2006 was an exciting year for 12 year old Mitchell Krueger. He was one of the stars of a documentary*, he made it to the top ten of the National Rankings and he placed in the top five of a half dozen national events.
Mitchell finished off his final year in the 12s with his best win yet -- the singles title at the Eddie Herr International Championships. While the International event was certainly the biggest for Mitchell, it was just one of the many accomplishments of the talented Texan before his thirteenth birthday in January of 2007.
In the summer of 2006 Mitchell came in fourth in singles at the National Hardcourts and made the finals of the National Claycourts. At both tournaments he also reached the doubles quarters with TJ Pura. It was a summer that had started with Mitchell giving the 14s a brief run as he came in third in a National Open near his hometown. Also in 2006 Mitchell made the quarters of the National Spring Championships, the finals of the February National Open in Baton Rouge and came in fifth at the Copper Bowl, giving him a final 2006 National Boys 12s ranking of No. 6 in singles and No. 11 in doubles (with TJ.)
Even before 2006 it was clear that Mitchell Krueger was a player to watch. At only 10 years old he captured the "Little Mo" South Regionals and Sectionals. A year later he was a semifinalist at two National Opens and then, at 11, won the Texas Open (singles and doubles with Harrison Adams).
I sat down with Mitchell in Bradenton while he was still beaming from winning the Eddie Herr trophy.
by Marcia Frost
*more about 50,000 Balls on page three