Memories Memories Memories
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Dear Carol,Just wanted to say that my son, Jeremiah Gonzalez, had a wonderful experience last week at the "Little Mo" International tournament. It was great! Thanks!Even though he was out of the tournament on Friday, he and my mother stayed until Sunday watching matches. Jeremiah said he was not ready to go home. He met some great kids and exchanged addresses with them.He was so nervous before the tournament and really did not want to go, but after the first day, he was having a wonderful time. He learned so much from every boy he played. He is already talking about the next "Little Mo" tournament.Thank you again for such a wonderful experience.Gladys SanchezHarlingen,Texas*********************************************************************************Dear Carol,
On behalf of Katie and I, we just wanted to thank you for the most fantastic experience at the "Little Mo" International Tournament.Katie loved everything about it and has made some lovely new friends. She loved the tennis and everyone was so friendly and positive. My friend, Jodie, who joined us is a Tennis Coach in England, was incredibly inspired by the event. She has come back with lots of new ideas following observations of the coaching and performance of the young players.The event was extremely well organised and a brilliant experience for everyone.Thank you so much for all your hard work and commitment to making this such a wonderful experience. We look forward to returning next year!With very best wishes. Nicki and Katie Swan (England)*********************************************************
Hi, CarolThis is Jason, Michelle's dad.It was our great pleasure meeting you and Cindy at the tournament which is quite a life time experience not only to kids like Michelle, but also to adults like myself. I truly believe the spirit of "Little Mo" will live through each kid's life as they grow up, whatever they are going to do.
The tournament is such a success in so many ways. On the airplanes back home, Michelle and I buried ourselves into the reading of Cindy's book which was so moving, and Michelle had tears several times. We discussed about the seven lessons in the book and how we can apply them into our lives.We really appreciate your organizing the tournament and bringing the kids all over the world together, to compete and to make friends at the same time.Dear Carol, Robert is so excited for the opportunity to play the "Little Mo" Internationals tournament. He has played very well with a lot of "good wins" in a lot of the Eastern tournaments this year, and even though his results were not great at "Little Mo", it still was his best experience. Thank you for that!Thanks, Jason Wang
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Lauren Levine*********************************************************************
Dear Carol,
Just a note to thank you for a wonderful tournament for both Rob and me at the "Little Mo" Nationals in Austin. What an experience he had. He met such wonderful kids from all over the country, played tough tennis and had the time of his life!So, thank you again for all your hard work. Hope to see you next year in Texas!Best regards,Lori DottererJamesville, NY************************************************
Dear Carol: Our family just wanted to thank you again for the most wonderful time at the "Little Mo" Nationals. We had a ball and felt so pampered by the tournament staff, etc. It was just such a positive, wonderful experience. We loved Austin and everyone at that AcademyWe will definitely see you next year. Our little gal is already talking about how she's going to win the whole thing next year!xo and thanks!Lori Bellis(mother of Catherine Cartan from San Francisco)************************************************************************
Dear Carol: We are looking forward to the Regionals tournament.
Thanks for all your hard work. "Little Mo" is always a good experience for Cabel. Have a great day.Glenda CantrellCarol- Just a note to say thanks for the great Little Mo tournament in Homewood. It was very organized and very well-run. I think everyone had a positive experience. Julia had a wonderful time and finished 6th in the********************************************************************************
Girls 8. There were some amazing young players and a lot of talent. We will be back for the 9 and under's next year for more fun.Thanks again for everything and thanks for your hard work.Have a great summer-Sincerely,Karen RonneyDear Carol,
What a pleasure it was to travel to Chicago for the Little Mo Regionals.
The tournament was well run, educational for the kids and a great experience
for our 9 year old son William Blumberg.
William played 5 great matches. He won 4 of the 5,loosing to the number
one seed in the second round, 5-7, 5-7. He was disappointed to have such a
tough match in the second round, but gained a tremendous experience by
learning to re-group and give his best in the back draw. Winning the
consolation is a big accomplishment, and we are very proud of him.
The little Mo national tournament was a highlight of our year last year.
William did well as an eight year old and would love any opportunity to
participate this year. If a wild card opportunity comes up, we would
definitely jump at the chance, and be delighted to attend.
Many thanks for all your efforts in running the Little Mo Carol. It is a
great event and a wonderful experience for us all.
Best regards,
Amy Tardio Blumberg
hi, I wanted to thank you for putting on such a great event for the kids last weekend in San Diego! Ty had a blast and wow we were so excited about how he played, as he really stepped up his game since the qualifier in Washington. For him, the memories will last a lifetime and boy, that huge trophy motivated him to the max J
Thanks again for hosting such a great event. The Barnes Tennis Center is top notch and I like what you all are doing there for the kids.
Take care and best wishes in all that you do.
April Gentry
Hi Carol! Sylvia, Nancy and the 'Gang' did another great job at the "Little Mo" North Regionals - they are just so top notch. Thank you, again, for the opportunity to play in the "Little Mo." I wish we had more tournaments with folks like you -- it's just a delight. The whole thing just gives me goose bumps......this weekend left Ryan and me truly excited and filled with love to be involved with the sport of tennis, again! Something we had not felt in so many tournaments leading up to 'Little Mo!" Little Mo helped put the MoJo back into tennis - thank you, again! We'll never forget this lifetime experience!You're terrific. Keep up the great work!Cheers! Charolyn
Hello Carol:It's so nice to see that you follow the progress of your former "Little Mo" players . I know that your efforts and the experience that Ty had in
"Little Mo" was a huge factor in his tennis.The first traveling he did was in the "Little Mo" events.(Ty was in the Wimbledon Junior bracket.)Ty is in Germany right now and then Austria.It was a great experience for him and he has another year at Wimbledon Juniors so we will keep you updated as to his progress.Thank youTodd TrombettaTrombetta Tennis AcademyHallandale Beach Florida**********************************************************
"Little Mo" players are in Umag, Croatia playing in the Kids Cup. Domonique Garley, Ndindi Ndunda and Eduardo Nava won the first round matches.
