USTA Boys' 18 & 16 National Championships

August 1 – 10, 2025

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Aug. 17, 2005
August 2005
Aug. 17, 2005
September 2005

Our Most Memorable Moments of 2005

USTABOYS.COM announces its fifth annual tournament awards:

Rookie of the Year Award

  • Gold Ball: Mateusz Kecki
  • Silver Ball: Johnny Hamui

    Best Match

  • Gold Ball: Jesse Levine vs Sam Querrey 18s singles semifinals
  • Silver Ball: Nicolas Meister vs Dennis Nevolo 16s singles round of 16

    Most Photogenic Award

  • Gold Ball: Mateusz Kecki
  • Silver Ball: Tim Smyczek

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

  • Gold Ball: Sam Querrey who won thirteen consecutive matches in Kalamazoo before his streak was snapped by Donald Young
  • Silver Ball: Dennis Nevolo who personifies the competitive spirit at its most positive

    Welcome Back

  • Gold Ball: Jim Courier, executive producer of "The Zoo" movie
  • Silver Ball: Taylor Dent, 1996 16 singles champion in Kalamazoo and now ATP top 30.

    Least Likely to be Mistaken for a Ballrunner

  • Gold Ball: Denis Zivkovic
  • Silver Ball: Mark Philippoussis

    Most Likely to be Mistaken for a Ballrunner

  • Gold Ball: Ryan Harrison
  • Silver Ball: Jeffrey Morris

    The Clancy Shields Upset of the Tournament Award

  • Gold Ball: Shields himself, who followed his 2004 fourth round upset over Donald Young with an equally stunning fourth round victory over Orange Bowl Champion Timothy Neilly in 2005
  • Silver ball: Andy Magee (19) ousting 2005 Clay Court Singles and Doubles Champion Tyler Hochwalt (8) in the fifth round in straight sets

    There's Something About Dennis Award

  • Gold Ball: Dennis Nevolo
  • Silver Ball: Dennis Lajola

    Best Nats Results Before Getting Drivers License

  • Gold Ball: Mike McClune for his second straight consolation championship in Kalamazoo
  • Silver ball: Wil Spencer finished third in 2005 and his 2004 losses were to Querrey and McClune

    If It Weren't For Bad Luck, I'd Have No Luck at all Award

  • Gold Ball: Jesse Levine, who lost his two Saturday matches (singles semifinal and doubles final) 7-6 in the third.
  • Silver Ball: Andrew Orban, the 32nd seed, who dislocated his shoulder leading 5-1 in the first singles set he played in Kalamazoo. He also was injured in his first match here in 2004.

    Lleyton Hewitt Fist Pump Award

  • Gold Ball: Nate Schnugg
  • Silver Ball: Kellen Damico

    Best Souvenir

  • Gold Ball: Player Badges
  • Silver Ball: a photo with Jim Courier

    Brother Can You Spare a Seed Award

  • Gold Ball: Jason Jung
  • Silver Ball: Joey Burkhardt who beat the seventh and 28th seeds before losing in the Round of 16, the second straight National tournament he's gone that deep.

    Most Charming Tennis Parents

  • Gold Ball: Leon Hamui, who understands the power of a thank you
  • Silver Ball: Robert and Nancy Hunt, who used their Texas warmth to make even more friends in Kalamazoo this year

    Best Debut, non-junior division

  • Gold Ball: Wheelchair Tennis
  • Silver Ball: Yourgameface.com

    Don't I Know You From Somewhere?

  • Gold Ball: Scott Oudsema, 2004 finalist from Kalamazoo
  • Silver Ball: Robert Seguso, US Open and Wimbledon doubles champion and Davis Cup stalwart

    Scott Who?

  • Gold Ball: Local Tennis Fans who, despite iffy weather at week's end, jammed the stands
  • Silver Ball: Fila, supplying players, umpires, officials and movie crew with shirts. Diadora previously supplied player T shirts and Scott Oudsema wore their clothes until signing on as the face of Polo Tennis

    Our Favorite Shotmakers:

  • Forehand: Jamie Hunt
  • First Serve: Joseph Cadogan
  • Second Serve: Alex Clayton
  • Volley: Tim Smyczek
  • Lob: Donald Young
  • Backhand: Marc Spicijaric
  • Service Return: Jesse Levine
  • Action: Rob Klug and Jonathan Furmanski

    For previous years' awards see: 2004 2003 2002 2001

    Sources: Colette Lewis (Tournament Office) & Julian