Colorado State University Athletics
Photo by: Javon Harris
Preview: Rams host second Jon Messick Invitational
10/4/2017 10:40:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Colorado State will host five teams Friday-Sunday this weekend
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Colorado State women's tennis team will host the second annual Jon Messick Invitational this weekend at the University Tennis Complex south of campus (2400 Research Blvd.) with free admission for all fans.
The tournament is named after former Colorado State tennis coach Jon Messick who guided the CSU women's program for 27 years, and will feature South Dakota, Iowa State, Wyoming and Northern Colorado. Each day will feature a round of doubles with a round of singles to follow. The action begins Friday at 11 a.m. MT, while Saturday and Sunday are slated to begin at 9 a.m. MT.
"We are looking forward to a lot of fans coming to see our new players and also get the chance to see how the returners have improved", said Colorado State head coach Jarod Camerota. "We want to have a big crowd and connect with the Fort Collins tennis community. In terms of our players, the competition gets harder this weekend and they are going to have to step up their game. More than anything I want us to work on new tactics we have spoken about and get better."
The tournament will allow coaches to adjust their lineups each day, and may include a point system to determine an overall winner of the tournament.
"We are definitely going to play with doubles (this weekend), and have different teams each day," Camerota said. "It's really about preparation for the spring in my mind, more than having the best results or having the best pairs right now but what are our best pairs for April."
Last weekend the Rams opened the fall season with three new freshman joining the five returners in the lineup. The three new faces Emma Corwin, Emily Luetschwager, and Priscilla Palermo all won matches in their first colligate tournament with Palermo and Luetschwager both winning singles flights, and Corwin helping the Rams to a doubles flight championship. Overall, CSU won three of the five singles flights and took home both of the doubles flights.
For the Rams, this weekend is another opportunity to improve and measure their progress as they progress towards league play.
"What we want for them is to compete and work on getting better, and have a good attitude when things get tough," Camerota said. "It is easy to have a good attitude when things are going well for you. For us coaches this weekend will be a good gauge for how they do under pressure. I hope they use the tools we have discussed when things get tough. It takes time and practice and that will be a better benchmark for us, not a win or loss or an individual stroke we want them to hit."
Messick began his Rams coaching career in 1985, heading the CSU men's team for 11 seasons. In 1989, he added the women's program to his plate, coaching both squads for seven seasons before the men's team disbanded following the 1996 season. Despite being made up entirely of walk-on players, Messick's men's teams won 120 matches over his 11 seasons as head coach, and in 1989 Messick was named the USPTA Intermountain Division Coach of the Year. He will be most remembered for his 27 years guiding the women's team, however, where his name has become synonymous with the program at CSU. Messick has provided top-notch coaching and leadership to hundreds of Rams student-athletes and has patiently, diligently and intently guided CSU's program through the most successful era in school history. Messick also played an integral role in CSU's current playing facility, the 12-court University Tennis Complex which was built in 2011, and the Rams' partnership with the Fort Collins Country Club, where the team holds its indoor matches.
The tournament is named after former Colorado State tennis coach Jon Messick who guided the CSU women's program for 27 years, and will feature South Dakota, Iowa State, Wyoming and Northern Colorado. Each day will feature a round of doubles with a round of singles to follow. The action begins Friday at 11 a.m. MT, while Saturday and Sunday are slated to begin at 9 a.m. MT.
"We are looking forward to a lot of fans coming to see our new players and also get the chance to see how the returners have improved", said Colorado State head coach Jarod Camerota. "We want to have a big crowd and connect with the Fort Collins tennis community. In terms of our players, the competition gets harder this weekend and they are going to have to step up their game. More than anything I want us to work on new tactics we have spoken about and get better."
The tournament will allow coaches to adjust their lineups each day, and may include a point system to determine an overall winner of the tournament.
"We are definitely going to play with doubles (this weekend), and have different teams each day," Camerota said. "It's really about preparation for the spring in my mind, more than having the best results or having the best pairs right now but what are our best pairs for April."
Last weekend the Rams opened the fall season with three new freshman joining the five returners in the lineup. The three new faces Emma Corwin, Emily Luetschwager, and Priscilla Palermo all won matches in their first colligate tournament with Palermo and Luetschwager both winning singles flights, and Corwin helping the Rams to a doubles flight championship. Overall, CSU won three of the five singles flights and took home both of the doubles flights.
For the Rams, this weekend is another opportunity to improve and measure their progress as they progress towards league play.
"What we want for them is to compete and work on getting better, and have a good attitude when things get tough," Camerota said. "It is easy to have a good attitude when things are going well for you. For us coaches this weekend will be a good gauge for how they do under pressure. I hope they use the tools we have discussed when things get tough. It takes time and practice and that will be a better benchmark for us, not a win or loss or an individual stroke we want them to hit."
Messick began his Rams coaching career in 1985, heading the CSU men's team for 11 seasons. In 1989, he added the women's program to his plate, coaching both squads for seven seasons before the men's team disbanded following the 1996 season. Despite being made up entirely of walk-on players, Messick's men's teams won 120 matches over his 11 seasons as head coach, and in 1989 Messick was named the USPTA Intermountain Division Coach of the Year. He will be most remembered for his 27 years guiding the women's team, however, where his name has become synonymous with the program at CSU. Messick has provided top-notch coaching and leadership to hundreds of Rams student-athletes and has patiently, diligently and intently guided CSU's program through the most successful era in school history. Messick also played an integral role in CSU's current playing facility, the 12-court University Tennis Complex which was built in 2011, and the Rams' partnership with the Fort Collins Country Club, where the team holds its indoor matches.
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