Steve Darrington, father of Max Darrington from England and current "Little Mo" International player, emailed the following story:
Dear Carol:
You might be interested to know of a rather touching interaction we had while shopping recently in England. We were in the store buying the weekly groceries and Max was proudly wearing his "Little Mo" International sweatshirt. An old lady approached him and said, “My word young man, you must be too young to know about Little Mo!” ... Max replied to her with a detailed description of Little Mo's Grand Slam winning exploits and her history. (He did a big project on "Little Mo" and his trip to Texas for school). The old lady was very impressed and told me that she had seen "Little Mo" play at Wimbledon in the year she won!
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Carol,Hope all is well.Nick Chappell played 4 years of Li Mo going through the Midwest Sectionals and Regionals. Sylvia and her staff at Homewood Flossmour were great with the kids. Those tournaments were Nick's first exposure to tennis tournaments.The friends he made during those tournaments are his close friends on the junior USTA circuit today. Evan King, Augie Bloom, Justin Rossi. Nick has played several tournaments since those days(started in 2000) and still enjoys the game. He plays doubles with Justin Rossi when and where ever he can. If you look up Nick on Tennis Recruiting and Juniortennis.com you will see his results. Nick and Justin won the Bronze Ball at the B12 Clays in Greensboro and the National Open, B14, in Midland last July. Justin has been hurt so they have not been able to play in the last few(Super) Nationals but are hoping to play at the Easter Bowl this April. All 4 boys(Nick, Evan, Augie, and Justin) have been invited to the High Performance Camp April 2-7 ,2007 in Carson, Ca- warmup for the Easter Bowl.Nick is having a very productive junior career. He finished his B12's in the top ten, and is currently ranked 8th in B14's. He won the Gold ball at the Winter Nationals in Tucson, Dec.27,2006 with a boy he had never played with(Jammin Ball-CA). This last year he has finished 6th in singles at the B14 Clays, 6th in singles at the B14 National Hardcourts with the bronze in doubles with Shane Vinsant-TX, that is the 2nd bronze in doubles he has won with Shane), and 4th in singles at the Winter Nationals with the Gold in Doubles.With all his accomplishments so far, he holds the "Li Mo " days above any tournament. The experience not only paved the way for his love of the game but the friendships he made during those days will last him his lifetime.Nick played his first National Li Mo in Georgia( his first Li Mo year). His second Li Mo year took him to St. Stephens Academy in Austin. His 3rd year he was the first alternate to Nationals(the rain year), and his last year he went to the Austin Academy. He had a great time. During the 2nd year he was accepted in the B12's Clays in Greensboro, NC, but chose to play Li Mo instead. He really loved those tournaments.Nick's brother, Paul, also played Li Mo for one year. We didn't know about your tournaments until Paul's last year of eligibility. He also went to Nationals in Georgia but he made a lifetime friendship with a player from Chicago(now in Georgia), Donald Young. After getting beat by Donald in the finals of Sectional and Regional they hung out together and became friends. They played doubles at the National Open in Indianapolis years ago. It was the first USTA National tournament for Paul(besides Li Mo). In fact we did not know the National Open was being held at our club until a friend of Paul's told him about it. He called Donald right away and they were able to play together. Paul has played 4 years for his high school and has spent 2 winter terms at Saddlebrook Academy in Wesley Chapel, Fl. He has played ITF tournaments and still plays all the Nationals. In 2005 he won the silver ball at the Winter Nationals B16 in Phoenix. He's a senior and is currently going taking official trips to colleges so he can play college tennis.The Li Mo Tournaments made a lasting impression on our whole family. We still talk fondly of those days.Wishing you all the best,Regards,Greg Chappell
Congratulations to Sachia Vickery in winning the OUATT Kids Cup in France. Also, congrats to Domonique Garley and Ingrid Neel.
visit kidscup.fr for full results.
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What Does "Little Mo" Mean to Me?
California players at the DFW airport returning home after winning big trophies at the 1st annual "Little Mo" Internationals in Arlington, Texas: Deiton Baughman, Maxwell Cancilla, Ernesto Escobedo, Eduardo Nava, Alexis Pereira
The California group showing off their trophies from the "Little Mo" Nationals - what a memory! Alexis Pereira, Eduardo Nava, Maxwell Cancilla and Deiton Baughman.***************************************************
Dear Carol,My three daughters all play tennis and my oldest daughter Courtney played in the Little Mo Nationals this past fall. We thought it was such a tremendous experience for her and have really looked forward to our other two daughters sharing the same experience. It was such a wonderful experience for Courtney last year and everyone involved. The players and the people in charge did such a great job We would be willing to travel anywhere in order for her to get to participate. Thank you for the excellent tennis and wonderful experience our whole family shared last year surrounding all the Little Mo tournaments.SincerelyRobin Meredith
From December 7-10, Greenwich resident Justin Lee, 8, traveled to the Lone Star State for the Little Mo Tournament, a premier tennis challenge for youth to compete against players from other countries who are the same age.
Greenwich resident Justin Lee, 8, returns a shot during a recent match. Lee advanced the semifinals in the Little Mo International Open. — contributed photo
Against the best competition in the world, Lee beat King Roy, of Clute, TX 6-2, 1-6, 6-2 in the quarterfinals and advanced to play Maxwell Cancilla, of Huntington Beach, Calif. but fell to his opponent.
In 15 matches played, Lee won 13 against youngsters from the Dominican Republic, Ireland, Russia, as well as United State athletes from Texas, Georgia and New York.
