INTRODUCING
OUR NEWEST MC

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Steve Stein

Contributing Writer

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lex D'Ascenzo is one of the
state's best tennis players in
her age group. Her speed
and smarts on the court drive oppo-
nents crazy.
But she didn't face top-notch com-
petition very often during her two
years playing for the Frankel Jewish
Academy girls tennis team.
And she didn't participate in the
Michigan High School Athletic
Association state tournament this
spring when she was a senior because
of a conflict with Shavuot. She had
earned All-State honors at No. 1 sin-
gles as a junior.
She has no regrets.
And she's exactly where she wants
to be this summer, getting ready to
play tennis and dive into an Ivy League
education at Cornell University in
Ithaca, N.Y., after being ranked No. 5
among Michigan high school girls ten-
nis recruits by the Tennis Recruiting
Network.
"I really enjoyed playing tennis for
the academy:' the West Bloomfield
resident said. "Playing for a team
instead of individually was a nice
change, and it gave me an opportunity
to become friends with girls from dif-
ferent grades:'
Tennis is a year-round pursuit for
D'Ascenzo, 18, who is coached by
Armand Molino and Ed Nagel at the
Sports Club of West Bloomfield.
But academics were the biggest rea-
son why she decided to go to Cornell.
She's as serious about her grades as her
tennis, as her 4.18 grade point average
at the academy would attest.
She's joining a Cornell women's ten-
nis team that's on the rise.
Coach Mike Stevens' Big Red fin-
ished 14-4 last season and set a school
record for victories. The team began
competing in 1973.
D'Ascenzo loves tennis.
"It keeps you in great shape and you
need to be tough mentally because you're
all by yourself out there she said.

The local tennis community loves
her.
She was presented the Hoxie
Memorial Award by the U.S. Tennis
Association's Southeastern Michigan
District last November in honor of her
sportsmanship and achievements on
and off the court.
In addition to her community ser-
vice involvement at Friendship Circle
and Camp Hermelin, D'Ascenzo is
an accomplished musician. She plays
piano, guitar and drums, sings and
composes music.
She's teaching tennis this summer
at Franklin Hills Country Club in
Farmington Hills.

'Spare Time' Medals
Bowler Phil Horowitz has been on a
roll his entire career, so why stop now
at age 74?
The Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of
Fame member added to his collection of
accomplishments late last month when
he won gold and silver medals at the
National Senior Games in Cleveland.
The West Bloomfield resident won
the gold medal in men's ages 70-74
singles with a division-best 653 series.
Teaming with Rick Capaldi of
Canton in men's 60-64 doubles, the
duo finished second with 1290 and
won silver medals. Doubles teams
must compete in the age group of the
younger bowler.
"I bowled well:' Horowitz said.
"There were about 50-some guys in my
age group from all over the country:'
The bowling portion of the National
Senior Games was held at Freeway
Lanes in Wickliffe, Ohio.
Horowitz last competed in the
National Senior Games in 1995 in San
Antonio. He won gold medals in men's
55-59 singles and doubles.
He qualified for this year's Senior
Games in July 2012 at the Michigan
Senior Olympics. He and Capaldi set
a men's 60-64 doubles state record of
1330 at that event.

❑

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August 8 • 2013

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