against both the top junior and collegiate talent in the United States. The Bears will be competing for an amazing prize: an opportunity to play as a USTA sponsored wild card entry into the USTA Pro Circuit event.

This will be the tenth consecutive year the event has been held at Meadowood, and the third year Land Rover has served as the title sponsor. Admission to the 2010 Land Rover Napa Valley Tennis Classic is complimentary. Please visit www.meadowood.com for more information or call (707) 963-3646 to make reservations at the resort.

To keep up with all the action, go to www.calbears.com.

Go Bears!
     
Cal Tennis
Men's Tennis
calmtenn@berkeley.edu