News Scrapbook 1981-1982

San Diego, Friday, February 19,

------------------ College tennis humbling test on way to pros The transition from junior player to the collegiate level and then on to the professional ranks is a difficult path. Most never make it. "As good as most of these players here are," said Ed Collms, tennis coach at the University of San Diego for the past three, years and director of the fourth annual Intercollegiate Tennis Tournament, "there may be three or four, 1f that many, who will have any success on tbe pro circuit. . . . And while Collins was talkmg, his star pupil, Peter Herrmann, named college player of tbe year by the San Diego District Tennis Association, and who plans to turn professional at the completion of this, his senior year, was going down to defeat in the second round at the hands of little known Eric Quade of UC-Irvine. Earlier, Herrmann sat in the bleachers awaiting his first-round match with Antony Emerson, son of the famed Australian champion, Roy Emerson, and nervously con- templated his future. 'It's not easy making the Jump from juniors to the collegiate level," he said, removing a set of lightweight earphones from his ears. He had been listening to his pocket-sized stereo to relax "In the juniors, it's a matter of the better players - the seeded players psyching the other players out. There is a lot more fear, maybe it's awe, of the known players. Most of them are beaten before the match begins. ''In collegiate play, everyone is pretty much on a par Anybody can win. There is no fear. It is a lot like the 'In the juniors, it's a matter of the better players - the seeded players - psyching the other players out' - Peter Herrmann professional tour Somebody you never heard of can come along and beat you." That's pretty much what happened yesterday to Herrmann, who has reaped all sorts of laurels in his junior and collegiate career here in San Diego County. But Herrmann wasn't the only seeded player in this tour- nament to taste the bitterness of defeat yesterday. Andy Gordon, a Coronado product in his senior year ~t the University of Arizona, was knocked off a round earh- er by an equally unknown in Jim Snyder, another "sleep- er" from UC-Irvine. Gordon was seeded No. 1 in 1-2 singles bracket (best players). Herrmann was the No. 4 seed in that same bracket. In this unusual tournament r actually three tournaments in one}, the- t o top rated players or ch of the 16 colleges are all in one draw, then he three- nd four- ranked players are in another dra , and the fives and sixes in still another tournament. Points are given for each win down llle line. The Uni- versity of Texas won this tournament last year, with Arizona and Pepperdine tied for second and third, while USO came in fourth. Other schools in this year's event are Long Beach State, Louisiana State, Redlands, UC-Santa Barbara, UCSD, Arizona State, U.S. International Univer- sity, San Diego State, UC-Irvine, Bakersfield State and of course, the two top rated collegiate teams in the nation, UCLA and USC. Herrmann, who began playing at age 6 and who had won his first national title at 12, got by Emerson in the first round before losing to Quade. The atmosphere in this event, which continues tomor- row with the finals at Morley Field in Balboa Park, is one of a pro tournament, albeit the minor leagues, perhaps. There is a fierceness of competition. "It's tougher in college than in the juniors," said Collins, who has been Herrmann's coach since he was 14. "Each player is not only playing for himself but for his school. If he loses, he lets his school down somewhat. That is tough- er on the player." Collins said the collegiate ranks is where to test whether or not it would be feasible for a player to try the professional tour. "It is tough. Some players never make it. And yet, there are players who never showed much in the juniors who suddenly burst forth and become top- notch players in college. This is rare. though." Collins' No. 2 player, Terry Ward, is an example. He was never rated very high in the Missouri Valley seetion where he played as a teen-ager. He is now regarded very high in the collegiate ranks. He won the Tribune Metro- . politan Tournament in 1980 here. He, like his teammate Herrmann, stumbled yesterday, losing to Arizona State's Gary Donnelly, the No. 3 seed, in the second round. Mean bile, surprising· Troy Collins of San Diego State plowed hrough both his opponents yesterday, beating UCLA's Jeff Klaparda and Arizona State's Todd Nelson. Collins got his start on the courts in South Central Los Angeles when he joined the California Tennis Association for Underprivileged Youths. He too, is a product of junior tennis. Nelson was a standout at Grossmont before transferring to ASU. Collins had to struggle to beat Nel- son yesterday 7-5, 7-6. So, with all the upsets, Collins became the Aztecs' hope of a titlist here, but still there were many matches to go and ma:.y mental obstacles to overcome. For Herrmann, there is that decision of whether he thinks he's good enough to tackle the pro ranks. •·1 am and I will," he said. "You have to expect the los~es." It's true, no one can win all the time. Not even No. 1 player in the world John McEnroe, who played this level of tennis for a year at Stanford before jumping into pro- fessional tennis with both feet. "He a rarity, of course." said Collins. "But I think Peter (Herrmann) is, too. He has the courage and the determi- nation and he will certainly contmue to improve. "The one thing we didn't mention," Collins added, "is the fact that these players-must not only practice tennis, they also have to hit the books. Pros don't have to do that." By Elson Irwin Tribune Sportswriter

