By Ashley Marshall, USTA.com
As the action heated up on the courts on championship Sunday at the 2015 Junior Team Tennis National Championships, sportsmanship and spirit awards reminded everyone that there’s more to tennis than just serves and volleys.
Awards were handed out to the individuals and teams that best exemplified the ideals of the tournament, held in Cayce, S.C. Additional awards were given to the best team banner created by each of the intermediate and advanced squads.
The Sportsmanship Awards were given to Eric Selzer and Greta Hartman from the intermediate-level Farmington Valley Racquet Club of the New England section based out of Simsbury, Conn. The Team Spirit Award went to the Southsiders team from Bloomington, Minn., representing the USTA Northern Advanced section.
In the best banner contest, two teams who showcased a flair for combining local landmarks and creative design took the top prizes.
In the intermediate category, the Seattle Sonics from the Pacific Northwest section took home top honors for their banner depicting the famous Space Needle, the observation tower in Seattle that once held the distinction of being the tallest building west of the Mississippi.
Among the advanced teams, the Delaware Nightmare squad representing the USTA Middle States reigned supreme. Their banner paid homage to the history, landmarks and culture of their state. The banner included references to Dover Air Force base, the Dover International Speedway circuit, the University of Delaware Blue Hens sports program and the fact that Delaware, in 1787, became the first state to ratify the Constitution.