The Little Mo International Open is a program of the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation that started 30 years ago in Dallas. The goal of the tournament is for players to develop new friendships with players from other countries, provide outstanding competition and to learn good sportsmanship.Hello Carol,
My family would like to wish the MCB Foundation a successful year of
2007. We also wanted to thank you again for giving Liz the opportunity to discover her potential.Thanks,
Nassaire Nkamgouo Jeukeng****************************************************
Dear Carol,Thank you so much for the nice note. Alexa is up in Northern California training right now, but I passed the message on to her. It has definitely been a rough road for the past year or so. We are all looking forward to a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2007! We wish the same for you.Congratulations on the growing success of the Little Mo program. Alexa still has wonderful memories from participating. It was competitive but also a whole lot of fun for her and her family. Our photo albums have many pictures from Little Mo events. We'll never forget what a great time she and Logan had on their first "big trip" to Dallas. We have cute pictures from the Halloween party there. Thanks for providing that opportunity for us.Kind Regards,The Glatch Family***********************************************************
Hi Carol: I wanted to drop you a note to thank you for the fantastic experience all four boys had that I brought across from the UK for the "Little Mo" International.Although Jonny Burke was the only one of the four to make it through to the main draw the other three, Dan, Tay and Connor all had a truly unforgettable experience. Though there was some some whining at the format, the freezing temperature and the long days in the qualifying - I know they would all love the chance to do it again.Hopefully the younger three will all be back again. Aside from the results and the matches, the kids and the parents learned so much. Lessons not just for the future of their kids tennis but about allowing them a childhood, participation in other sports, taking opportunities when they are offered.Tennis in the USA is so, so different in the UK. I played some tennis on the European circuit/U.S. circuit but my best and most treasured memories are from playing college tennis in Texas. I made incredible friends for life and grew as a person and as a player, and I'm pleased to say all of my guys got a glimpse of another side of tennis. They all saw that you can be great sportsmen and be winners - and that it's ok to show emotion and passion on court. And when the games over your opponent is not your enemy but can be your friend.For those 4 boys the experience was invaluable and re-enforced what I said to them - competition reveals character. Everyone needs their own personality, game style, motivation to succeed as a tennis player. You do not have to be 6 foot 3 tall and be a serve and volleyer to succeed as a British tennis player. You don't have to accept losing in the first round because no-one expects anymore. Jonny Burke has made up his mind that in 2007, he will return with a winner's trophy so the experience has already had an enormous impact on British tennis! I dare say with his desire, intensity, guts and determination he may well succeed.My thanks go out to you and your whole team for the massive effort you put into the whole event that none of us actually saw during the four days of competition. Please extend my thanks and gratitude to Thomas who did an awesome job as referee and official of the event. I think he did an unbelievable job in extremely tough circumstances and I don't envy his position one little bit! He showed huge patience, organisation, composure with the all parents and coaches and such great empathy, compassion and care when dealing with the kids. I'm involved in running a ProAm event early in 2007 and I've suggested to the organiser he gets on the phone and sees how much we need to pay Thomas to come over to the UK and officiate!!!!!Finally, to everyone who organised and took part in the opening ceremony, Maureen Connolly's daughter is one of the most captivating and motivating speakers I've ever heard for adults and kids alike. To hear her speak with such passion, vibrancy and positivity got the event off to the best possible start. It was a long trip from the UK and until the opening ceremony I think the parents I had brought with me were starting to question the sanity of my decision to make the trip - but her speech saved the day!I look forward to seeing you guys again next year perhaps with a similar group of players but for certain with a group of players with hopefully a little more of a 'winning' attitude. On the whole my perception of the difference between tennis in the two countries is that the kids in the U.S. are winners before they set foot on court because of the difference in attitude. Kindest Regards,Harriet ChapmanHead Performance CoachCaunton LTC, Nottinghamshire, UK*******************************************************
Click here to watch Madisyn Bryant's photo show put to music from the "Little Mo" Internationals in Arlington
NOTE on the video: DEAR CAROL:
THE PICTURE OF THE GIRLS SITTING ON THE FLOOR WAITING FOR MATCHES SHOWS KIDS CAN FIND AWAY TO COMMUNICATE IN ANY LANGUAGE, THEY WERE ALL PLAYING CARDS AND THEY WERE ABLE TO FIGURE IT ALL OUT EVEN THOUGH THEY COULD NOT SPEAK EACH OTHERS LANGUAGE. THIS WAS SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR MADISYN. SHE WROTE A PAPER FOR HER CLASS AS PART OF HER HOMEWORK WHILE SHE WAS GONE AND TALKED ABOUT HOW FUN THE GAMES AT THE PARTY WERE, AS WELL AS MEETING ALL OF THE KIDS.WE WERE SO GLAD TO HAVE BEEN IN THE QUALIFYING ROUNDS AND EXPERIENCE BEING ABLE TO PLAY ALL OF THE GIRLS. THIS WAS A GREAT FORMAT.
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR. NONIClick here to see Madisyn Bryant's photo show from the "Little Mo" Nationals in Austin
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Dear Carol,
Back in Colombia, this is to express our appreciation for a wonderful
experience my daughter, Laura Gomez, enjoyed during the "Little Mo"
International Open tournament in the beginning of this month. We look forward to repeat Laura's participation next year, while hoping that the weather is more benign at that time.
Learning that "Little Mo" has some playing exchanges in Europe I would like you to consider the possibility to have the same experience for South
America. I would even go further to consider the South American qualifying matches prior to traveling to the finals in Texas. For this matter, you may want to assess the opportunity to register our Club located in Cali, Colombia (South America) to hold qualifying matches for the Andean Region and South America. For a preview of our Club please visit the website www.campestrecali.com <http://www.campestrecali.com/> For your reference,
our club hosts one of the qualifying tournaments of South America's Tennis Cup "COSAT".
Thank you in advance for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you,
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2007,
Felipe Gomez***********************************************
Dear Carol: Victoria had a great time and made amazing friends at the "Little Mo" Internationals. It was a positive experience. Hope you have it again next season. Happy Holidays to all and wishing everyone health and happiness.
Warmest regards,
Mary-ann DiMuzio - Canada***********************************************8
Hi Carol,
Jonathan and I returned to England last night after Jonathan played
in the U9 competition in the "Little Mo" Internationals last week. I wanted to send you my warm congratulations on organising such a fine tournament which allowed Jonathan to play such great players from around the world. This has, without doubt, been a 'once in a lifetime' experience for us both. Jonathan delighted in playing such talented kids and I loved to watch the great standard of play and sportsmanship by the competitors.I was very impressed by the umpires who carried out their role with friendly professionalism - I saw very little bad behaviour by the kids which I'm sure was due to the umpires doing their jobs so well - please pass on our thanks to them and all the tournament organisers. We enjoyed the opening ceremonies and were very impressed by Little Mo's daughter, Cindy's, speeches - how fantastic for the children to hear someone say those very wise words to them - I hope they stay with them for a very long time.
