My Kalamazoo 16s Recap; Brymer, McDonald Get USO Qualifying Wild Cards; $10,000 in Prize Money Now Okay with NCAA; Sean Karl Update

I hope you've been checking the Tennis Recruiting Network this week for their updates on the USTA National Championships. The past three days have featured detailed coverage of the 12s, 14s and 16s, with my recap of Tommy Paul's win in the 16s here in Kalamazoo posted this afternoon.

Tim Curry of the USTA tweeted that future UCLA Bruins Gage Brymer and Mackenzie McDonald have received qualifying wild cards into the US Open. I am not sure whose previously announced wild card Brymer is getting, but Curry said that McDonald was taking the qualifying wild card of Christian Harrison, who has an injury.  Rajeev Ram moved into the main draw on his own with recent withdrawals, so Tim Smyczek has been award the main draw wild card previously given to Ram. There is one more qualifying wild card to be awarded, from the US Open National Playoffs, which begin tomorrow in New Haven, Conn.  The preview of the men's field is here, and the women's field is here.

A few days ago, a twitter follower generously supplied a link to the NCAA's new $10,000 exemption for prize money for amateur tennis players before they start college.  The effective date for this rule change was August 1.  If I am reading the rules correctly, an enrolled student-athlete is only able to take actual expense.  The pre-college rule is here.  The in-college rule is here.

The Nashville Tennessean had this update on the condition of University of Tennessee freshman Sean Karl, who was in Kalamazoo last week with his brother Steven Karl, a competitor in the 16s division.