Players in 90 class capture attention

Tennis as a lifetime sport is showcased this week in the Super Seniors Designated Championships at St.Petersburg Tennis Center.

Singles and doubles competition from the 60-and-over to the 90 division began Monday and continues through Sunday.

Al Sarmiento is directing the state-sanctioned competition that totals almost 80 players.

A highlight of the tournament is the 90 class with four players from 91-97.

There are three players in the 85 division, seven in the 80, nine in the 75, 21 in the 70, 22 in the 65 and 11 in the 60.

"I think it's only fitting that we have such a large draw for the 90s division because of our tradition," SPTC general manager Jackie Keller said. "Everybody that's anybody has played here at the center, from Chris Evert to Bill Tilden.

"We're not charging the players in the 90s to play in this tournament. If anyone has played that many years, they certainly shouldn't have to play to pay now," Keller said.

St.Petersburg's Victor Downer and former resident Jim Vuille joined Norman Winter of Sun City Center and William Wendt of Evergreen Park, Ill., on Tuesday in the first round of play.

Today, the title match and consolation final are at 11 a.m. Thursday at 11 a.m., Downer and Vuille team to battle Winter and Wendt for the doubles championship.

"I started playing tennis at age 65 when I retired," said Downer, 91. "Before that, I was an executive vice-president of a chemical company in Canada.

"I had played some golf in Canada, but no tennis. I always liked any type of athletics and especially admired tennis players."

When Downer moved to the St.Petersburg area about 27 years ago, his complex had a court and he took up the game.

Later, he joined St.Petersburg Country Club and played even more.

"I've met some very nice people in tennis," Downer said, "and feel that tennis has kept me in pretty good shape.

"I take a clinic on Saturdays at the club and do a lot of running. I work out at a gym twice a week to keep my legs pretty strong," he said.

Downer relies on a few drop shots in his game these days, although he likes to hit as hard as he can.

"At our age, you see a lot of drop shots and lobs," said Vuille, 93. "My favorite shot is my forehand drive, but of course, I don't hit that as hard as I would like."

Vuille, who moved to St.Petersburg with his family when he was 7, started playing at 10.

"I have a membership card dating back to 1919 to the St.Petersburg club," Vuille said, "and played on St.Pete High's state championship team in 1926."

Vuille and his wife, Janet, recently moved to Sun City Center but continue close ties with the city. Vuille, who collected trophies for state honors over the years, is most proud of the award that he and Janet won in the 1957 city championship.

Downer and Vuille have played doubles in age groups 80-90 and earned titles and state rankings.

"Jim has always had great shots, so I tell him to get the shots and I'll do the running," Downer said. "I'm probably too competitive for my own good. I enjoy playing and I especially like to win."

Following this weekend's super senior event at SPTC, St.Petersburg Country Club plays host to a super senior competition Feb.18-23 and Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club on Feb.24-March 2.

LEAGUE UPDATES: The Senior Men's Doubles League playoffs begin this weekend in the 4.0 division.

Saturday, Seminole Lakes (8-0) plays host to McMullen (6-2) of Clearwater and the Vinoy (5-3) is at East Lake (7-1).

In the senior men's 3.5 class, McMullen (7-1) claimed the Central and the Racquet Club of St.Petersburg (6-0) the South.

The North winner will be determined between Phil Green Tennis Academy (5-1) and Countryside Country Club (5-1).

Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club improved its chances of being a wild-card team in the 3.5 playoff with a 3-0 victory over Shipwatch Tennis Club.

Winning were Gerry Miller and Marko Winkler in No.1, Bob Simister and Frank Bellcourt at No.2 and John Gelestor and captain Bob Hagerman.

The Bardmoor victory raised its record to 6-2 overall.

The Racquet Club clinched the senior men's 4.5 division with its fourth win over PGTA last weekend.

Although stretched to three sets in each position, winners were Ralph Howe and Tim Brady in No.1, Mike Carroll and Bill Young at No.2 and Carl Stiel and Jim Pseuth in No.3.

Paradise Recreation Center raised its mark to 7-2 in the Senior Women's 3.5 Doubles League with a 2-1 victory over Treasure Island.

Winners were Victoria Tuller and Joanne Pearson at No.1 in straight sets and Brenda Freedland and Charlotte Sterling in No.3 by default. Patsy Voigtmann and Elizabeth McCusker won in No.2 for Treasure Island.

Innisbrook improved its record to 8-2 in the 3.5 league with a 3-0 victory over Countryside Country Club last weekend.

In the senior women's 4.0, the Racquet Club boosted its mark to 4-1 with a 2-1 win over Bardmoor.

Sandy Martin and Gisela Leyva scored a three-set victory in No.2 and Linda Pugliese and Carol Nelson won in straight sets at No.3.

Paradise is 5-0 and plays Bardmoor (2-3) in its final match this weekend.

Other matches include the Racquet Club versus PGTA (2-2) and East Lake (1-3) against Treasure Island (0-4).

NET SHOTS: Bob Meyerdierks defended his top singles seed in the men's 75-and-over and reached the doubles final with Lyn Abbot in this month's Super Senior Tournament NBTC in Bradenton.

Jim Mackey and Ronald Flater of Colorado won the 75 doubles, as did Paul Loveday and Thomas Stephens the 80 and John Rensch and Ed Hamilton the 65.

Don Mathias and Ed Taylor of Ohio were finalists in the 65 doubles. Bud Steckman won the 75 singles round-robin consolation.

Treasure Island Recreation Center is offering a Cartoon Network Tennis Club, a national program sponsored by the U.S. Tennis Association and the Tennis Industry Association, to players 5-11.

For a $99 fee, players receive two hours per week for eight weeks of classes, a Cartoon Network T-shirt, back pack, Scooby-Doo bobble-head, practice ball, activity book, water bottle and tennis cap.

Call Phil Girardi, 360-6062, for information.

Shipwatch Tennis Club is playing host to a Sweetheart Doubles event Saturday.

Mixed doubles competition is 2-4 p.m., followed by an exhibition by Shipwatch teaching pro Drew Wager and his wife, Stephanie, versus Mary Jane Evertz and teaching professional Kevin Manning.

For information, call 896-6862.

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