BILOXI SENIOR OZTURK QUALIFIES FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT STATE TOURNEY

By DOUG BARBER
THE SUN HERALD

Biloxi-April 11, 2003
Gulfport freshman Allison Zakaras preserved one streak Thursday afternoon.

Biloxi Senior Bulut Ozturk ended one.

Earlier in the day, Ozturk defeated Gulfport sophomore Michael Guel 6-1, 6-1 to take the boys singles championship. It was the first boy singles championship in the division tournament for a Biloxi tennis player since Jerry Jordan in late 1960s.

"It has been forever since we won one," the left-handed Ozturk said. "I have been playing for Coach (Charles) Davis since seventh grade and we finally got one."

"I had to get the ball back in play. Coach was my side throughout the match and told me what to do. I felt good about my serves. They were going in today."

Ozturk qualified for the state tournament for the fourth straight year. He won a first-round match a year ago in Jackson.

Champions and runners-up head to the state tournament on April 29.

THE YOUNGEST PRO

Bulut Ozturk- Graduate of Biloxi High School recently became the Youngest USPTA Professional in the United States (Probably). Bulut Ozturk was welcomed to the United States Professional Tennis Association in early December. He now joins a handful of Teaching tennis professionals on the coast. Bulut Ozturk's Honors do not just stop there; he is also one of the youngest soccer coaches in the BSO (Biloxi Soccer Organization) league. He has been voluntarily coaching in the league for over three years. He is currently coaching a U-12 girls team called United. Bulut Ozturk is a Student at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College where he is on a tennis scholarship. He is tennis pro in Biloxi where he teaches all ages. Other achievements include: CPR certified, First Aid Certified, and Competency of Nurses Aide Training.

NISHIMURA WINS M.V.P.

Japanese exchange student Haruka Nishimura wins the prestigious Most Valuable Player trophy for Mississippi soccer. Haruka also was an All State soccer player for the state of Mississippi. He represented Biloxi in the State Games of Mississippi in June 27-28 of 2003. In Meridian, MS he helped his team win third place out of sixteen teams. This is what one of his teammates Martin Taggart had to say about the young Nishimura,"Haruka is the best soccer player that I have ever played with. But at the same time, he is the best person that I have ever met."

Haruka played club soccer for Biloxi Soccer Organization for eight months. There he played twenty-five games for coach Umut Ozturk. He led Biloxi United in goals with twenty-seven and in assists with thirty-two.

Haruka led Biloxi United to the city championships. His highlight of his soccer season came in April 12-13 in Gulfport. In the Southern District Semifinals against Laurel, with the score tied at 1-1 Nishimura scored the goal of the year. Bulut Ozturk of the Biloxi United dribbled the ball down the left sideline and crossed the ball to the penalty spot, their Nishimura came out of nowhere with a diving header which hit the upper ninty. The crowd was going crazy. Biloxi United's Adam said, "It was the greatest goal that I have ever seen. Haruka is a clutch player and he came out of nowhere. I am hoping that he will take us to the state championships." Brian Brazil of Biloxi United had a different take on Nishimuras goal,"Nakata will take us all the way."

Haruka left United States in July 9th. As a sports writer covering Biloxi Soccer, he was not only a great soccer player but also a great person. Coach Ozturk of Biloxi said this about young Nishimura, "He comes from a great family background and he is a very respectfull young men. I wish him all the luck in the world."

Tennis serves Ozturk well

By RYAN La FONTAINE

THE SUN HERALD

Biloxi High School graduate Bulut Ozturk, who became the first member of an Indians team to win the Boys Singles Tennis Championship in more than 40 years last spring, is now a member of the U.S. Professional Tennis Association.

"Being a member of the USPTA is a great honor," Ozturk said. "This is the kind of thing that will open so many doors for me."

Ozturk, a native of Turkey who has been playing tennis on U.S. soil since the age of 12, joins some of the biggest names in the sport as a member of USPTA, and according to R.J. Tessier, director of certification and testing, achieving membership is not an easy task.

"We have almost 11,000 members," Tessier said. "Names like Arthur Ashe, Billy Jean King, Chris Everett, and each of them is put through various different tests that they must pass before they become members."

Ozturk accepted a scholarship to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and is now enjoying his freshman season as member of the Bulldogs team.

"We have a good team here this year," he said. "I think and I hope that we will be real good."

Several USPTA members have played on the professional tour, but the association is specifically for the "teaching professionals."

"I like teaching tennis to young people, but, of course, I always have dreams of playing professionally," Ozturk said. "That is going to take a lot of hard work and some time."

Last year, while Ozturk was relishing the view from atop the rankings of men's singles in Mississippi, his 12-year-old sister, Rain, also was ranked No. 1 girls' double in the state.

"I have been teaching her everything she knows for about four years now," Ozturk said. "She is going to be a great player. I know I was not that good when I was her age."

Being the father of successful tennis players is enough to make any man proud - just ask Richard Williams, the father of Venus and Serena - but Kemal Ozturk has managed to take it one serve at a time.

"Sure they would both love to play at the U.S. Open or Wimbledon," the father said, "but right now they are just enjoying themselves."

MY FATHER, THE SOCCER COACH: LT. COLONEL M. KEMAL OZTURK

My father is an officer. Lt. Colonel. He will be a reserve officer until 2008. His background is in Military Basic Training, Survival Training, Physical Education, Security Training.

On top of all that he has always been a soccer coach! My coach, Bulut's coach, Kanat's coach, Umut's coach. He has degrees to coach, teach and instruct in soccer from two different Military Sports Academies. One in Germany and one in Turkey. He has received more than 600 hours of training from the academies below! -WOW!-

Military Sports Academy (Ankara- Turkey)

German Militay Sport Academy (Sportschule der Bundeswehr, Warendorf, Germany)

He worked 2 years for United States Air Force as an Exchange Training Officer during Desert Storm. So, I was born in Biloxi!

EDUCATION:

BA, Basic Engineering, Turkish Air Force Academy

Master Degree: Management, Turkish Air War Collage

Military PHD : International Organizations (NATO, UN,...) , Military Collage