Kathy is a tennis player, and dreams of bering famous someday. Just like the unknown tennis players in Hawaii. At her level tennis isn't fun, it's competition! Unlike the players in Hawaii, tennis is a very fun and competitive sport that we all enjoy. Most of the Hawaii players enjoy the competition and we enjoy working hard to become better athletes. In the story, a horrible, sudden accident happens, and by coincidence, it involves a tennis apponent that Kathy can't beat. So people think that Kathy is the one that did it, and all the tennis goers side with the girl that Kathy can't beat. It shows how the tennis world is so competitive and can get very into the sport, even if they don't play tennis.

After reading the book.

This book was interesting, however it is not a very good mystery book. Anyone who has read Nancey Drew books like my favorite, "Yoko," would agree with me.It is about a girl named Kathy that can not beat a girl named Ruth. Every one beleves Kathy would do anything to win a game. So when Ruth is found at the bottom of the clubs pool every one thinks Kathy murderd ruth but people don't know the real truth about ruth. <--it rhymes XD

When No One Was Looking

So for my English class we’re supposed to choose a book that has the same themes and concepts our blog does. My blog is about Hawaii junior tennis tournaments and up and coming tennis athletes. I decided to choose a book called “When No One Was Looking,” by Rosemary Wells. The summary said it was about a 14 year-old girl named Kathy and her being a tennis star and her fame gets out of control. To me it sounded like the story would be about the challenges and perks you get being a tennis star. Which is sort of about the themes in my blog. It’s about Kathy Bardy's natural talent for tennis is discovered by a tennis coach who is determined to turn Kathy into a championship player. Winning means everything to the coach, who drives Kathy mercilessly through training. Kathy dreams of Wimbledon and practices rigorously with this goal in mind. She does well in competition and is ranked number twelve in the fourteen and under age group, but competing places a strain on her family and their finances, as well as on Kathy. The mysterious drowning death of one of Kathy's opponents forces Kathy to examine the cost of winning. Kathy is a young tennis player with enough drive, attitude, and talent to go right to the top. And it seems that everyone around her has a stake in her success. So, when Kathy is presented with an opponent she can't beat, and a tragedy occurs, everyone's motives are questioned. They all want victory badly-but would anyone really kill for it? WOW.

HPTF June 27-29 Junior Open Tournament

Last weekend there was a Hawaii state tennis tournament. HPTF June Junior Open tournament located on Oahu at Schofield tennis courts. There were Boys 10s-18s singles and girl’s 14s-18s singles. For boy's 14s number one seed, Jack Thibault and number two seed, Christian Duchnak. With a total of 7 players, Thibault defeated Ty Spangler 6-4, 6-2 in semi-finals. And determined Brandon chin defeated number two seed Duchnak in a tiebreaker 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 in semi-finals. In the finals was Thibault and Chin and Thibault had a hard time beating Chin with the score 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.

In girl’s 14 Singles there were a total of 9 players from all over the world. A girl named Leilani Duchnak, sister to Christian Duchnak are both from Pago Pago, AS! There were two seeds, top seed Lauren Doversola, and second seed, Lauren Liang. In the semi-finals Doversola played a tough match against Dani Young and advanced to the finals. The other semi-finals match was between second seed, Liang and Lauren Seki and their score was an amazing 3-6; 7-6(5); 6-4! So in finals it would be an incredible match between two Lauren’s. Lauren Doversola and Lauren Liang. Doversola easily defeated Liang 6-0, 6-1.

In the boy’s 16s singles division they played a round robin, so there were no first place and second place winners. In the round robin, Andrew Amor from Elk Grove, CA defeated both Christpher Sami from Pago Pago, AS. 6-1, 6-2 and Christian Duchnak 6-2, 6-2. Christian Duchnak defeated Christpher Sami 6-0, 6-2. So overall I think that if there were a winner it should be Andrew Amor.

The girls 16s singles division consisted of 8 players from all over the world. Two girls were from Pago Pago, AS and one girl named Katelyn Falk is from Virginia Beach, VA. Top seed was Liitia Godinet from Pago Pago, AS. And second seed was Oahu’s very own Tara Nilsson. In the semi finals top seed defeated Shannan Yamamoto 6-2, 6-3. Also in semi-finals, second seed defeated Andrea Baysa 6-2, 7-5. So in finals, both seeds had to face each other, in the end top seed Godinet defeated second seed 6-4, 6-4.

Boy’s 18s singles had a total of 6 players. Top seed was James Lee, from Oahu. In the semi-finals, Lee defeated Christpher Sami handily 6-1, 6-0. And Shane-Adam Young defeated Jesse Smotherman 6-0, 7-5. In the finals James defeated Shane, 6-2; 1-0Ret (injury). Shane had a wrist injury forcing him to retire and forfeit from his match early.

For the girls 18s singles there were only 3 players signed up, so they played a round robin. Sherise Lum defeated Tara Nilsson 6-3, 6-2. Litia Godinet also beat Tara Nilsson 6-1, 6-4. Then Sherise Lum defeated Litia Godinet 7-5, 6-4. So in the end I think if there were to be a winner it would’ve been Sherise Lum. Check out the results at this link HPTF Tournament

This tournament showed that many Hawaii players are stronger and can defeat other players from around the world. The point of this blog is to recognize how good many of the Hawaii junior players are. If you wanted to check out the Hawaii players check out this site hawaii usta junior ranking then in the National/Section/District, select Hawaii Pacific. Then choose the current year (2008) then you can select any junior division. And lastly you have to select in the "List type" select Standing list. You have to select standing list or else it won't work. If you want the 2008 Hawaii Junior rankings check out this link it my steps above ^^^ don't work. Rankings.