After 12 weeks of matches it is time for the BTC Jr. Ladder tournament. Breaking the ladder into three different divisions (Bronze, Silver, and Gold) worked out very well this year. I am proud to say that our juniors played close to 100 matches total over the past 12 weeks and now that the regular season is over it’s time to begin the tournament. There is a tournament for each division, Bronze(which is co-ed), Silver, and Gold and there are seeded players for each tournament.

Charlotte Federowicz of Vestal is seeded first for the Bronze and Kenny Friedman, also from Vestal, grabbed the second seed. Federowicz was undefeated during the regular season posting an 8-0 record and Friedman was close behind with a 9-2 record.

Artem Khrapko of the Elmira-Horseheads area is seeded first in the Silver tournament and Jared Zonio of Union-Endicott is seeded second. Khrapko is a 10 year old who works very hard at his tennis game and will be busy playing ETA matches next year. Zonio a freshman at UE High School will be trying out for his varsity team this spring.

Jeff Swails of Vestal High School took the first seed in the Gold tournament and behind him is Nathan Kucko with the second seed in the tournament. Kucko played singles for the Chenango Forks Varstiy team last year. Jeff Swails played singles for Vestal in 2005 and is looking to do the same again this year.

Those are the first and second seeded players for this year based on their win loss record and/or their number of matches played. Unfortunately, some players did not make the eight player cut off in each division to enter the tournament. Those players that did make the tournament will be receiving calls this week with their match times.

Thank you to all players for joining the ladder this year and making it such a success. The boys Jr. Ladder for 2006 will start in September. The BTC Girl’s Jr. Ladder will start Saturday January 28th