Michael Longworth of New Port Richey spent most of his youth involved in team sports, though his father introduced him to tennis when he was 12.
More recently, he has become a regular on the team tennis circuit.
Longworth's first experience was in Birmingham, Ala., but he didn't take himself seriously until he was about 29. When he and a co-worker won the doubles competition at the St. Petersburg Open in 1991, Longworth decided he should try some formal training.
Longworth, a bank money manager, describes himself as an aggressive player who likes to volley and attack the ball. Working with a smart partner helps his style, he said.
Longworth, 41, regularly competes in area charity tournaments such as the Morton Plant Mease and Boys and Girls Clubs competitions.
When playing last year for Crescent Oaks' 3.5 team, Longworth was approached by Bill Graham to join a Phil Green Tennis Academy team based in Safety Harbor.
"When Michael played against us, I could see he had a big serve and big strokes," said Graham, of New Port Richey. "He's a good player and someone who could easily be a strong No. 1 doubles player. Even better, Michael is capable of playing either singles or doubles."
Longworth played mostly at No. 1 singles for Crescent Oaks but mostly doubles for PGTA.
"This is a very competitive team, but we've got our work cut out to get to the playoffs," Longworth said. "If we play the way we're capable of playing, we could make it to the top four teams in the whole division."
SENIORS AT STATE: Treasure Bay's 4.0 senior women's team won its second state title in three years, beating nearly the same Pensacola team it beat in 2001.
Treasure Bay beat Sarasota and Gainesville 3-0 and Naples 2-1 to reach the semifinals. A 2-1 victory against Stuart and 2-1 victory against Pensacola qualified it for the national championships Oct. 9-12 in Palm Springs, Calif.
Playing for Treasure Bay were New Port Richey's Ria Graham and Pinellas players Patti Prestera (captain), Barbara Brutus, Hank Skoczen, Marion Murch, Susan Hobbs, Ann Worthington, Carol Hancock and Pat Kelly.
In the senior men's 4.5, the Racquet Club was ousted in flight competition. McMullen's 4.0 senior men's team reached the semifinals.
Bradenton won the men's 4.5 and Pensacola the 4.0. Orlando won the 4.5 senior women's title.
ADULT LEAGUE UPDATE: In women's, Westin Innisbrook Resort's loss to East Lake Woodlands resulted in a fifth-place finish in the 3.5 Tie Breakers. In 4.0, Innisbrook is at .500 with three weeks left.
Among the men, PGTA McGinley's 5-0 win made it 5-1 and left it second in the 3.5 Central division. PGTA DeFreitas has one match left in the 3.5 North, with first-place East Lake Woodlands, on May 31.
K-SWISS WINNERS: Hillsborough-Pasco competitors earned two of nine women's and five of 11 men's titles.
Amber Hess and May Laraya won in three sets at 3.0 and 5.0, respectively. Alvin Cruz, Luis Valencia and Mark Paulus won in straight sets at 3.5-minus, 4.0-minus and 6.0, respectively.
John Allen needed three sets to win at 4.0, and Jon Guerrica needed a second-set tiebreaker to win at 5.0.
COMING UP: Area juniors compete in singles tournaments this weekend in Boca Raton. ... McMullen of Clearwater hosts its Memories in Clearwater junior singles tournament starting Saturday. Call (727) 669-1919 to enter. ... East Lake Woodlands hosts the Morton Plant Mease Hospital tournament beginning with Friday's draw party at the club. Call (727) 785-2212, for details. ... Pasco-Hernando Community College hosts junior clinics. Beginners meet Sundays at 5 p.m.; intermediates Sundays at 6 p.m. and Mondays and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.; high school players Mondays at 7:30 p.m. Call (727) 816-3397 or (727) 919-2011 for details.
