West Region ITA Preview (SCIAC/UCSC/Col. College)

I don’t know about you all, but that Laver Cup had me feeling some type of way. Watching Fed and Nadal cheer each other on was pretty cool to watch, but we are on to bigger and better things and that is the West Region ITA! We were all watching the best players in the world compete at the Laver Cup and I have no doubt Team Europe will be tuning into the tennis this weekend out West!

The draw looks stacked and I see a lot of possibilities when it comes to predicting winners and overall team success. Below we’ll take a quick look at the seeds in the tournament, some first rounders that are worth watching, freshman to keep your eye out for, and glance at some of the doubles. This can be a brutal tournament with two, three, or sometimes four matches in a day, and in hot conditions, we’ll definitely see the endurance the West Region teams possess. Looking forward to a great weekend of competition in Southern California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Texas region, and we all have no doubt that the tennis will be Laver Cup quality.

Here is a link to both the singles and doubles draws: http://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=210613#&&s=7Draws3

 

Seeds:

1. Jack Katzman (CMS – UTR=12.84): Who?! I don’t know if I’ve ever seen an incoming freshman take the top seed at the Fall ITA. This must be a major indication that this kid’s got game! We all knew he was highly ranked and the Stags were eagerly awaiting his arrival, but junior tennis is very much different than college competition. We’ll see how he handles the nerves and expectation considering every match will be a tough test for the young freshman. Excited to watch this kid compete on the court. 
2. Niko Parodi (CMS – UTR=12.61): An absolutely incredible freshman year places Parodi as the #2 seed heading into this weekend. Powerhouse Parodi has the skills and raw talent to get him far in the draw, but sometimes his nonchalant attitude affects his high level of play. Expect Parodi to be most

   

   vulnerable for an upset in the early stages of the tournament. However, if Parodi is able to reach the semis, I really don’t see anyone in the tournament being able to take him down.

3. Daniel Park (CMS – UTR=12.40): Well, the Stags have a firm grasp of the top three seeds with Park as the third seed. This kid is as clean as it gets when it comes to his groundstrokes, however, his high seeding could get the best of him. Park may not have the easiest of times backing up his 3rd seed, but expect him to atleast make the quarters, if not the semis or finals. When this kid comes to play, not many can keep up.
4. Jed Kronenberg (P-P – UTR=12.35): This freshman Hen comes into the tournament as the fourth seed. I’ve heard through the grapevine that J-Kro is extremely committed and dedicated to improving on the court, however, I hope that the freshman nerves don’t get the best of him this weekend. Day 1 might be a tough day for the Kro with a combination of nerves and expectation maybe getting the best of him, but if he is able to make the round of 16, I could see him loosening up and upholding his #4 seed. Day 1 is going to be critical for Kro, and if he is able to put his nerves on the back-burner, I can see him making some noise late in the tournament.
5. Robert Liu (CMS – UTR=12.16): Yet another freshman takes a coveted high seeding. Though I don’t know much about Liu, a top 5 seed with a Stag jersey on is going to be a tough out for anyone. If Liu is able to make the quarters on Saturday, a match against one of the top 4 seeds could be a real blockbuster. All 5 seeds are either freshmen or sophomores, so let’s see if talent and skill are able to trump experience.
6. Julian Gordy (CMS – UTR=12.04): Mostly known for his play on the doubles court, a #6 seed could work in Gordy’s favor and get him deep in the draw this year. His unorthodox style of play, along with his big serve and crazy touch at the net, makes him a tough out. It will be extremely tough for Gordy to take out any of the top 4 seeds if he is able to make his way into the quarterfinals, but hey, he is a junior and maybe that past experience and match play will benefit him against the young top seeds.
7. Chase Lipscomb (Redlands – UTR=12.14): Watch out for this Dog. When Chase is on, his forehand is an absolute rocket and can disrupt everyone in the draw. We’ll see how hard he has trained this summer to improve his backhand and footwork, but expect Chase to at least make the quarters this weekend. His fiery play and experience playing at the top of the lineup the

   

   last two years will surely help him as he will face either 1, 2, or 3 of the young guns deep in the tournament. Keep your eye out for this kid because when he is on, he could quite literally take the racket out of your hand.

8. Varun Shanker (Caltech – UTR=12.05): I love to see Caltech coming into the weekend with a player among the seeds. I have never seen Shanker play, but his high junior ranking tells me he’s got skill. A great story for Caltech and an amazing season they have ahead for them. I’d love to see Shanker uphold his #8 seed and put a Beaver into the quarterfinals of the ITA for the first time in a VERY long time.

Seeds #9-#16 to watch:

Ransom Braaten (Cal Lu): Braaten had a tough start to his first year at Cal Lutheran, but he was able to step up later in the year with some pivotal wins. This kid has a big game and an even bigger serve which could disrupt some of the seeds later in the tournament.