Jonathan has taken his 8th place trophy into school today to show to
his class mates and teachers - they are all thrilled at his
achievement! The work of the Little Mo foundation will be know a
little further afield from Arlington, here near Nottingham in
England, today!! Thank you all again.
With best wishes for a very happy Christmas and New Year.
Jackie and Jonathan Burke**************************************************
Hi Carol,I would like to thank you on behalf of my daughter, Priyanka Sundhar, on putting together a wonderful and successful first "Little Mo" International Open. It was a great opportunity for Priyanka to meet and play with some of the best in her age group. For Priyanka this was a great year as she started competing in formal tournaments only from late last year. She came 3rd in "Little Mo" Nationals, 3rd in the "Little Mo" International open and ranked 4th in New England Under-10.This is great tournament and exposure for kids at this age group. They are all lucky to have this opportunity and all credit goes to you and the team behind. Thank You, Vijay*****************************************************
Carol, I'm sure your flooded with e-mails like this, but I wanted to let you know that the tournament and atmosphere at Little Mo exceeded our expectations in so many positive ways. It was truly a privilege to be part of the event - thanks so much for your support. Bill Zoha*******************************************
Hi Carol, Just wanted to say thank you so much for all your hard work putting together the "Little Mo" International Tournament. It was also a pleasure meeting your folks, especially your father. He may have been Thai's good luck charm because when your Dad started watching, was when Thai started turning things around in the finals. Thai and I had a very nice time in Arlington. (I had never spent any time in Dallas). We made new memories and we will look back on fondly. When the closing ceremonies were over Thai said to me that he couldn't believe that this was his last Little Mo event. He said to me, "didn't I play my first Little Mo event when I was 6?" I told him that was correct in Alpharetta, Georgia.
I know you keep your eye out for how your Little Mo participants/alumni due in the future and hopefully, Thai will go on to do some wonderful things with his tennis. Perhaps one day he can give back to your organization in a positive way as so many have already.Have a Happy Holiday season. Tim************************************************
Carol,Just want to thank you for hosting an excellent tournament. Although, I was not able to make it given business trips, my wife and my son (Justin Lee - 8 years old category) told me they had a great time, and Justin learned lots through the experience. Looking back many years from now, I am quite confident this will be Justin's favorite tournament regardless how many others he will compete in. Thanks again.David Leefather of Justin Lee
******************************************************Dear Carol,I'd like to thank you for organizing such a wonderful tennis tournament. Gabriel and I had a great time, and as a parent it was wonderful for me to see him enjoy it so much. The fact that he was able to play so much tennis at such a high level, and make new friends, made it worthwhile.I know that to put together an event of this nature requires lots of effort and dedication, so please extend our gratitude to everyone involve in the organization, specially the people in charge of the tennis center, as well as the referees and everyone responsible for it success.We hope there will be many International Little Mo in years to come.With very best wishes,Gabi and Soiree*******************************************************************************
Hi Carol,
Such a great job, thank you so much for all you do. people do appreciate it! You had so much to do, i can't even imagine. Thank you so much, my sons both had a good experience and we met new friends,Leeza MorrisNote from Jamie Hunt
(U.S.Open Boys Doubles Champ)
I remember the "Little Mo" being my first BIG tournament! I had many long three set battles with guys I still keep in touch with today....and although I never won the "Little Mo", it helped me realize how much I love this game and helped me stay motivated to keep playing and improving. I look back at some of the players that played in the "Little Mo" when we were 10 and 11 and see where they are at now.I'm so happy and fortunate that I kept with tennis and stayed focused. I got to travel all over the world, play in all the Grand Slams, made life long friends, got accepted into the University of Georgia, and went out in my last junior match by winning the U.S Open doubles with my best friend! I could not have asked for a better childhood and it all started with the "Little Mo"!
THANKS for everything Little Mo!
~Jamie Hunt
***********************************************Tennis Week Article on Blair Shankle - click here
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Carol: As always, Isabel had a good experience playing "Little Mo". Last year, she bought the video to learn about "Little Mo" and this year, she bought the book and is busy reading it already. She has to write an essay for her fourth grade class about a famous person and she is considering writing about "Little Mo". Thank you to you and your team for all the hard work. It really is a special experience and is different from the other tournament. As a parent, I really appreciate that difference! Thanks again. Best, Debbie Goldfine
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Hi Carol, Ingrid really enjoyed herself throughout the entire
event. She reconnected with Karina Traxler, made
friends with Hunter Bleser, and had several of last
year's 8 and under players pulling for her. Needless
to say, I am most proud of her love of the game and
her poise on the court. I like to think that I
supplied ALL the nervous energy, so my daughter could
remain as cool as a cucumber.
Once again, Ingrid's coach and I believe that Little
Mo is an incredible opportunity for developing
youngsters and we had an amazing time at Barton Creek
and ATA. Part of the reason Ingrid performed so well was that
it wasn't her first time in Arlington nor Austin.
Having played on the courts before, met the type
competitors she would face, learned the format, and
most of all, felt the friendliness and warmth of the
Little Mo staff, she attained a level of confidence
that a first-timer probably couldn't.
Now she feels part of a Little Mo community and that
will remain with her throughout the year until the
next time she participates. Hildy*********************************************
Hi Carol,The "Little Mo" is the best organized and highest quality tournament we have ever participated in. We want to thank you for the opportunity to complete. Yours truly, Eugene************************************************
Hi Carol, just wanted to thank you again for running such a wonderful tournament this past weekend. This was my daughter's (Alexis Pereira) first year to play Little Mo, and she made it all the way to the finals in the Girls 10's. It was a great experience for her, and she made so many new friends.Thanks again.Stephanie Pereira
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Dear Carol,I wanted to let you know what a wonderful experience my daughter Maggie Cohen, Girls 11's, had at the tournament over the past weekend. She was the consolation finalist in her division and enjoyed all of her matches. She was also honored and surprised to win a sportsmanship award.Thank you so much. Libby Cohen
******************************************************Dear Carol:
The Little Mo tournament has become the highlight of our year
and somewhat of a family tradition over the past few years. The 9 & under "Little Mo" Eastern Sectional in Mt. Kisco, NY was the first tournament that my older son, Nicholas Kiger, ever played. Last year,
he won the 11 & under National "Little Mo" title in Austin! His little brother, Mac, played in the 8 & under last year (2005) and came in 4th at the "Little Mo" North Regional in Homewood.
