Whistler 2018 - Ski Week

My friend from tennis, Alex.  He was there with his family at the same time, so we got together to ride one day.  That was our longest day, we were on the slopes from 830-4!

1st Tournament!

Well, not exactly.  But it's my first individual tournament...that counts.  The one I did years ago...Little Mo...well, we don't really count that.  :)  

This tournament was at St Mary's College in Moraga...close to my cousins, but still over an hour away from our house.   Too bad for us, my match started at 8am...so we had to leave the house on Saturday and Sunday at 620am!!!!  Just that alone was tough...but it was a good weekend.  

The format was Round Robin, so 4 singles players are grouped together and over the course of the first day, we all play each other.   I played over 4.5 hours total on Saturday...at the end of the day, my calves hurt, the bottom of my feet hurt, and my hands were cramping.  Whoa.

My first opponent (8am) was Ioann.  I think he's 12, but he was a pretty big kid.  He didn't talk much and wasn't very friendly.  He beat me, 2-6, 4-6.  It was tough, but I think I did pretty well.  Overall, I still was able to get 6 games.  He also beat the other two players later that day,  but by more games.  He was the winner of our flight.....

These are the facilities. It's pretty nice here, but it was FREEZING!  Super duper cold and Mom was wearing so many layers, but was still cold!  BRRRRRR!!!!

My 2nd round, I played a boy named Sachin.  He was taller than me, but I didn't feel like he was that much older than me....my guess was 12.  But actually....he was 14 and a freshman in high school!  That was a surprise.  He was really really nice and told me I was really good for my age.  We chatted during each of the breaks.   I lost, 2-6, 1-6.

Coach Nikita came to watch me play too.  He drove all that way on his day off!  It was nice though because instead of yelling at me (like he does sometimes during practices), we played card games during the breaks.  This was my 3rd round, against Evan (who was also my doubles partner for Sunday)  Evan turned out to be 17 (yes 17), but I actually guessed more like 14.  Anyhow, I didn't know how old he was until after.  I was able to beat him but it wasn't easy.  The final score was 6-0, 3-6, and tiebreaker 10-4.

On Sunday, we were supposed to play doubles, but Ioann, the winner of the singles....was a no show!  So we all got up super early and drove over an hour for...NOTHING!  Well, we won by default! Overall, it was a good weekend.  I was happy that I won a singles.  

Tennis

This season for team tennis, I'm playing in the 12 and under Yellow Ball league and we are flight B.  I'm the #1 player on my team...so that usually means I get to play an actual 12 year old...like this guy. See how tall he is?  I didn't win...but it was a good game.  vs. Alpine Hills.

Sectionals Spring

My team won again!  We went to sectionals thinking we did not have a good chance....we are 9 and 10 year olds (one 11)...and we are playing in the 12U Green Dot ball division...playing against 12 year olds.  It's like me playing against kids Cameron's size!  We did not expect to win.  And we won by just a handful of games.

Getting a pep talk before heading into day 2

The tournament was up in Oakley (it was crazy hot), so Mom and I stayed at Walnut Creek so we wouldn't have to drive so far.

And I got a chance to bond with Zoey.

I'm trying to sneak upstairs, but now that she likes my tummy rubs...she's not letting me go!

Match 4

We played Norcal at Silvercreek...(after snowboarding that morning!)

Singles - I won...6-3...it was tough b/c this one I was down at first!
Doubles with Koshin - We won...barely...6-5!  We were also down at first.  Finally got our rythm!

Final score....waiting.....

Match 3

We played Clubsport Fremont at home...

Singles - I won 6-0
Doubles with Mary, we won 6-2

Final score 47-9

Match 2

We played against Morgan Hill.....in Morgan Hill!

Singles - I won 6-0
Doubles - Played with Koshin, and we won 6-0

Final score was 48-6!

Match 1

We played the Evergreen team at home....
I played singles and won 6-0.
Doubles I played with Mary, and we also won 6-0!

The final score was 48-8.

Spring Tennis League

This spring, I'm in the Junior Tennis League at my tennis school for 12 and U Green Dot....So we will be playing 12 year olds!  (they could be as big as Cameron!)

My team is the same as when we played 10U Green Dot, except Vihaan moved, so now we have Koshin.

Section Championship Party

After winning the Sectional Championship...we had a little party with my teammates.

Vihaan, Ajinkya, Aniketh, Kota, me and Mary

Coach Mike...with the cakes....we all went a little overboard.

Kota's Mom made these incredible cakes.  She also made the log cake in the previous picture.

Crepes wrapped around banana, cream and chocolate...and champagne jello.

Green tea cake...amazing!

Okay Mom, really?

Sectional Champions!

Today, after several rain postponements...we finally made it to sectionals.  We played 3 other teams.  Tiburon, Roundhill (Alamo),  and Los Gatos Racquet Club...and we won.  Our total game count was 91, and the second place team was Roundhill..with 75.  We arrived at 9 in the morning...but...courts still quite wet....

Warming up on wet courts at Stanford!!!

Still wet...

Our division win for fall...

And more warming up.

Finally...1045 and we can begin play.  

We won this one.  I played 4 doubles and 2 singles and won them all!

Yay!  We are Section Champions!!!!

Mom and Dad had their holiday party on this day as well.  I was bummed to miss it, but because of the rain, the match was postponed several times.  It worked out ok though.  Mom, Dad and Cameron dropped me off in the morning and then I stayed there and Kota's parents watched me and brought me home afterwards. I had a good time today.  Definitely a highlight!

Kota's party

Happy Birthday to my tennis friend Kota!  We went to his house where they had lots of food and also they played music.  It was rather long, but when the little kids played that was better.

His mom made all these super yummy desserts too!

Tennis

My tennis team signed up for a team event in Fremont...so we went...and won!  

We definitely a nice surprise.  We were happy.