'Self-taught' player among state's best

Not until Gerry Barna became a teenager did the Pittsburgh native consider playing tennis.

Now, it's his full-time hobby.

"I grew up in the city and even though we had city courts -- clay courts -- across the street, you wouldn't catch me anywhere near them," the Clearwater resident said. "My dad was forever trying to get me to play, but I refused."

Barna's sisters both played and were selected to the Junior Wightman Cup team, but baseball was his primary sport. Not until his high school days began and his friends were scattered among several schools did Barna decide to give tennis a try.

"I actually started both tennis and golf then," Barna said. "I needed to find something to do.

"I'm self-taught as far as tennis goes," he said, "plus I've read a lot of books and I play a lot."

His method worked. Barna's drive has earned him a top-20 state ranking in the 50-and-over division and a No. 23 spot among 45-and-over players.

Barna started playing regularly in the '70s when Pittsburgh built indoor courts. By his senior year at St. Vincent College, he was competing in the No. 1 position.

"When I went to dental school at the University of Pittsburgh, I lived at home again and was right by the courts," Barna said. "That, plus the indoor courts, allowed me to play all winter. It was then that my game went to another level."

To help pay for dental school, Barna taught tennis at a country club in the summer and worked in a steel mill. After dental school, he spent eight years in the Navy and had ample opportunity to continue his playing.

"We found that at any port we had an open invitation to play tennis," Barna said. "We played from Australia to the Indian Ocean."

Barna later joined the reserves and retired after 20 years as a captain in the dental corps.

About three years ago, he moved to Clearwater to continue his affiliation with the Church of Scientology. The first year here, Barna didn't work at his dental practice or play tennis, he said, but instead devoted his time to the church. Since then, though, Barna plays regularly in the USTA and K-Swiss leagues and always is looking for competition.

"I don't think I would play if it were not for tournaments," he said. "I know tennis is a good exercise, but I could get that from jogging. What I really like is the competition. I need to have something at risk to play my best.

"I don't really have a plan for tournament play other than whatever is no more than two hours away from home. There's no strategy to earning a ranking. I play because it's fun and I like competition."

JUNIORS: Area players competed for points and state rankings last weekend. Local clubs played host to the statewide singles events for five age divisions, from 18-and-under to 10 for girls and boys.

Second-seeded Goran Dragicevic finished third in the 18 class, No. 4 Kyle Kunnen reached the boys 10 third-place playoff, No. 5 Morgan Basil was fourth in girls 10, and Christina Liles made the 14 round of 16, as did Jennifer Dent in 18.

Fifth-seeded Morgan Frank played to the 12 quarterfinal, as did unseeded George Navas in 16 and Erin Heeder in 18.

KETTELL IN LARGO: Largo will offer "Island Tennis Night" 4-7 on Feb. 16 at Largo Tennis Center's Southwest Recreation Complex.

Newly hired instructor Linda Kettell will direct round-robin matches and other court games.

Kettell was Seminole's Director of Parks and Recreation from 1985-1994 and has extensive experience in programming, organizing and supervising leisure activities.

Adult and junior private and group lessons are available at eight Har Tru clay court facilities by calling 403-8588.

NET NOTES: Alexandria Liles, 15, advanced to the main draw of the Australian Junior Open after winning two matches in the qualifying. Liles took one round in the main draw.

Kara Kucin won the girls 10 title in the SPTC Junior Championships in St. Petersburg, as did Frank in the 14. Alexandria Cercone was a 12 finalist, as was Navas in 16.

Second-seeded Bob Meyerdierks and Jim Mackey upset the top team, capturing the USTA National Indoor 75 Doubles championship in Houston. Meyerdierks advanced to the round of 16 in the 75 singles.

Meyerdierks and Mackey defended their top seed in the Naples Super Senior. Meyerdierks played to the 75 semifinal round.

LEAGUE UPDATES: Westin Innisbrook's winning ways continued last weekend with the senior 3.5 women's team earning its seventh victory. In a 2-1 win over Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club, Josie Doucette and Anne Hammond scored a point in No. 2 doubles, as did Cheryl Cravener and Reme Johnson at No. 3.

A seventh consecutive victory for Phil Green Tennis Academy came last weekend in a 3-0 decision over East Lake Woodlands. Straight-set wins were earned by Glenn Merrer and Bob Berkstresser, Ed McGinley and Ken Hogle, and Willie Coquelet and Bill Schieman. Schieman and Coquelet, Berkstresser and Fred Elflein, and Joe Gari and Merrer recorded victories for Phil Green Academy over Timber Pines in the super senior 3.5 men's league.

Innisbrook's Les Drew and Joe Bailey rebounded from a first-set loss to win in three in the No. 1 spot of a 2-1 victory over Royal Racquet Club in the super senior 3.5 league. Also winning was Jim Gray and Dick Willets. COMING UP: Innisbrook offers its second annual Junior Championships this weekend. For information, call Scott Coleman, (727) 942-5241. ... Registration for the K-Swiss Spring League continues through Jan. 31. Call 836-6472. ... Squads are forming for the Time Warner Mixed Doubles Team Classic, Feb. 8-10 in Clearwater. Each squad consists of three mixed teams, including A, B and C pairs. Call Tom Spencer, (727) 669-8824.

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