This year, Mac won the consolation draw at the North Regional in Homewood. I am writing to let you know that should a spot become
open for Mac in the National 8 & under division we would certainly
make it a priority to be there! Regardless of whether Mac plays in Texas this year or not, he will certainly be playing in the Sectionals again come May 2007.
The Little Mo tournaments are an example of what junior tennis should be. The emphasis on sportsmanship, respect and the dignity of the game of tennis is what sets your tournaments apart from the rest. Our family very much appreciates what your organization is doing to raise the bar of junior tennis. Best of luck with the rest of the 2006 Little Mo schedule.
Regards,
Brooke Johnson
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Hi Carol, I would just like to let you know what a wonderful tournament I think the Little Mo is. Good, young players are always playing people who are typically 2 to 4 years older. It is so nice to have a tournament where the very best players can play people who are their own age.
Also your tournament has a lot of nice touches. The exchange of gifts for the first match is neat. Some of the gifts you will remember forever, but all of the gifts were a little bit of extra excitement. The games that the
coaches/academy play with the Little Mo players prior to the opening ceremony are a lot of fun for the kids. For the last three years, the party that you throw has been great. The souvenirs that you can buy and the materials from Andy Roddick are all extra touches that are appreciated.
Thanks so much,
Steve Carter (Hayley Carter's Dad)*******************************************************
Dear Carol:Tate holds the Little Mo tournaments in the highest regards above all others. It was his first real tournament experience at 7 years old and Little Mo will always be VERY special to him.
We all thank you for the work that you do and the opportunities that you give the children to not only compete but to have a great experiences and fun doing something they love to do. We look forward to seeing you in October. Thank you. Best, Jackie Allwardt
************************************************************************************************Dear Carol, My name is Daniel Gligorov and I am a father of a 5-year old boy, Stefan, who is already an advanced tennis player. We are an Australian family and we live in Malaysia.
We have no words to thank you and your organization enough for organizing the International Little Mo tournament. It means a world to Stefan, who has already started his preparations for the tournament. Please forward our gratitude to all great people of the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation.Best regards from Malaysia,Stefan, Valerie and Daniel Gligorov************************************************************************************
Notes from "Little Mo" North Regionals: Sylvia, I did not get a chance to thank you and your staff for the great job you all did in conducting the Little Mo Regionals from July 14-16, 2006.
My son, Joe Thomas, competed in the 9 year old division and had a rewarding, learning, and enjoyable experience that will aid him in his development, both as a person and a tennis player.
Thank you for extending him the opportunity to compete in the Regionals. We look forward to retuning to the Sectionals next year, if our schedule permits. Again, thank you. Dave Thomas
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Sylvia: I typically try to follow up with a written word to thank a tournament director for a job well done. Even though I was able to thank you and Nancy yesterday, I wanted to do so again in writing today.Homewood Flossmor does an exceptional job of hosting the Little Mo tournaments. The care and love with which the ladies interact with the boys and girls is special, and wonderful to experience from a parental perspective. You work very diligently to keep matches on schedule and are very accommodating when things fall behind.It is my sincere hope that you will continue to host this tournament in the future. Having traveled to most of the USTA Midwest States to play, I venture to say that I don't believe that other clubs could do it as well HFRC. Again, thank you. Alexandra, Lisa and I will look forward to seeing you again next year. Felix Sharpe***************************************************
Dear Carol: I remember how excited our youngest son was last year when he got to play as a six-year-old in the "Little Mo" after hearing about the tournament from a local pro the previous fall. For months, he asked me when the Little Mo tournament was, and he was thrilled to drive up with his big brother to play.There just aren't that many opportunities for kids his age through about 10 to compete with others on a more or less equal footing. He competes in the local USTA level 3 10-and-unders, but those are single-session round robins, and he's often up against kids two or three years his senior.
So, I think the "Little Mo" is an important tournament for younger kids who have a passion for tennis because it gives them a unique opportunity to compete against peers.
Best regards, Kelly
********************************************************Carol: I wanted to send you a quick email to let you know that my children had a fantastic experience at the "Little Mo" this past weekend. Although the rain was a hindrance on Saturday, wasn't Sunday beautiful. This was my family's first Little Mo experience. I have 3 children, Michael age 10, Alexandria age 8, and Marc age 5. Michael and Alexandria played in their respective division and both met the number 1 seeded player in the second round. I've always preached that a person learns more from a tough experience and I firmly believe they both learned tremendously. Once again, I just wanted to thank you for your wonderful event and I look forward to a continued relationship.
Sincerely, Mike MacielSugar Land, TX************************************************
Carol: The Little Mo events for our kids were the best. As we look back over the years (our son Chris is now in the 16's), Little Mo contained some of our best tennis memories.Sam Fotopoulos (father of Chris and Mimi)**************************************************************************
Dear Carol,
The "Little Mo" tournaments have been my greatest experience of sport and life. Last year (2004), in Boys 8 age division, I won the Florida Sectionals and East Regionals and I was the finalist at the "Little Mo" Nationals. (It was the only match I lost in 2004 in all 8/9/10 age divisions.) I was very disappointed.
But from that day in November at the Austin Tennis Academy, I started learning to accept defeat. I wanted to train with more sacrifice and humility. From that time, I looked for another chance to demonstrate to all people but especially to myself, my different personality.One year later, I won the Florida Sectionals in Boca Raton at the Evert Tennis Academy and the East Regionals at the N. Fulton Tennis Center in Atlanta, Georgia and was seeded #1 at the "Little Mo" Nationals at the Austin Tennis Academy in Austin, Texas.
