U.S. Tennis Association aces take No. 2 spot

It wasn’t too likely they’d win Florida, let alone become the second best tennis team in the nation. But the self-described “motley crew” did it. Without a professional coach or even much practice, and a team half the size of competitors’ and with some of the youngest in the tournament, they did it.

“Our guys played completely against the odds,” Coach Brian Sephton said.

The Acers, made up of five tennis players from the Winter Park area and one from Miami, beat the odds last October to snag second place at the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Jr. Team Tennis National Championships, 14 and under intermediate category. They beat out 8,000 other teams across the nation, and were one of 16 to make it to the tournament held in Arizona after winning sectionals in Daytona.

Work alone, win together

But it wasn’t easy for the team. The Acers, while all friends and based in the same area, rarely practiced together. Most of their experience playing as a team and with Sephton’s guidance was during the three months of matches they played to win Florida. Any time the team was together, it was to win a game.

On their own, though, the players worked to sharpen their tennis skills.

“All of them achieved this under their own steam,” Sephton said. “They’re out there on their own.”

One player’s mom said she saw that first-hand. While Nat Saffran’s friends were having fun, he was on the court.

“All that discipline paid off,” Pat Saffran said.

Rough starts

Many times during the finals, the chance at reaching the top felt like it would slip through their fingers, Sephton said. But they’d always pull forward, even during a three-hour singles game for their player from Miami, Lucas Nickolich. It was a seesaw of emotions for The Acers.

“We watched it slipping away from us,” Sephton said. “And see them dig in and turn the game around and win.”

“You have to have mental toughness and physical toughness,” Cecilia Tong, 12, a Lee Middle School student said.

For more information about the United States Tennis Association, visit www.usta.com

Friendship is essential

For the Acers, though, reaching even the semi-finals was a dream, and being top four was good enough for them — the highlight of the competition. Nat Saffran said he barely thought about the competition as he played with doubles partner Ben Sephton, both from Trinity Preparatory School. He only thought about what was happening on the court. Being best friends helps keep things in perspective, and brings some special chemistry to their playing, they said.

“We’re a pretty solid team,” Ben said. “We just have a lot of fun on the court.”

That’s what makes this team so special, they all said — their friendships on and off the court. Instead of getting separate hotel rooms, the team and their parents all stayed in one big house. Almost like a tennis vacation.

“We’re all close, which is essential for a team,” said Theressa Tong, 14, from Edgewater High School.

“Friendship … is part of what turns them into a cohesive team,” Sephton said.

There’s forgiveness when a doubles partner makes a mistake and encouragement when they play well — a key, they said. They’re certainly not a serious bunch, and most of their favorite tennis memories involved the silliness behind the scenes, not the sweating on the court. Most on the team members have known each other for years, and Sephton has seen them grow as players and as friends to his son Ben.

“It’s really a little bit like watching your own kids and friends playing,” Sephton said.

They’d love to stay together for this year’s USTA Nationals, but Theressa will be too old, so the team’s future is unsure. They hope to keep as many players as they can, and move up from the intermediate to advanced competition category. Now that they’ve done it once, the team knows what it takes to get there and is itching for another try. And why not, it’s their favorite thing to do in the whole world.

“I just love the sport,” said Kaylan Rotman, 14, from Lake Highland Preparatory School.

“I’d die if I didn’t play tennis,” Theressa said.