Wager likes direction Shipwatch is headed

Being a one-man operation on the courts at Shipwatch Tennis Club is fine with Drew Wager.

"Things are running smoothly, and we're keeping busy," Wager said.

"Right now, I'm doing all the lessons. Mary Jane Evertz just started handling the pro shop, and the tennis committee keeps the activities going. "We're real proud of our new clubhouse that opened last year, and we're now working on all 11 clay courts," Wager said. "We're pulling up the lines on the courts and re-doing everything."

Wager was first introduced to Shipwatch as a youngster at about 8 when he was taking lessons from then-director Don Kaiser. Wager played his way to the top in Florida's 18-and-under singles division and accrued a couple of national doubles championships in the grass-court and hard-court arenas.

Now 34, Wager is directing his expertise to others so they may achieve their goals -- whether social tennis or the competitive level. The club has an after-school program, a tots program on Saturdays and plans to play host to junior summer tournaments. On Feb. 15, Shipwatch has a Sweetheart Round Robin Social. For information, call Wager, 596-6862. LEAGUE RESULTS: In Senior Women's 4.0 Doubles, 3-0 wins last weekend by the Racquet Club of St. Petersburg and Paradise Island deadlocked the teams with 3-0 records. A contest Feb. 1 will be their first head-to-head match.

The 3.5 senior women's division is complicated by the top three squads. Paradise Island defeated Innisbrook 2-1, Innisbrook beat Dunedin 2-1 and Dunedin played past Paradise Island 2-1.

The Racquet Club clinched the senior men's 3.5 South with its sixth straight victory last week.

In its final match, the Racquet Club's Ray Cianci and David Laesser in No. 1 and Tony Damouny and Paul Stewart in No. 2 scored the winning points over Shipwatch. Pete Mosher and Tom Rinehart at No. 3 posted Shipwatch's only point.

Seminole Lake Tennis Center won its sixth straight match last weekend with a 3-0 decision over McMullen.

Scoring Seminole victories were Harold Kligman and Jim McCook in No. 1, Maura Rodriguez and Ron Klieve, No. 2, and Larry Daum and John Beda, No. 3. With two matches remaining, Seminole leads the 4.0 South division.

In mixed doubles, Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club is unbeaten in the 7.5 adult and senior divisions.

Mickie Gelestor is captain of Bardmoor's first-place adult team and John Beda the senior.

NET SHOTS: Kyle Kunnen defended his top seed in the boys 10-and-under designated singles tournament with a straight-set win in the final.

Becky Bodine reached the girls 10 semifinal, as did No. 3 Morgan Frank in the girls 14. Fourth-seeded George Navas played to the the boys 16 consolation semifinal round, as did Haley Dodson in boys 18.

Morgan Basil reached the girls 14 consolation quarterfinal. Garrett Betsarakis and Jordan Fisch made the round of 16 in boys 12.

Second-seeded Bob Meyerdierks reached the semifinal round in the men's 75-and-over division in the Super Senior Championships in Naples.

Meyerdierks then teamed with Scott Calkins of Naples to win their second straight doubles title.

The South Pinellas Ladies Doubles League enters its second week of action today for 11 teams in the 3.5-4.0 division and four in 3.0-3.5.

Last week's 3.5-4.0 winners were Shipwatch Blue, Isla Del Sol and Feather Sound.

The South Pinellas Men's Doubles League begins today.

Call the St. Petersburg Country Club, 867-9105, to register a four-player team.

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