This time, 13 years after Andy Roddick won his "Little Mo" National title, I won
2005 "Little Mo" Boys' 9 National Championship ~losing only four games in the tournament. I also won the Kids Cup International Europe tournament in Marrakech and the "Little Mo"/Smrikve Bowl in Pula, Croatia, therefore, accomplishing my goal of winning the Kids Grand Slam (winning the five most important tournaments in the world in my age division (Boys 9) in the same year.)My past experience playing "Little Mo" tournaments and probably Maureen Connolly from the sky helped me to grow as a player, but above all, to make me a better person. I had a new approach on-court and have grown so much. I want to greet all my new friends I met during "Little Mo" tournaments, their coaches and families.
Also, I want to thank the Austin Tennis Academy, the Maureen Connolly Tennis Foundation and especially, Carol Weyman ("Little Mo" Tournament Chairman), who represents them in an extraordinary way. Everybody and everything I knew in this experience will remain in my heart forever.
~Gianluigi Quinzi - Bradenton, Florida++ Last year (2004),Blair Shankle from Boerne, Texas won the "Little Mo" Nationals, the Kids Cup in France, and the "Little Mo"/Smrikve Bowl in Girls 10 and completed the Kids Grand Slam.
****************************************************Dear Carol: I just wanted to thank you so much for the “Little Mo” experience. We talk about it to a lot of parents that have younger kids starting to get in tennis and highly recommend this tournament. Alexandra (Alex) started playing in the 8’s and this is her 3rd year. She has been very fortunate to have the opportunity to be able to compete in Nationals every year. It’s certainly an expense to travel, but so worth it. The experience is amazing and wonderful for both the kids and as parents. The Opening Ceremony is wonderful, and inspiring. The tradition of giving gifts to your opponents before the first match is thoughtful and my daughters really enjoy doing this (they do so in both the Sectionals and Regionals and love the shopping for the gifts!) Madison (now 8) has been so excited to compete in Little Mo and now has the opportunity as well. Thank you for all the work you and the folks in your organization do to make this such a great event!
Irene, Lindsay, Alexandra and Madison Bourguignon
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Dear Carol: I just arrived back to Puerto Rico after spending my weekend at the Little Mo Regionals tournament in Atlanta. It was a wonderful experience for us especially for Chantal who experienced the most amazing tennis. Although she arrives at fifth place (consolation winner) she increased her level of tennis.Thank you in advance and I hope to be back with Chantal
next year at the Little Mo.***************************************************
Dear Carol:
I am writing to you about my son Danny Coran and
the Little Mo Nationals in Austin in October. My daughter Aly went
last year and had a great experience and since that time it has been my
sons goal to make it to the nationals this year. Although the
sectional was at an inconvenient time, Danny convinced me to take him
to Homewood to play. Of course, as usual, his sister qualified and he
did not. He was given a chance because a spot opened and he was asked to the regional tournament. He decided the same was not going to
happen, and he practiced and worked furiously to get ready for the
regional tournament. At the regional tournament he played unbelievably
well for him, and he won the consolation by beating both the 2nd and
3rd seeded players in very close matches. The match he lost in the
main draw was also a great match. I was thrilled by how well he
played--better than I had ever seen before. It was the first time he
set a goal for himself and worked to achieve it--almost. His
sister-Aly- did qualify for the national and we are planning to go.
Danny is first alternate for the nationals, and asks me every day
whether there is a spot for him. I promised that I would try to get
in touch with you to inquire on his chances. If there is any way he
could come to play in the 9 and under nationals with his sister, it
would be great. It really would be a thrill. Thanks for taking the
time to read this, Judy Coran
Dear Carol:Thank you so much for yet another outstanding experience at Little Mo this year. For our son, Little Mo has provided him the opportunity for growth as a person and a player, and we appreciate the efforts of the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation to provide young children the opportunity to learn and grow through tennis. To that end, I wanted to share a story with you about Grayson's experience last weekend.Grayson has participated in Little Mo twice, first at the sectionals in Feb. and then regionals in the 8 and unders last weekend. Both times he has walked away with valuable life lessons. In addition to what he learned on the tennis court, he has made new friends in players he would not likely encounter for another two or three years. At regionals last weekend, Grayson was facing the number one seed, Prince G. in the quarterfinals. After the first couple of changeovers, my husband and I realized the changeovers were taking a bit longer each time. The boys were having an engaging conversation that just kept expanding! Once the match was over, the boys came off together, still chatting away like they had known each other forever. Shortly thereafter, Grayson came up and asked for popsicle money and I handed him a dollar. He took a few steps, turned around and said "Can I have another dollar so I can get my new friend one, too?" The two boys sat, leaning against one of the tennis light posts, eating popsicles, just chatting away. They were inseparable the rest of the day.Grayson has several stories like that, in just two visits to Little Mo. We are looking forward to being able to add to our collection next year! He's already asking when he gets to see his "Little Mo friends" again.Thank you for providing such an important opportunity for young children. Sincerely, Lisa Sullivan********************************************************
Dear Carol: Yesterday was their first day back in our club's clinic after playing in the "Little Mo" Texas Sectionals and their tennis was unbelievable. Your tourney did more for them in 1 weekend than I thought possible. Playing against and seeing that level of talent last weekend really gave them a good look at their game and a good shot of confidence.
Thanks again, Andrew
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Dear Carol: I just wanted to commend you, the tournament officials, and the entire organization for running a well-organized and competitive tournament. Our daughter, Gabriella Umoquit, was ecstatic upon winning the girls 9/under event. We met some wonderful families there and have already made plans on seeing each other in future tournaments. Our family and friends had a lot of fun in Arlington. We look forward to seeing you all in May.
Cris Umoquit and Nannette Alteza*************************************************************
Dear Carol: Thanks again for all your hard work and effort in the Little Mo tournaments/ circuit...For us it has been always a positive experience all 4 years Thai has played since he was 6 years old. In fact his first ever Little Mo tournament when Thai just turned 6, he played Austin Smith from Georgia in Alpharetta. They split sets and I believe played a super Tie-breaker for the decider...Well this Thanksgiving week-end, over 3 years later, Thai and Austin are going to be doubles partners at the National Open in Augusta...In fact...As you already know, maybe one of the best things to come out of Little Mo events is the people you meet and connections you make...
