New year, new team for Super Seniors

The USA Tennis Super Seniors League served up its first matches this week in the men's division. Next month, women's competition begins.

Competition is Tuesday afternoons for the men and Monday mornings for the women.

Currently, only the men's 3.5 division is active with four teams in the north and five in the south.

The north division consists of Timber Pines Tennis Club, Royal Racquet Club, the Westin Innisbrook Resort and the Phil Green Tennis Academy.

The south division includes Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club, Shipwatch Tennis Club, the St. Petersburg Tennis Center, the Renaissance Vinoy and Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club.

The division will have a four-team playoff for the top two teams from both the north and south, said Seaton Kenworthy, coordinator for the men's league. The winner will move on to the state tournament.

Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club is competing for the first time, with Ralph Capasso the captain.

Joining Capasso in the first match with Bardmoor on Tuesday were Gary Cobb, Ken Jones, Stephen Newman, John Scheidt, Dave Connally, Kurt Geer, Herb Green, Dick Cook, Bill Hadley and Gordon Coyle.

"I'm new to the club and when I found out we didn't have a team in the super seniors, I guess I volunteered," Capasso said.

The league continues through mid-March with playoffs slated to begin March 26.

Among the women's teams scheduled to begin competition next month are Timber Pines Tennis Club's 3.0, Innisbrook's 3.5 and Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club's 4.0 teams.

Jane Lee Cobb is captain of the TI team that includes returnees Cini Malone, June Ide, Shari Green, Lynn Hesse, Margie Scheidt, Betty Crockett, Janice Stone and Marcia Sedgwick along with newcomer Faye Bates.

"We're working on our partnerships now and getting in some practice matches," Cobb said. "Without any opponents in our division we advance directly to the state tournament so that means we need to keep up our camaraderie and enthusiasm until the spring.

"Plus, we have to be ready to play with a variety of people because you never know about injuries or illnesses or anything else that could keep someone from playing," she said.

Last year, TI's 4.0, Innisbrook's 3.5 and Timber Pines' 3.0 all advanced to the state tournament for the women while Innisbrook's 3.5 and Timber Pines' 4.0 represented the men.

LEAGUE UPDATES: The Racquet Club of St. Petersburg netted a 3-0 win over the Phil Green Tennis Academy in the USA Adult 8.5 Mixed League last weekend.

Straight-set winners were Maria and Don Drew in No. 1, Linda Miller and Vic Vicander No. 2 and Sandy Martin and Jan Lagergren No. 3.

Bardmoor's Sylvia and Bob Hagerman scored the senior 7.5 team's only point against Royal Racquet Club in its 2-1 loss.

In senior men's 3.5 action, the Racquet Club teams won 3-0 in both the south and central divisions.

Winning in the south division were Newton Rogers and Marty Normile in No. 1, Gary Elliot and David Farnsworth No. 2 and Bob Spiegel and Mack Hicks No. 3. In the central division, Racquet Club's Tony Damouny and Steve Uebel in No. 1, Ray Cianci and David Laesser No. 2 and Don Campagna and Bob Steele No. 3 all won in straight sets.

Feather Sound's Deborah Brunt and Jan Cox in No. 1, Marilyn Quackenbush and Lucy Read No. 2 and Terry Hubener and Dede Natale No. 3 scored wins against the Renaissance Vinoy in the senior women's 3.5.

Patti Barlow and Elizabeth Cooke netted the Racquet Club's only point against McMullen in its 2-1 loss.

Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club leads the senior women's 4.0 division with a 4-1 record. In second-place is the Racquet Club, which handed TI its only loss through five matches.

NET NOTES A rematch between Lindsay Dvorak and Alexandra Cercone in the girls 12-and-under in last weekend's SPTC Junior Championship resulted in Dvorak winning 6-4, 6-0.

Last month in the K-Swiss Christmas Bowl, Cercone beat Dvorak for the 12 title 6-3, 6-2.

Other area winners were Morgan Frank (girls 14) and Kara Kucin (10). Finalists were Phillip Navikov (10) and George Navas (16). Consolation winners were Melisa Smith (10), Lauren Saltiel (14), Garrett Betsarakis (10) and Keegan Smith (12).

ADULTS MEET: A captains' meeting for the upcoming USA League Tennis adult division begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club in Largo.

Information on Tennis Link, reporting scores, 2002 league rule changes and players' requirements will be among issues discussed.

For questions, contact women's coordinator Carol Levin, (727) 797-8416, or men's coordinator Clark Higgs, (727) 724-0509.

COMING UP: Innisbrook offers its Second Annual Junior Championships Jan. 26-28. Call Scott Coleman, (727) 942-5241, to enter the state-sanctioned singles competition. ... Signups for the K-Swiss Spring League continue through Jan. 31. Call the office, 836-6472, or visit its website www.ultimatetennis.com. ... Teams are forming for the Feb. 8-10 Third Annual Time Warner Mixed Doubles Team Tennis Classic in Clearwater. Each team consists of three mixed teams, including A, B and C pairs. Call Tom Spencer, 669-8824.

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