USTA Boys' 18 & 16 National Championships

August 1 – 10, 2025

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Aug. 13, 2003
August 2003
Aug. 13, 2003
March 2004

Our Most Memorable Moments of 2003

Rookie of the Year Award
  • Gold Ball: Marcus Fugate
  • Silver Ball: Brian Hanus

    Best Match

  • Gold Ball: Kean Feeder vs. Jamil Al-Agba
    18s singles semifinals
  • Silver Ball: Greg Ouellette-Eric Riley vs. Alex Kuznetsov-Vahid Mirzadeh
    18s doubles semifinals

    Most Photogenic Award

  • Gold Ball: Marc Spicijaric
  • Silver Ball: Scott Oudsema

    Golden Microphone Award

  • Gold Ball: Northern California Sectional players led by Bijan Hejazi, who "rapped" their thank yous from the soundstage at the West Main Hill neighborhood picnic
  • Silver Ball: Dr. Don Flesche, who announced the court for the match between Bijan Hejazi and Okechi Womeodu without tripping over a single syllable

    Keep Your Day Job Award

  • Gold Ball: Seeding Committee
    By the time the quarterfinals were over, all four number one seeds in singles and doubles had been eliminated.
  • Silver Ball: Weather forecasters
    On the first Friday, they promised the isolated showers would be over by Tuesday. It rained Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

    Technology Innovation of the Tournament

  • Gold Ball: Radiotennis.com's play-by-play of the singles finals broadcast via the internet.
  • Silver Ball: iPAQ scoring system which was featured in a recent edition of MITECHNEWS.COM

    Players We Can't Wait to See in the "Zoo" Next Year

  • Gold Ball: Alex Kuznetsov
  • Silver Ball: Michael Shabaz

    Doubles Only Player of the Year

  • Gold Ball: Pramod Dabir (See story)
  • Silver Ball: Stan Smith

    Best Fashion Statement

  • Gold Ball: Chris Kwon's new 'do
  • Silver Ball: Official Referee David Markin

    Best Player Profile

  • Gold Ball: Daniel Gonzalez
  • Silver Ball: Jesse Levine

    Best Player Profile Photo
    18s:

  • Gold Ball:Peter Zimmer
  • Silver Ball: Michael Ortega

    16s

  • Gold Ball:Trent Hagan
  • Silver Ball:Okechi Womeodu

    Most Welcome New Addition to Western Michigan University Courts

  • Gold Ball: Wireless laptop with weather radar and instant messaging
  • Silver Ball: Bacchus

    Iron Man Award

  • Gold Ball: Unseeded Kaes Van't Hof who lost his 2nd round 18 singles match (7-6 in the third), then won five three setters during feed-in competition. His tournament finally ended in the feed-in semifinals, where he lost to eventual champion Alex Kuznetsov
  • Silver Ball: Unseeded Brian Hanus who played ten 16 singles matches in Kalamazoo, winning 8 of them

    The Venus Williams Award For Most Accomplished Sibling

  • Gold Ball: 16s finalist Matt Bruch whose sister Lauren plays on the University of Virginia women's team
  • Silver Ball: 16s Feed-In Champion Joshua Varela whose brother Jason (now playing at University of Georgia) was a four year player in Kalamazoo, but never advanced beyond the third round

    ...It's How You Play The Game Award

  • Gold Ball: Third place winner in 18 singles Kean Feeder who graciously consented to a postmatch interview after his difficult loss in the 18s semifinals
  • Silver Ball: 16s 4th place finisher Timothy Smyczek who took time from his own national title preparations to hit with Kalamazoo area junior players

    Welcome Back Award

  • Gold Ball: Paul Goldstein, who braved the elements, I-94 and Justin Gimelstob's driving to finally return to Kalamazoo for the first time since his three straight championships in 1992, 1993 & 1994
  • Silver Ball: USTA President Alan G. Schwartz, who played in Kalamazoo in 1944, 1947 & 1948

    You Never Know, It Just Might Work Award

  • Gold Ball: Jeffrey Schechtman for the gaspump-like handle on his racquet
  • Silver Ball: A lob over 6'7" John Isner

    We Should Have Seen It Coming Award

  • Gold Ball: 18s Champion Robert Yim, who didn't lose a game in his second or third round matches
  • Silver Ball : Huge crowds for the 18s Feed-in Final, featuring Portage's Scott Oudsema

    DID WE MISS SOMETHING? IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS, CORRECTIONS OR OTHER NOMINATIONS, PLEASE EMAIL US

    For previous years' awards see: 2003 2002 2001

    Source: USTA Boys Staff