5/21/2009 - Kusznerko Leads Eight at Columbus
 Michael Kusznerko had the top showing of eight HTA players at the Columbus Indoor Championships, taking second in the Boys’ 12s draw. This Boys’ 12s and 14s National Level 3 tournament was held May 16-18 at the Wickertree Tennis Club in Columbus, Ohio. Joining the eight HTA juniors were Director Ernie Katko and Head Coach Jackie Jenkins.
Kusznerko cruised into the quarterfinals, dropping just five games in his first two matches. In his third match the third-seeded Kusznerko won his first set 6-2 against #8 Deepak Indrakanti, before losing the second 6-0. Michael came back to grab the third set tiebreak 12-10 to move into the semifinals. In the semis Michael took on #2 seed Asher Hirsh in what seemed to be a replay of his quarterfinal match. Kusznerko won the first set 6-2, got topped 2-6 in the second, and pulled out the third 10-6. In the finals top seeded Sameer Kumar got the break he needed in each set and beat Michael 6-4, 6-4.
 Tom Fawcett entered the Boys’ 14s draw as the third seed and knocked out fellow HTA player Jalen Evans 6-1, 6-2 in the first found. In the second round Fawcett lost the first set 3-6, before pushing back to claim the second 6-4 and the third 10-6. In the quarters fifth seed Mark Ihrig was leading Fawcett 6-2, 4-1 before an injury forced Fawcett to retire and end his tournament run.
William Szokol won his first match in the Boys’ 12s draw 6-4, 6-3 and fell 6-2, 6-4 to #5 seed Julian Guerra in the round of 16. Sokol got back on track in the backdraw knocking out Nick Zazove 6-4, 6-2 and Joshua Pudlo 6-1, 6-4 to make it to the consolation quarterfinals.
Also participating in the tournament from HTA were Jalen Evans, Johnathon Benedetto, Joel Meyer, Vinnie Nagaraj, and Brandon Wozniczka.
“This event provided all eight of our participants an opportunity to face some great competition,” said Jenkins. “I was really happy with the way our guys reacted to pressure in this tournament and I think this experience will help tremendously at the district championships.”
Click here for complete tournament results
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