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Yanda practicing with state tennis tourney in mind

TOLEDO CHRONICLE



By Charley Townsley

Sports Editor



Jeff Yanda, an STC junior and member of the Trojan boys tennis team has taken his drive to get to the state tournament to a new level. Last summer he became a member of the U.S.T.A (United States Tennis Association), an organization which sanctions tennis tournaments all over the country.

“I want to get to the state tournament this year,” Yanda said. “Joining the U.S.T.A. gives me more opportunities to play and a level of competition that will help me get better.”

Yanada spends a lot of his weekends playing in tournaments. Most recently he finished second at a tournament held at the Westfield Tennis Club in Cedar Rapids. He lost in the finals to a player from Nebraska.

Yanda stays mostly in Iowa, but has played in tournaments in Moline, Ill. When he’s not playing somewhere, he goes to Sunday clinics at Grinnell College. There he gets the benefit of coaching from Andy Hamilton. Hamilton has been the head men’s and women’s tennis coach for Grinnell College since 1996.

Yanda’s hitting partner, Charlie Wilhelm, is the number one player for the Grinnell High School team. Wilhelm and Yanda travel together and also participate as doubles partners.

Yanda is currently ranked 43 in Iowa in the 16 and under age division, out of 2,000 players in that age group. Yanda will be moving to a new age bracket this winter when he turns 17.

Yanda plans to play in a tournament this weekend, Nov. 21-23 at the Aspen Tennis Club in Des Moines, then return to Moline for a tournment over the Thanksgiving weekend.He also plans to play basketball this season for the Trojans.

Yanda practicing with state tennis tourney in mind

TOLEDO CHRONICLE



By Charley Townsley

Sports Editor



Jeff Yanda, an STC junior and member of the Trojan boys tennis team has taken his drive to get to the state tournament to a new level. Last summer he became a member of the U.S.T.A (United States Tennis Association), an organization which sanctions tennis tournaments all over the country.

“I want to get to the state tournament this year,” Yanda said. “Joining the U.S.T.A. gives me more opportunities to play and a level of competition that will help me get better.”

Yanada spends a lot of his weekends playing in tournaments. Most recently he finished second at a tournament held at the Westfield Tennis Club in Cedar Rapids. He lost in the finals to a player from Nebraska.

Yanda stays mostly in Iowa, but has played in tournaments in Moline, Ill. When he’s not playing somewhere, he goes to Sunday clinics at Grinnell College. There he gets the benefit of coaching from Andy Hamilton. Hamilton has been the head men’s and women’s tennis coach for Grinnell College since 1996.

Yanda’s hitting partner, Charlie Wilhelm, is the number one player for the Grinnell High School team. Wilhelm and Yanda travel together and also participate as doubles partners.

Yanda is currently ranked 43 in Iowa in the 16 and under age division, out of 2,000 players in that age group. Yanda will be moving to a new age bracket this winter when he turns 17.

Yanda plans to play in a tournament this weekend, Nov. 21-23 at the Aspen Tennis Club in Des Moines, then return to Moline for a tournment over the Thanksgiving weekend.He also plans to play basketball this season for the Trojans.