Spring Break
Tennis player dominates the pool
RACHEL BOWERS
Issue date: 6/18/09 Section: Sports
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Instead, he and his teammates on the Georgia tennis team boarded a plane, and flew home from College Station, Texas as an unfamiliar sense of defeat sat on their minds as they stared at their empty hands.
"Anytime you lose your last match of the season, it's going to take some time to get over, especially for us since we've never experienced our last match of the season to be a loss since we've always won," Hunt said. "It's been tough, but I think we've put it behind us pretty well."
But with the loss to Texas now in the rear view mirror, what lies ahead for Hunt in the coming months is summer sunshine and "To Do" lists consisting of pool time and 360's on the lake. Well, kind of.
"We've been to the lake a lot. I knee board, but I'm awful. I usually have one bad wipe out, and that takes care of me for the day," Hunt said. "I've had some almost black eyes from hitting my head so hard (on the water), but no serious injuries."
Between falls on the lake and front flips into the pool, Hunt flips through the pages of his sports law textbook, but says he's enjoying his classroom time.
"I'm taking a sports law class right now," Hunt said. "It's pretty difficult, but I really like my instructor."
Hunt has family time squeezed into his summer schedule as well as some Fourth of July festivities on the beach that will include playing fetch with a certain quadruped friend of his.
"I'm going home for July 4th. My family rented a beach house, so my whole family will be down there," Hunt said. "They're gonna bring my dog Buddy. "
But before Hunt jet-sets off to the beach, he will continue his work at the Georgia tennis camps instructing young players who hope to one day suit up for the Bulldogs.
"It's fun. I like it a lot. I enjoy teaching them, and I think for the most part they listen to me," Hunt said.
"I really like working with the older kids because they listen a little better, but it's fun."
As for his own workouts over the summer, Hunt says he is soaking up his time off as well as some sun rays.
"I'm taking a break right now," Hunt said. "The season is so long, I need to kinda relax a little bit. We've been in the gym a little bit, and we're gonna start practicing here pretty soon."
- Rachel Bowers
Chattanooga tennis star signs with the University
James "Bo" Seal, one of the nation's top ranked junior tennis players, has signed a national letter of intent to attend the University of Georgia, head coach Manuel Diaz announced Thursday.
Seal, a native of Chattanooga, Tenn., has climbed as high as No. 43 in the world in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) junior rankings. In the United States Tennis Association (USTA) junior rankings, Seal's best has been No. 10 in the 18s age division and No. 1 in the 12s and 16s.
Seal's top tournament showings include wining the 2008 ITF doubles title in Yucatan, Mexico and the 2007 and 2008 USTA National Clay doubles titles in the Boys 18s. Also, he captured doubles titles at the 2005 USTA National Hard Courts in the 14s and the 2006 USTA Winter Nationals in the 16s. In singles, he was a semifinalist at the ITF Mayor's Cup in Osaka, Japan.
Seal spent the first two years of his prep career at the Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tenn., where he was a two-time state singles champion. As a junior and senior, he has trained at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Ned Caswell, the head professional at Manker Patten Tennis Club in Chattanooga, coaches Seal locally.
"Bo is a great addition to our program and a very good singles and doubles player," said Diaz. "Anytime we have a chance to get a talented Southern prospect, we're excited to have them become a Bulldog. He is going to make us a better team."
- Georgia Sports Communications
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