Jake Berber (CMS): Mostly known for his doubles play last year with Glenn Hull, Berber might be able to use his experience in big matches last year to make inroads this weekend. Depending on the quality of his draw, I expect Berber to make the round of 16 where he’ll then face a tough test against a fellow seed.

Octave Bellet (P-P): A transfer from Irvine Valley College, I have heard that this kid’s clay court style of play has the ability to make him one of the best DIII players in the country. We’ll see how he is able to step up in his first DIII tournament and we’ll learn real quick if he’ll take the reins as the top player for P-P come Spring.

Josh Gearou (P-P): GRINNNDDD!!! You do not want to see Josh G’s name near you in the draw. I am fairly sure this kid hasn’t missed since 2008 and in hot conditions, Josh has the ability to wear pretty much anyone down. No matter how talented you might be, this Hen has the capability to completely wreck your spirits. I can see Josh possibly making a run to the semis depending on the quality of his draw.

Unseeded guys to watch out for:

Oscar Burney (CMS)

Joey Dulle (Redlands)

Cameron Krimbill (Redlands)

 

First Round Blockbusters:

Robert Liu (CMS) vs. James Wei (Caltech) – 5th seed freshman vs. highly ranked incoming Beaver

Marko Mandic (P-P) vs. Joey Dulle (Redlands) – Two experienced players with contrasting styles of play

Jake Berber (CMS) vs. Jacob Schoenherr (P-P) – A talented sophomore vs. a transfer from University of Montana

Julian Gordy (CMS) vs. Chad Stone (UCSC) – Contrasting styles of play, should be a brutal first round match-up for both

Cameron Krimbill (Redlands) vs. Niko Parodi (CMS) – Fun to see CJ’s little bro as a Bulldog. Could be a tough match with it being Parodi’s first match of the year

 

Doubles:

1. Dugan and Stone (Santa Cruz) captured the top seed and the fact that they have played with one another for three years will pay huge dividends.

   

2. Cummins and Lipscomb (Redlands) had a great year last Spring playing #2, however, I see them having a tough time backing up their seed in making the finals. I could be wrong, but I predict other teams making the run in their place.
3. Dulle and Johnson (Redlands) is a team to keep your eye out on. We all know Dulle has the goods on the doubles court, but it is up to Johnson and his big serve on how far this team can go. If this team is able to mesh, I can really seem them going all the way.
4. Burney and Gordy (CMS) have the ability to make some serious noise. Gordy can play some serious doubles, but we’ll see if the seasoned doubles player is able to mesh with the Amherst transfer in Burney.

Other doubles teams to watch out for: Parodi/Berber (CMS) ; Liu/Park (CMS)

 

Predictions:

Singles: Niko Parodi over Jack Katzman

Doubles: Parodi/Berber over Gordy/Burney

 

Looming questions:

1. Will there be an all Stag final for the 4th year in a row?

I’d give it about a 5% chance that the streak of having two Stags in the finals ends this year. With so many Stags in the field and a lot of them being seeds, the only way I don’t see an all-Stag affair come Sunday is if they happen to take each other out, making an easier route for somebody like Kronenberg, Lipscomb, or Bellet to reach the final. We will see a lot of Stags facing each other towards the end of the tournament, but fairly certain we’ll see 3 of the 4 semi-finalists being Stags (Katzman, Parodi, Park).

2.   Can Parodi go one step farther this year and take the ship?

I believe Parodi has a great shot of winning it all this year. He reached the finals of the Fall  ITA last year where he fell to Morkovine in the finals, but with a conglomerate of freshmen holding the top seeds this year, an “experienced” sophomore in Parodi will have a major advantage against such players. If Parodi is on his A game, I can see him absolutely steamrolling his competition and securing himself a spot in Georgia.

3.   How will the talented incoming freshman class fare against the rest of the field?

This will be a major question this weekend, as 4 of the top 8 seeds are freshmen. Will their talent and high junior ranking outweigh experience from the rest of the field? Nerves and high expectations will play a major role for these young guns, so expect some major dog fights the first couple days as the young seeds try to knock off the jitters. Freshmen usually have nothing to lose and can really swing away, but with a seed next to their name, that could change. We’ll see!

4.   Can a non CMS, PP, or Redlands player make a run to the semis or finals?

Of the 16 seeds, only 3 are held by non CMS, PP, or Redlands players [Shanker (Caltech), Braaten (Cal Lu), and Le Duff (Santa Cruz)]. I really don’t see either of these three making a deep run in the tournament, however, I have seen crazier things. Regardless, I would be very surprised if one of these three, or the non-seeded field for that matter, can have a fiery weekend and make it to a semi. Tons of respect to every team competing this weekend, but expect your quarterfinalists, semifinalists, finalists, and winner to come from CMS, PP, or Redlands this year.