Document text
Schnugg wins national tennis tournament By Tim Trower In a turf war stretching from one coast to the other, Medford junior tennis player Nate Schnugg was the last one standing Wednesday. Schnugg, 12, won the USTA Super National Spring Championships � also known as the Easter Bowl � in Mobile, Ala., defeating Leo Rosenberg of Manhattan, Kan., 7-6, 6-3. The tournament is one of only three super nationals for the boys 12 division, and Schnugg, who plays out of the Rogue Valley Swim & Tennis Club, went there to make a statement on behalf of his national coach. Schnugg is coached locally by Cary Collins but also works occasionally with Greg Patton of Boise, Idaho, one of a half-dozen USTA national coaches who handle sections of the country. They identify and work with junior players who might one day represent the United States in competition. In order to work with Patton, for instance, Schnugg had to sign a contract that he would play for his country if he were one day asked, said his mother, Cathy, who accompanied him to Mobile. "Each of these national coaches is trying to convince the others that his kid is the best, that he deserves extra-special attention from the USTA," said Cathy Schnugg in a phone interview. "(Patton) wanted to make a statement that here�s somebody from little ol� Medford, Ore., to look at and help and endorse." There should be no question that Schnugg, who comes from an accomplished tennis family, deserves such recognition. This victory should vault him to the top of the national rankings for his age group. "The people who win events like this are household names, the Lindsay Davenports and the Michael Changs," said Collins, who was unable to go to the Easter Bowl because of another commitment. "Not that that will happen to Nate, but it�s a step in the right direction, no doubt about it." Schnugg was the tournament�s top seed and won each of his matches in straight sets. In both the semifinals and finals, he went to first-set tiebreakers before emerging triumphant. He especially had to battle in the final against Rosenberg, who presented added problems because he�s left-handed. With the first set knotted 6-6, Rosenberg, the fourth seed, took what seemed to be a comfortable 5-1 lead in the tiebreaker. Schnugg came back to within 5-4, but his foe won again to make it set point. "Then he choked three more," said Nate Schnugg. "I had set point and he pretty much mentally destructed." Until then, it was a riveting match. "He really surprised me how good he played," said Schnugg. "When I was up, he fought back. When I was down, he kept going." Unaccustomed to playing left-handers, Schnugg had to adjust to serves coming from different angles and get used to seeing forehand returns that ordinarily would come off a backhand. Schnugg played perhaps his best match ever in the semifinals but couldn�t shake Steve Johnson, the third seed from Orange, Calif. In this one, he jumped ahead 4-0 in the tiebreaker and rolled to a 7-6, 6-4 win. Schnugg has strengthened his game by playing older age groups. In the Pacific Northwest section, he plays 14s. In a local tournament earlier this year, he played against 18-year-olds. He also has played against adults in open tournaments. "Basically," said Collins, who has tutored Schnugg for six years, "he�s a gifted kid in a lot of ways. He has a very good mind for the game, a very good tactical awareness. Plus, he�s a very good athlete. He�s got all that it takes." Schnugg credits his older brothers, former prep stars Steve and Scott, for part of his development, as well as other family members. Scott, who has transferred from Santa Barbara to Georgia Tech and will play tennis there, "has been a role model all my life," said Nate. "I�ve looked up to him since I was about 1. "It�s kind of like I was one step ahead of everyone else, having watched them." Now, people are starting to take a good look at him. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.