Tuesday, Mar. 18, 2008

Kamiakin lefty right at home on tennis court

BY ROCKY MORROW HERALD STAFF WRITER

Here's a public service announcement for area varsity tennis players: beware Kamiakin's No. 2 girls singles threat, senior Caitlin Bampton. More specifically, beware Bampton's backhand kick serve.

Why?

Because she has a left-handed swing that puts a mean spin on the Prince, the Penn or the Wilson -- and just about every other tennis ball manufactured on the planet.

"Having a left-handed kick-serve is a big weapon," Bampton said on the eve of a family trip to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California for the Pacific Life Open. "It's an advantage if you can work it to your advantage. I feel blessed to be left-handed and able to get those different angles.

"My bread-and-butter shot is my backhand."

Bread and butter aside, it is Bampton's kick serve -- the Tasmanian Devil of serves with all its extra spin -- that has become a blessing and a security blanket.

"It insures I won't double fault," Bampton said.

Bampton was introduced to the sport at an early age by her parents, Angus and Debbie, both of whom played tennis at Lewis-Clark State College.

"My parents both played in college, and my dad took me out on the tennis court when I was three or four," Bampton said. "It's been in my family my whole life."

And it continues: Bampton's younger brother Collin, a freshman, was recently selected to the Kamiakin boys team.

"At practice, I hit with my brother," Caitlin said. "It's a good workout for him and good for me."

"It's the family support," said Kamiakin coach Sarah Miller. "The entire family plays tennis and both parents are exceptional players."

Bampton began playing United States Tennis Association junior tournaments at age 10 and is ranked top 10 in the Northwest in her age division. It was at a recent USTA event that Bampton secured a personal key victory.

"I played a girl, Katie Griffith (of Ferris High School in Spokane)," Bampton said. "Played her throughout the juniors and always lost to her. It was a mental block for me, and I had to get over that."

Bampton returned from a split set with Griffith to win the match 7-5, 6-2.

"It was a big breakthrough for me," she said. "I overcame my mental block."

Likewise, a loss last season to Hanford's Molly Knox also resonated with Bampton. Knox, her teammate in USTA doubles, got the better of their match in the CBL 3A regional playoffs.

"The first set was really close and ended in a tiebreaker," Bampton said. "I faded away in the second set, but tried to keep up my intensity."

And it's intensity that Bampton strives for both in matches and in workouts.

"Endurance is the key factor," Bampton said. "Agility, footwork stuff. ... Core stuff like working on balance and strengthening leg muscles and abdominals."

Good nutrition also plays a role in Bampton's athletic maintenance.

"When I go for tournaments, I have Subway sandwiches between matches, a banana or granola bar and drink lots of water."

A Subway sandwich as energy food at a tournament?

"I usually get a 6-inch turkey on wheat," Bampton said. "But can't eat it all."

Off the court, Bampton describes herself as the "typical teenager" who enjoys hanging out with her friends, listening to music and backpacking with her family. She signed in November with Eastern Washington University to play tennis on a full-ride scholarship.

"She has a game that has grown," Miller said.

But for now, Bampton said she will concentrate on a more in-your-face approach to the game.

"I've been working on serving-and-volleying a bit," Bampton said. "My game plan is to be aggressive. ... I like to hit winners."

And she's keeping her eye on what the pros are doing -- not only how they handle themselves in the game, but also how they approach the spotlight.

"Roger Federer is a big hero of mine," Bampton said. "Not only a great tennis player, he's one of the nicest, most eloquent people. He always has something great to say about his opponents."

Bampton, meanwhile, has something great to say to future Kamiakin tennis players -- a public service announcement of her own.

"Be there for your teammates, and be there for your team," Bampton said. "And just have fun."

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