Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Two girls head to Little Mo nationals

By NANCY MORGAN, Times Sports Correspondent
Published October 17, 2007

Youngsters Shachaamah "Shac" Brown, 8, and Anastasha Worlds, 9, leave this week for Austin, Texas, to compete in the Little Mo National Championships.

Encouraged by their tennis coach Christina Turner, the girls challenged their skills in the national Little Mo series of tournaments, first in state competition and then regionals to qualify for the national contest.

"I've worked with these two girls around two years and suggested this tournament to them," said Turner, an independent instructor at Campbell Park in St. Petersburg.

The Little Mo tournament was introduced in 1976 in Texas and expanded to the national level in 1998. The tournament is open to boys and girls in 8-and-under, 9, 10 and 11 age divisions.

Worlds and Brown entered Florida's Little Mo contest in Boca Raton in June, where the final eight players advanced to region action in Atlanta, Ga., in August. There, the four semifinalists in each age division qualified for the national tournament in Texas, which is Saturday-Monday. In Atlanta, Brown won the 8-and-under division and Worlds was a semifinalist in the 9-year-old division.

"I'm really excited about going, and I'm planning on winning," Brown said.

Turner praised Brown's tenacity and will-to-win attitude.

"Shac is one of those kids that has an innate heart of a tiger and will get out there and play till the very end without ever giving up," Turner said.

Turner said Worlds is a powerhouse player, especially for her age.

"Her power will take her pretty far, and she, too, just won't give up," Turner said.

Worlds, who started playing when she was about 6, doesn't get nervous playing, she said, and is ready for the Little Mo contest.

"I expect that there will be pretty tough competition, but I like it that way," said Worlds. "To win, I know I'll need to put out my best and do everything I know."

LEAGUE NEWS: Last weekend, Royal Racquet Club's 8.0 adult mixed doubles team reached the state final, falling 2-1 to Tampa.

McMullen-based 9.0 was one position win shy of advancing to the state semifinal round. Royal was 2-1 in flight action. McMullen's 10.0 squad was 0-3 in round-robin competition with Jacksonville.

- St. Petersburg Tennis Center's senior 4.5 women's team leaves this week for its USTA National League Championship in Indian Wells, Calif. Competition is Friday-Sunday.

- Countryside Country Club's 3.0 adult men's team competed in last weekend's USTA National League Championships in Las Vegas, Nev.

Countryside's squad of 13 faced USTA sections Caribbean, Eastern and Northern California in its flight competition, with Caribbean advancing to the semifinal round.

NET SHOTS: Last weekend's Raymond James 23rd annual Charity Pro/Am Tournament raised around $35,000 for All Children's Hospital. Finishing first in the Pro/Am were John Beda and Elmar Koenig.

- The Police Athletic League and the Suncoast Tennis Foundation are looking for volunteers to assist in their Junior Team Tennis program for youths, ages 8 to 15, on Saturdays at Seminole High. Contact PAL director Paul Hicks at 580-176.

- Among the winners in last weekend's St. Petersburg Country Club Rookie Championships were Anislya Simpson girls 10-and-under, Kelly Walker (girls 12), Jorge Alvarez (boys 10) and Julian Haerle (boys 12).

COMING UP: The Pete Wolfberg Memorial Classic begins Friday at Royal Racquet Club. Call 799-3200.

News for this column may be faxed to Nancy Morgan, 445-4119; e-mailed to namorgan@tampabay.rr.com or sent to 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. Please include phone number.

[Last modified October 16, 2007, 23:00:35]