This year for example, Thai played Alex Scheinman from LA in the semis...Alex's Dad and uncle both went to UVA, my alma mater, and they also played tennis there. All three of us watched our boys go at it, in a very friendly, collegial atmosphere...all of us routing both boys on as if we all were watching say a UVA football game and we were all pulling for the same team...Unfortunately one had to lose and only one boy could win...but that experience and opportunity has allowed us to meet a wonderful family and hopefully friends for the future.By the way, I want to complement you on the seeding of the tournament...This is a very difficult job in my humble opinion because there is no universal ranking system for players under 11 or 10. And although, you may not please everybody, I just wanted you to know that I thought the way the seedings were put together, that it was very well thought out and very fair.Thanks again for all that you do...and if Thai can ever be of help or service to Little Mo, please do not hesitate to ask...Hopefully one day, he can be a positive influence and encouragement to many future children to participate in little mo events.Tim Kwiatkowski, MD*****************************************************Dear Carol, Thank you so much for directing the " Little Mo " tournament. I have enjoyed it so much!!! I wish I could keep playing from year to year, but unfortunately I'll be 12 in Jan..
This tournament was my first tournament ever when I was 8. After that, I wanted to do tournament after tournament because I had loved it so much. I liked being able to play in a tournament at such a young age that meant so much.
My first year I made it to nationals I was an alternate and everyone seemed so good. After I had my first nationals all I had wanted to do was win the " Little Mo " nationals.
It was so much fun having the Halloween party and winning Reebok prizes. Everything was so organized and was very official with all the line judges. I came back the next year and had won third which was a huge leap from the last year. There were many rain delays, but it was handled very well. Then, when I was 10 I had won nationals for the first time which meant the world to me. I had played in the Smrikva Bowl right before that. It was a lot of fun to see how people from different countries played. It was a great experience. Now, this year at 11 I came back and won again for my last year.
I can't tell you how much I love this tournament. I could keep playing it and never get bored of it. It's a very kid friendly tournament. The site is very beautiful and the people helping run the tournament were excellent. Everything was very well handled. Thank you so much for letting me play in this tournament. I have enjoyed every second of it, and I will always remember it.
Sincerely,Katie Klyczek******************************************************
Carol, I wanted to let you know how impressive the Little Mo nationals were last week at ATA. While my daughter had played at regionals and sectionals inDallas, we had never had the opportunity to see the excitement of the nationals until now. It is an amazing amount of work and effort and I'm sure the thanks are few and far between, so I wanted to be sure to say it!
Congratulations on the event! It was wonderful and we'll see you in Dallas with our seven year old this spring.....assuming we can get him to keep score by then! Take care, Lisa Sullivan************************************************
Dear Carol: I wanted to send this note to let you know how well Jim McDonald ran the Regional Little Mo in Durham last weekend. It was very organized and everyone seemed to have a good time. Our son, Cabel Cantrell, played in the Boys 8's and finished as the winner of the consolation round. I understand this makes him an alternate for the National tournament in Texas. If there are any wildcard positions given we would like to be considered. We would love for him to experience this tournament at a national level. Thank you again for creating a positive avenue for our child to compete at such a young age.
Sincerely,
Gary and Glenda Cantrell*****************************************
Carol --We just wanted to thank you for all of the hard work you put into making the "Little Mo" tournament such a success. My daughter (Kylie Isaacs, girls 9 and under from Middle States) played in the tournament for the first time this year in Philadelphia and Chicago and had a terrific experience. The tournament has really motivated her to work hard on her tennis game to try to reach the level of others in her age group and to try to make it to the next phase of the tournament. Thanks for all you do to make this tournament such a success.
~Chris and Lori Isaacs (Pittsburgh)
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Carol: On behalf of my son, Kyle Martino and myself, I wanted to say how much we enjoyed ourselves at the Regional tournament in Homewood this weekend. It was by far the best tennis experience he has had to date. Thank you very much. ~Greg Martino.
*******************************Hi Carol,My son Jayson Glickman won the sectionals and then went on to the regionals in Chicago this past weekend. As my husband and I were out of the country last week, I called in many relative favors to get Jay to Chicago (my mother-in-law!) because this was very important to him.He ended up losing in the quaterfinals, very close at 6-4, 6-4, and then went on to win the consolation tournament. My point being that he wants to go to the nationals more than anything else I've ever seen him ask for!We have been advised that he will receive a wild card for the tournament. I wanted to express his desire to go is beyond anyone's imagination. If invited, he will be there.Just wanted to let you know if given the chance, he will give it his best shot!Thank you for your consideration.Regards,Deborah Glickman (alias, the mom!)
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Dear Carol: Conrad, my 9 year old, played in the tournament this weekend in Homewood, Illinois. What a wonderful experience! He played six matches and ended up losing in the backdraw. I was not a competitive tennis player, and I am learning about the sport.
Thank you for providing this great opportunity to children. It is truly incredible. Conrad is hoping to make the Nationals next year.
Sincerely, Julie Harron
P.S. Conrad is praying for a "wildcard" this year.***************************************
Carol,
The week of April 18-24, 2004, Evan King, played in the USTA
Spring Super Nationals "Easter Bowl" in Delray Beach, Florida. Evan came in 7th/8th place in Singles, out of 128 of the nation's finest age
12 and under nationally ranked boys tennis players.
Evan also was a Doubles Finalist. Evan and his partner from Texas,
Russel Bader came in 2nd place. Evan and Russell received the coveted USTA Silver Ball. Evan is currently ranked #2 in the Midwest USTA Boys 12's.
