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King, Johnson Selected To ITA, American Express Collegiate All-Star Team
5/6/2004 1:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
May 6, 2004
SKILLMAN, N.J. - Duke senior's Phillip King and Amanda Johnson along with eight other players and three coaches have been selected by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) to represent the United States on the 2004 American Express Collegiate All-Star Team in two exhibition team matches in China June 13-21. In addition to American Express, Cathay Pacific Airlines, adidas and Tennis Magazine (China) are also sponsoring the tour.
"This sponsorship reinforces American Express' longtime commitment to China, and represents our tradition of contributing to and supporting cultural and leisure events in China and around the world," said Dave Keung, American Express' Vice President and Head of Global Establishment Services for China. "We are delighted to play our part in promoting tennis activity and fostering cultural exchange in one of the most culture-rich, fast-growing and important countries in the world."
Tennis legend Stan Smith will be the honorary coach for the team. A former U.S. Open, Wimbledon and NCAA champion, Smith also participated in an exhibition series in China in 1977.
"I'm delighted to be named honorary coach for the American Express Collegiate All-Star Team," Smith said. "I've remained very close to college tennis since my playing days at USC and look forward to being able to help serve as an ambassador for American tennis while also working with this outstanding group of players."
The trip is being hosted by the Chinese Tennis Association and the U.S. squad will be competing against teams selected by the CTA, consisting of the best young players in China, ages 17-23.
The American Express Collegiate All-Star Team will make stops in Hong Kong, Tianjin and Beijing. The ITA team will play in two exhibition team matches, participate in several clinics conducted by Smith and the ITA coaches for junior/high school level players and coaches, and also enjoy sightseeing excursions in these historic cities.
"We are very appreciative to American Express and the Chinese Tennis Association for making this trip possible," said ITA Executive Director David A Benjamin, who will also travel with the group to China. "This is a wonderful opportunity for our ITA All Stars to showcase American college tennis in one of the most exciting and important parts of the world."
The American Express Collegiate All-Star Team consists of the following 10 players: (men) Lester Cook of Texas A&M, King of Duke, Rob Steckley of Lander (S.C.), Brian Wilson of Illinois, Jeremy Wurtzman of Ohio State, and (women) Zsofia Golopencza of Armstrong Atlantic State (Ga.), Johnson of Duke, Jennifer Magley of Florida, Jennifer McGaffigan of Illinois and Alicia Salas of Notre Dame. The All Stars were selected by the ITA Board of Directors for their outstanding tennis achievements, as well as for their sportsmanship and ambassadorial qualities.
All eight of the Division I players on the team have been ranked in the ITA's top 20 in singles this season. Illinois' Wilson is currently No. 1 in men's singles and Ohio State's Wurtzman has also held the top spot this season. Texas A&M's Cook is ranked No. 2 in doubles and has been as high as No. 1. Steckley and Golopencza have also been ranked No. 1 in singles at the Division II level this season.
The team will be coached by Louise Gengler of Princeton and Doug MacCurdy of the College of Santa Fe (N.M.). Prior to collegiate coaching, MacCurdy served as Managing Director for the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and was Director of Player Development for the United States Tennis Association (USTA). His tennis background has brought him to numerous countries (including China) on seven continents. His College of Santa Fe men's team, in just its first season of existence, is currently ranked No. 6 in the NAIA. Gengler has been one of the most visible and respected women's coaches in the country over the past 25 years. She has served on numerous committees within the ITA during her career and received the Rolex/ITA Meritorious Service Award for her dedication and service to the association. She is in her final season as Princeton coach and has amassed over 300 career victories and won seven Ivy League titles. Dr. Richard Levandowski, who is currently in private practice for Sports, Occupational and Rehabilitation Medicine in Lawrenceville, N.J., will be the team doctor. He is a highly respected member of numerous professional and scientific societies and has also had international medical experience, including medical positions with the United States Olympic Committee.
Last summer an ITA All-Star Team helped Waseda University celebrate its 100th anniversary of tennis by competing in two exhibition matches in Tokyo, Japan. The U.S. squad went 2-0 on that trip, the first by an American collegiate team to Asia in over 20 years.
As the governing body of collegiate tennis the ITA promotes both the athletic and academic achievements of the collegiate tennis community. The ITA, which is based in Skillman, N.J., administers annually a number of national and regional championship events, the ITA Collegiate Summer Circuit, presented by the USTA, and the ITA Rankings for men's and women's tennis at the NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and Junior College levels. The ITA also has a comprehensive awards program for players and coaches to honor excellence in academics, leadership and sportsmanship. The official ITA web site is www.itatennis.com. ###
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