TOURNAMENTS
First semester at ASU:
Oct. 5, 2007
Sun Devils Fall 5-2 to University of Portland.
Freshman Paul Chappell wins his collegiate debut, 6-1, 6-3. In the first match of the day, the Arizona State men's tennis team took on the University of Portland. The Sun Devils fell 5-2 to the Pilots.
Freshman Paul Chappell won in his collegiate debut, 6-1, 6-3 over Bryan Thorpe in the No. 6 position. He also helped garner a doubles victory for the Sun Devils with Wes Miller. The duo won their doubles match 8-3 over Evan Schleining and Joel Kincaid. The doubles team of Murilo Souza and Patrick Brogan also won their doubles match, 8-2.
Oct. 7, 2007
Arizona State Men's Tennis Team Continues Play at the Pre-Regional Tournament.
Freshman Paul Chappell remains undefeated in singles on the season.
The Arizona State men's tennis team continued play at the Pre-Regional Tournament in Irvine, Calif. over the weekend. The Sun Devils have gone 1-2 over the weekend.
On Friday, the Sun Devils dropped a close match to the Loyola Marymount Lions. Wes Miller handily defeated Sam Tadevosian 6-3, 6-0 to secure his victory in the No. 1 spot. Freshman Paul Chappell continued to remain undefeated on the season with a victory over Nick Von Der Ahe in the No. 5 spot.
Finshed 2006 ranked #60 nationally in singles and #2 nationally in doubles. Was a quarterfinalist with Ryan Smith in the B16 National Clay Courts , a finalist with Casey Cullen in the B16 winter nationals and a finalist with Nicholas Spinazze in the B16 International Spring Tournament.
HIGH SCHOOL
From the Indianapolis Star, Aug 27,2006:
"North Central's Paul Chappell won his third straight Shirley* singles title with a strong performance at No.1 singles. He didn't drop a set and at one point captured 10 of 12 games against Carmel's Andrew Nguyen in a 6-1;6-4 victory in the championship match."
* The John Shirley Invitational involves the 8 top-ranked high school teams in the state. The #1 singles players play a tournament. The winner must win 3 matches in the same day.
Named most valuable player on his team for the 2006 season.
Indianapolis Star, The (IN)
May 10, 2007
They're 2 of a kind
Senior expects 8th-grade brother to be even better
Author: STEVE BROOKS STAR CORRESPONDENT
North Central senior Paul Chappell has signed to play tennis for Arizona State University next season.
Chappell fully expects that in four years younger brother Nick not only might follow in his footsteps but also outgrow them.
Nick, an eighth-grader at Eastwood Middle School, is ranked as the nation's third-best boys 14-year-old doubles player and sixth in singles, according to the U.S. Tennis Association.
He recently teamed with Shane Vinsant of Texas to win the prestigious Easter Bowl USTA National Spring Championship in Palm Springs, Calif.
"I think (Nick) could be one of those guys who gets a full ride (scholarship) to any school he wants," said Paul, who's 53rd in doubles and 151st in singles in the USTA's national 18-year-old rankings.
"He's that good. He's a lefty with a big game, a bigger game than most 14-year-olds. Sometimes I have trouble playing with him."
The two play as often as they can.
"We used to not be able to play each other because we'd fight all the time on the court," Paul said. "The last few years we've been better about that, and now we try to hit together every day that we can."
Nick credits Paul for helping advance his game.
"He started a little late, but when he got into (tennis), I got into it," Nick said. "It's been great following him. He's really helped me learn the game."
Nick, who plans to play for North Central next fall and wants to play professionally, considers himself more of a doubles player.
"It's more fun playing doubles," he said. "I like it because it's a team game. I like it a little better than playing singles."
Paul played other sports until age 11, when he started focusing on tennis. Two years ago, he started thinking seriously about college tennis.
"After my freshman year, I really started playing better," Paul said. "I had a really good sophomore year, and at that time I really started thinking about playing in college."
Paul said he looks forward to playing both singles and doubles at Arizona State and is uncertain about his post-college tennis future.
"I really haven't thought that far ahead," he said. "After college I'll just see where I am. (Playing professionally) is going to depend on how I progress as a player."
ACADEMY
Attended Saddlebrook Tennis Academy spring semesters of sophomore and junior years. References available upon request from Alvaro Betanour and Howard Moore.
2006 final assessment from Saddlebrook: "Paul has done a great job this semester with his fitness, practice and overall attitude. Paul is a gifted athlete and he is a pleasure to coach. His motivation has been good and he is getting tougher as a competitor during matches. Staying mentally strong is Paul's main focus."