I just wanted to stay thanks to you. Because of Little "Mo" they met each other. Evan and Russell were the Little "Mo" 2002 Boys 10 finalists and the 2003 Boys 11 Finalists. They make a great doubles team! They really had a lot of fun and played some excellent tennis together. You would be very proud of both of their games. So take care and keep up the good work.Sincerely,
Van and Evan King*********************************************
The Davis Family has been a part of the "Little Mo" for 14 years (1989-2002). The family presented the MCB Tennis Foundation with a framed picture of Tres, Brandon, and Blake and their 20 combined "Little Mo" trophies. Their memories:
"Little Mo" means really big trophies! At first, "Little Mo" was my favorite tournament because they always had the biggest and best trophies. But through the years, I have come to realize how much "Little Mo" helped me develop as a player. There is no other tournament that gives young kids a chance to compete with people their own age instead of kids who are four or five years older. It is a great way to gauge yourself and build relationships with the kids you will play against for years to come. I have many great memories of "Little Mo", and it is still one of my favorite tournaments. ~ Tres Davis
"Little Mo" means a road trip to Dallas, including a stay at Aunt Christy's house, Bubba's for breakfast, and Macaroni Grill for the celebration! Family traditions. I have gained experience and learned to be a better player through the "Little Mo" tournaments. Each year I looked forward to playing "Little Mo" because it was the most fun tournament of the year, and we had all these family traditions that I loved, and of course, they had the biggest trophies! I loved playing in "Little Mo," and I will always remember those tournaments. Someday, I'll take my kids to "Little Mo".
~ Brandon Davis
"Little Mo" means first tournament. My brothers were playing "Little Mo" before I was even born, so it has always seemed like a normal thing to do. When I was four, I wanted one of those huge trophies! My parents told me that I could play the next year if I learned how to keep score and get my serve in play. However, when the entries were sent in the following year, mine was missing. After complaining about this, my parents reminded me that I had neither mastered score keeping nor serving. By the end of the week, I could do both, and my entry was delivered. I was only five years old, and I drew the number one seed first round, but I won a few games and had a blast. Since it seems that I'm always following in my brothers' footsteps, I think it's really cool that I have done something unique in the family. "Little Mo" Nationals started when I was seven years old, the first time that both brothers were too old to play. Since then, I have traveled to California and Georgia to play "Little Mo". I have played in front of the home crowd. And now I have more of those huge trophies than my brothers! I hope I can get just one more. Yes, I have to say that I'm really lucky to have grown up playing "Little Mo". ~ Blake Davis
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2003 "Little Mo" Nationals
Austin Tennis Academy
Austin, Texas
Dear Carol: I wanted you to know how much Mary, Barbara and I enjoyed the Little Mo Nationals. Even though Mary lost both her matches a la Andy Roddick ... she soon forgot when she hit the disco floor on Saturday night! You'll did a great job at the opening ceremony and it was such a special experience for Mary and us. I particularly appreciate the remarks made by Doug Davis and others and it helped to set the stage for a positive relationship between Mary and her opponents. The gift exchange was a big hit too!Just a thought --- You might want to integrate an opening ceremony to bring parents and players together at all Little Mo events. I think it will help all of us to gain perspective before the matches begin. That was the first time that Mary has had someone formally talk about the importance of sportsmanship, playing your best and having fun. It was in my opinion the most important aspect of the whole tournament. And then you backed it up with the disco party!Oh yes.. I was particularly amazed in Austin how quiet and polite everyone was during the tournament -- especially parents -- and I attribute it to how you set the stage on Friday evening. Thanks again for including us and Mary is planning on playing again next year.Jay D. Meyers
Shreveport, LouisianaDear Carol,
Thanks for a great little mo tournament...Thai and I had a wonderful time in Austin...The tournament was first rate all the way...Everyone involved did a fantastic job and we really appreciate all that you do...
Thanks, again...Tim Kwiatkowski
Dear Carol: Just a brief note to say thank you for all that you do! This tournament was such a great experience for Hailey, and our family too. It went well beyond our expectations, the players, the families, the staff, the accommodations and Austin, I just can't say enough. I know that it must have taken you and your team allot of hard work to bring it all together the way that you did. We really appreciate it. Thanks again and we hope that we will be able to qualify to return next year!Best regards,Linda, Adam, Michaela and Hailey Johnson~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Carol,Jack,Doug, Lucie, Eric,Vince, Kevin & all ATA kids,Both my son Robert and I would like to say THANK YOU!Your hard work, patience, generosity & enthusiasm isappreciated very much.The Little Mo/Smrikva experience will be remembered &cherished forever. The atmosphere provided for all thekids was truly brilliant.You have provided a foundation for the future growthof Robert, both on and off the court.Again, THANK YOU for a wonderful experience.All the best,Tom Stineman~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I want to thank you and everyone involved in this weekend's Little Mo. I have been to many tournaments with my daughters in the past 4 years and this was by far the nicest tournament we have ever been a part of - truly a first class event. Thanks for making these children feel so special and for helping to create such wonderful memories for our family.Thanks again!Debbie Perkins~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I just wanted to share with you a wonderful thing that happened as a result of the 2002 Little Mo.
As you know Russell and Denis Kudla were supposed to play each other in the finals of the 10s. They had played each other the year before in a three set battle and I think both were looking forward to the match-up. During the course of the rain delays the two boys got to know each other playing numerous bouts of Dink'ems, Short-court and Wall Ball. Many times during the course of the tournament I would see the two of them laughing, giggling and even rolling on the court just being two 10 year old boys. They parted not getting to play their finals match, but chiding each other, Russell saying, "I won!" ...and Denis teasing, "but you didn't beat me!" We exchanged email addresses with Denis' dad and said good-bye, apologizing for the crazy Austin weather.
Russell was endorsed to play Winter Nationals this year in Arizona. He entered both singles and doubles but did not have a prescheduled doubles partner. As he looked down the posted list of entrants he saw Denis' name. "Mom, Dad can I email Denis and see if he'd play doubles with me?" He sent Denis an email asking him if he would be his partner. Denis phoned Russell last night and the two will be playing doubles as a team at Super Nationals.
Through the clouds, rain and drizzle, the true spirit of Little Mo comes shining through!
Thought you might enjoy knowing this.
Merry Christmas!
Jill Bader
