Matt Slamecka is not a high school tennis player yet. He's just beating them.

Slamecka, 14, competed in the Under-18 division of the Elks Tournament of Champions last weekend at Seven Springs Mountain resort — and won the event handily.

The Butler teen lost only five total games in three matches, defeating Jonathon Toms of Annapolis, Md., 6-0, 6-0, Daniel Gunn of Meadville 6-0, 6-2, and Scott Woodburn of Annapolis 6-3. 6-0.

"I wanted to play in the under-18 division to get more practice for more nationals coming up,"Slamecka said. "The players in that tournament were relatively unknown, so I felt like I could win out there."

By "relatively unknown", Slamecka inferred that his opponents were not highly-ranked on the U.S. Tennis Association circuit. Slamecka, ranked 17th in the USTAMiddle States section, was selected as one of 10 under-14 boys to compete on the Middle States Section Zonal team.

The zonal team represents the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

The squad competed in the Zone Team Championships two weeks ago in Virginia Beach, Va., where the Middle States team played against zonal squads from the New England, Northern, Mid-Atlantic and Eastern sections.

"The competition there was tough,"Slamecka said. "I loved it, though, because it challenged me."

Slamecka teamed with Ethan Kallick of Pittsburgh to defeat James Davis and Mitchell Frank of Manassas, Va., 1-6. 6-2, 10-7. He then teamed with Julie Stroyne of Venetia to defeat Len Chenfeld of New York and Sophie Schonfeld of Washington, D.C., 6-4, 6-3.

In singles matches, Slamecka lost to Alexander Steinroeder of Maine 6-3, 6-3, and to Chenfeld, 7-6, 6-4.

"Matt is an extremely talented player," said Lakevue Athletic Club coach and owner Krishnan Anandan. "He's going to have a brilliant high school career.

"We're trying to get him to the next level right now. For the first time, he's understanding what work ethic means."

Slamecka will be a freshman at Butler this fall and anticipates playing at No. 1 singles for the Golden Tornado next spring.

He's been in Lakevue's tennis program since age 8, when he got interested in tennis through following older brother Brad's career at Grove City College.

"I really got into the game,"Slamecka said. "I play all year round, five days a week, down at Lakevue."

Greg Rhymer has been coaching Slamecka for six years now.

"I'm pleased with his development to this point, but he is capable of getting so much better,"Rhymer said. "Right now, Matt's serve is not a weapon. But it's going to be.

"His frame is thin and wiry. As he gets bigger and fills out a little bit, he's going to get stronger."

Slamecka said the forehand is the strength of his game and admits he needs to work on his serve.

"It's not anything good right now," he said.

Slamecka has spent much of this summer traveling to tournaments. He's played in Michigan, Virginia Beach and Seven Springs already and is headed to Fort Wayne, Ind., this weekend.

His goals in tennis are lofty:Play at No. 1 singles throughout high school and earn a Division I college scholarship.

His coaches believe it can happen.

"Physically, he can do the job,"Rhymer said. "But up until now, success has come easy for him. He has to be able to raise his game mentally. If he works at it, he can be a destructive force in high school tennis. Really, it's up to him."