SAN DIEGO UNION F'(B? 0 1982

Tennis Foes At USD Discover Emerson Genes Still In Style

By RICH FEVERSTEI Soecial To TIie Son Diego Un,on

His t, le 1 fJm1har His feet churn set before th ball g ts th r Strokes smooth as ilk Superb doubt partner becau e he know wh re to be A gentleman 011 th • court H' no urpn e that ntony Erner- on re mble tennis great Roy Em rson. Hoy 1s Antony's father, fr1 nd and coach Unlike many ons of athletic great who feel burdened by the pr ure to exc I, ntony Emerson e onl} advantag being the only on of Hoy. I hav Dad as a coach and there's alway omeonc to play around the h ." aid Antony, listing ViJay AmntraJ and Ro Case as frequent v1 llors to the Emerson home in Newport Beach Antony an 18-year-old freshman at U and partn r Todd Witsken face Brigham Youngs Ola Hallgran and Mt e Cod1ga in a double sem1fl nal today m th 1982 San Diego Int r collcg1 te Tenm Tournam nt at Morley Firld. P ppcrdme's John Van No trand and UC-Irvmc s Jim Snyder meet m the fir t d1vis1on singles final at I100 S mifmal and finals in dou- • ble follow Van trand defeated Eric Quade (UC-Irvine) 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 and Snyder beat Gary Donnelly (ASU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 constantlv Hi rack t I

in sem1fmal matches yesterday at USO Emerson and Witsen frustrated UCLA's Jeff Klaparda and Bobby Berger ma quarterfmal 6-1, 6-3 ·I m really nnpressed with Emer- son's ag1hty and fluidness," said USD coach and tournament director Ed Collin . "His mannensms - not on purpose are very similar to hb father. Hes fair and honest He calls all close balls good where others are apt to co 1der the opposite." "I think it's ridiculous to carry on," said Emerson. who was born in Aus- tralia and moved lo Califorma when he was five. "It destroys concentra- tion If you keep cool, you do better If your opponent gets ticked off, you know you have him (John) McEnroe ts a bad example My dad agrees." Rov Emerson was a two-time W1mt- edon and two-lime l S Open champ1 n Antony bas only v agu mor es o b1 father's pnm I traveled th him hen I was very sm II but he n v r forced me mto tenms " aid ntony t wa my own dee1s1on.' Antony plays No. 4 smgles at USC. Ranked eighth nationally in the 18- year-old age group last year, he hopes to improve with Pac 10 compe- htion. Good genes don't hurt.

Pbolo by Jerry Windle

USD'S TERRY WARD STROKES ABACKHAND

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THE TRIBU 'E (:!) San Diego, Wednesday, February 17, 1982 Top teams vie ih tennis meet here

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The top-three ranked men's tennis teams in the nati~n will be among 16 collegiate tennis teams parl!c1patmg m the San Diego Intercollegiate Tennis Tournament which gets under way tomorrow morning at the University of an Diego and San Diego State. Team involved mclude No. 1 UCLA. No. 2 USC, No. 3 Pepperdine along with UCSD, SDSU, USIU, USO, Arizona State, Long Beach State, Redlands,. UC-Santa Barb.ara. UC-Irvme, Brigham Young, Bakersfield State, Lou1s1ana tale and Arizona. Some of the finest collegiate tennis players, including Peter Herrmann, top player in the county, will be on hand to take part in thi. prestigious tournament sponsored by USO and The San Diee:o Cmon.

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