Nov. 28, 2005
ATLANTA – Three prep standouts that have previously been ranked in the top five in the nation in the United States Tennis Association Juniors Division have signed letters of intent to play at Georgia Tech beginning in the 2006-07 season, announced Georgia Tech head coach Bryan Shelton.
Joining the Yellow Jacket program Amanda Craddock of St. Louis, Missouri, Kirsten Flower of Columus, Ohio and Atlanta native Amanda McDowell.
“I couldn’t be happier with this recruiting class,” said Shelton. “I believe that this is the best recruiting class in the country, both on and off the court.”
Craddock reached as high as No. 5 in the nation in the Girls’ 16 & Under age division in 2005 and as high as No. 19 in the Girls’ 18 & Under division in singles play. Her top doubles ranking came last year, when she was the No. 2 doubles player in the Girls’ 16 & Under age division. A doubles winner in at least three tournaments over the last year, Craddock trains at the Mike Wolf Tennis Academy at the Overland Park Racquet Club in Overland Park, Kansas. In the last year, Craddock has been a singles finalist on at least three occasions, the St. Louis Gateway, the St. Louis Junior Tennis Championships and the Franklin Winter, and a doubles finalist once, at the National Open.
“Amanda Craddock is one of the top-15 prospect in the country,” said Shelton. “She brings a great work ethic and an ability to star in both singles and doubles immediately.”
After reaching as high as No. 6 in the nation in the USTA Girls’ 16 & Under age division in singles in 2004, Flower climbed as high as the top slot in the same division in 2005. Winner of the Franklin Winter in January, Flower has been a semifinalist in at least three singles and one doubles tournament over the last year, and a quarterfinalist in five singles and three doubles events. Flower has been coached by Phil Landauer at the Players Club in Hilliard, Ohio and by Mark Weil at the Weil Tennis Academy in Ojai, California and says that her goals are to be a collegiate All-American and to play on the Women’s Tennis Association tour.
“Kirsten is one of the hardest-working juniors that I have come across,” said Shelton. “She will be a superstar in college tennis with her physical attributes and competitive spirit.”
Rounding out the 2006-07 recruiting class is Atlanta native Amanda McDowell, a finalist at the 2004 National Claycourts, who was ranked as high as No. 4 in the Girls’ 16 & Under age division last year. A student at the Marist School, McDowell was a singles finalist in her most recent tournament, the St. Louis Gateway Junior Championships, at the beginning of November.
“Amanda has always been one of the highest-ranked players out of Georgia, and we are excited to get the very best prospect out of the state for 2006,” said Shelton. “She is an excellent student with the desire to be the best, and we’re looking forward to her joining our program.”
“We are well on our way to consolidating our position in college tennis,” said Shelton, of the addition of the three recruits.
Georgia Tech Women’s Tennis Signees
Amanda Craddock, St. Louis, Missouri
Kirsten Flower, Columbus, Ohio
Amanda McDowell, Atlanta, Georgia
