YOUTH TENNIS: E'town 10-and-unders win USTA Jr. Team Tournament (04/08)

By GREG CREWS gcrews@thenewsenterprise.com LOUISVILLE — It didn’t take long for Elizabethtown’s QuickStart tennis program to find success. At the USTA Kentucky Jr. Team Tennis Championships on Friday, all 13 players competing for the Elizabethtown squad — in its first year of existence — walked away with medals after a first-place finish in the 10-and-under division and a second-place finish in the 8-under division. “They were really excited. They performed really well,” QuickStart and John Hardin High School tennis coach Mike McCune said. “More than anything, this will benefit by getting the kids involved and getting them competing against teams from Louisville. “When our (high school) kids go and compete in the state tournament, they are a little intimidated by Louisville kids. Getting these kids to play competition from around the state can be nothing but good in the long run.” Brittany Swiney and Spencer McCune won individual awards for winning the most games in their divisions — 10-under and 8-under, respectively. Other members of the 10-under squad were Matthew Mitchell, DeAndre Monplaisor, Daniel Shumate, Steven Swift, Abbey Moore, Carley Pyles and Lizzy Weaver. Other members of the 8-under squad were James England, Atlantis Clendeenin, Camille England and Natalie Sloan. The winners of the 12-under division, Louisville Blake, advance to the USTA Southern Sectional in Mobile, Ala. Elizabethtown did not field a 12-under team since QuickStart is not currently offered beyond age 10, but after Friday’s success, Mike McCune said that may change next year. “I am very pleased. They represented our program well,” McCune said. “They had a lot of fun all summer.” Greg Crews can be reached at 505-1754