Cancer tournament to serve as tribute

It is fitting that next month's American Cancer Society tournament be dedicated to the memory of Debra Kroeger.

Kroeger played in the tourney over the years, served on its steering committee and battled cancer eight years until her death last month.

The 20th anniversary of the American Cancer Society AXA Advisors Tennis Classic is Feb.7-9 at McMullen Tennis Center in Clearwater.

Men's, women's and mixed doubles competition in five playing levels will be directed by McMullen head pro Tomas Ollestad.

"There's hardly anyone who hasn't been touched in some way by cancer," second-year tournament chair Cindy Cooper said. "This year, it was a unanimous decision by the committee to honor Debbie in this way."

Kroeger was a standout high school player in South Florida, and she went on to earn a letter at the University of Florida.

Kroeger attained a top-10 state ranking in the women's 25-and-over singles division and was a member of the 1984 national 5.0 championship league team.

"Tennis was a vital part of her life, and both our lives were totally intertwined in tennis," said Kroeger's life partner, Guy Perenich.

"We met on the tennis courts, traveled all over to see tennis played, and enjoyed playing tennis so much.

"It's a wonderful thing that the tournament committee has done to honor Debbie in something she loved so much," Perenich said.

Even when Kroeger was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994, playing the sport was a vital part of her daily schedule, which included earning a law degree at Stetson and establishing a family law practice.

"I think dedicating this tournament to her is incredible and couldn't be a better way to honor my mother," said her son, Scott Kroeger.

Scott, who teaches tennis at Royal Racquet Club and begins his third season as coach of the Clearwater Central Catholic school teams, plans to play in the event with his sister, Lindsay. They will be in a mixed doubles division, and Scott hopes to play in the men's competition with his brother, Cory.

Cooper, along with co-chair Janet Whitney, has coordinated the efforts of about 24 volunteers on the committee.

"Our committee keeps growing, and we keep getting new members," Cooper said.

"Last year, we netted over $28,000, which was our highest," Cooper said. "This year, we plan to do even better. The majority of the money raised will be directed to breast cancer research and will stay in ... Pinellas County."

Registration is available at McMullen (669-1919) or Advantage Yours Tennis (442-7923).

Main-draw winners and runners-up and consolation winners qualify for the Suncoast Tennis Foundation Tournament of Champions, Dec.12-14.

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

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

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

Danielle Collins defended her top seed in girls 10-and-under of the SPTC Junior Championships last weekend.

Collins defeated second-seeded Emily Dvorak in a third-set tiebreak. Lindsay Dvorak was a finalist in 14.

Consolation winners included Connor Chambers (boys 10), Anthony Barrancotto (12), Nicholas Berning (16) and Caitlin Jammo (girls 16).

Jacki Simon finished the year ranked second in Florida in 3.0 competition. Marilyn Symanski was No.1 in 3.5.

Last weekend, Simon scored a 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 final victory in the 3.5 division of the NTRP Blowout/Circuit No.1 in Deltona.

LEAGUE NOTES: 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 match-up Feb.1 will be their first head-to-head match.

The 3.5 senior women's division is complicated by the top three teams.

Paradise Island defeated Innisbrook 2-1, Innisbrook beat Dunedin 2-1 and Dunedin played past Paradise Island 2-1.

A 3-0 win over Royal Racquet Club for Innisbrook last weekend edged the squad to first place in the 12-team league.

Timber Pines Tennis Club passed McMullen in the senior men's 3.0 division.

Both teams had a 4-2 record, but Timber Pines netted 11 individual wins to McMullen's 10.

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

The Phil Green Tennis Academy beat Innisbrook 3-0 for its fourth victory in the senior men's 3.5 North division and Innisbrook's third loss.

Winning for PGTA were Bill Schieman and Richard Hough in No.1, David Parris and Ron Lynn at No.2 and Carlo Mugavero and Ken Hogle in No.3.

In the 3.5 Central division, Bardmoor's 2-1 win over Racquet Club II evened its record with McMullen to 4-1.

In an earlier matchup, Bardmoor beat McMullen 3-0 for the head-to-head advantage.

Seminole Lake Tennis Center leads the senior 4.0 South division and won its sixth consecutive match last weekend with a 3-0 decision over McMullen.

Scoring victories for Seminole were Harold Kligman and Jim McCook in No.1, Maura Rodriguez and Ron Klieve at No.2 and Larry Daum and John Beda in No.3.

East Lake Woodlands posted its sixth straight victory in the 4.0 senior men's division with a 2-1 decision over Royal Racquet Club.

Jim Curran and Jeff McQuinn pulled out a 6-4, 7-6 victory in No.1 for East Lake, and Hans Look and Luiz Telles scored a 7-6, 6-2 win at No.3. Royal's Joshua Magidson and John Arnold won in three sets for Royal in the No.2 spot.

A battle continues between the PGTA and the Racquet Club for bragging rights in the 4.5 senior men's division.

Deadlocked 1-1 overall, they square off four more times.

Innisbrook's super senior 3.5 women's squad won its second of two matches with three straight-set victories over Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club.

Maureen Sternberg and Shirl Ahrens in No.1, captain Phylis Gary and Nancy Kraemer at No.2 and Reme Johnson and Diane Galemmo in No.3 scored Innisbrook's wins.

Monday, the two-team women's super senior 4.0 league begins its three-match season with PGTA traveling to Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club.

Two senior mixed doubles teams squared off in the 6.5 division last week, with a Ron Sternberg-led Innisbrook squad winning 2-1 over the Willets-led Innisbrook team.

Maureen and Ron Sternberg defeated Kathie Roberts and Joe Bailey in No.1, and Gary teamed with Bob Hammond in No.3 to defeat Janice and Dick Willets. Willets' No.2 squad of Marilyn Linker and Bob Barry beat Kathryn and John Fitzpatrick in No.2.

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

Mickie Gelestor is captain of the adult team, and John Beda guides the senior squad.

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