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Tennis

St. Petersburg club's fund-raiser is a success

By NANCY MORGAN
Published February 23, 2005

Casual talk after a weekend round robin at the Racquet Club of St. Petersburg led to last Saturday's Tennis Players Have Love event, a fund-raiser for tsunami victims. Guided by new club board member Kristin Brett, about 10 volunteers were assembled to plan the event. Club tennis director Andy Veal led the men's and women's doubles round-robin pro-set competition.

"We got the idea when we were sitting around talking about the devastation, and decided we should do something to help those affected by the tsunami," club board president Pat Gehant said. "Thanks to Kristin's leadership, within three weeks we put together the event.

"We had a good showing, even some players from outside our club, and I think that was because of the opportunity to show that we care," Gehant said.

The fund-raiser attracted 32 players. All of the money, $5,245, was sent to Co-Operative Assistance for Relief Everywhere. The event was sponsored by Sabal Trust Company through chairman and CEO Ward Curtis.

"This was good for the community to join together to help those less fortunate," Veal said. Eight teams in the men's and women's divisions were divided into two brackets each and played three rounds of pro-set matches.

Suncoast Ladies Doubles League partners Linda Miller and Gisela Leyva were first among the women, followed by Pam Tushaus and Bette Damouny.

Mohan Reddy and Earl Gehant won the men's competition, and Ralph Howe and Joe Damouny were second.

"It was a fun event and a good opportunity to play with and against some different players that you normally don't get to play," Miller said. "Doing something like this just makes you feel good." Earl Gehant never had played with Reddy until Saturday. "I had seen Mohan around the club and knew that he was good," Gehant said. "I threw my name in to play, and Andy paired me up with him. That was my good luck."

Veal was impressed with the members' efforts in putting such a successful event together in a short time.

"My intent is to have more community-type events," Veal said. "And I think this event is a good starting point." JUNIORS: The most recent USA Tennis Florida state rankings include 14 area boys and 14 girls. Danielle Collins is No. 1 in girls 12-and-under play, and Alexander Saltiel tops boys 10.

Also in girls 12 are Rebecca Bodine (No. 10), Amber Li (No. 13), Julia Claire Jones (No. 18) and Emily Dvorak (No. 26).

Blair Martin is No. 13 in 10 competition. Alexandra Cercone is 13th at the 14 level an d Lindsay Dvorak 16th.

In 16, Alexis Dorr is No. 4, Megan Broderick No. 15, Jamie Mera No. 16 and Zoe Kent No. 22. Christina Liles is eighth in 16 and 17th in 18, along with Laura Gioia (No. 21) and Yumi Hasegawa (No. 29).

In boys 12, Lionel Kogan is No. 9, Garrett Betsarakis No. 11, Alex Peckman No. 19, Kosuke Hasegawa No. 21 and Anthony Barrancotto No. 23.

Joel Samaha is second in 14 and Paul Polarczyk 21st. Clint Bowles is No. 2 in 16, Istvan Bolgar No. 3, Jeff Dadamo No. 5 and Matthew Broom No. 12.

George Navas is third in 18, Alex Vuckovic fourth and Bowles ninth.

NET SHOTS: Christina Liles and Lorinda Boothman of Windermere were finalists in the girls 18 USTA National Open in Tampa last weekend.

George Navas and Andrew Mazlin of Altamonte Springs were boys 18 finalists.

Eighth-seeded Alexandra Cercone played to the girls 14 final in the USTA National Open Championships at Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club. Cercone lost to No. 1 Daisha Hill-Hurtado in straight sets.

Cercone teamed with Gainesville's Keri Frankenberger to reach the doubles final. Second-seeded Hill-Hurtado and Jamie Yapp-Shing beat the No. 1 team 7-5, 6-3.

Among the singles winners in the 91-player West Coast Senior Grand Prix at the Racquet Club of St. Petersburg last week were Michael Reilly (55-and-over), top-seeded Bob Meyerdierks (80) and Thomas Avirett (85).

Reilly, who battled Alex Deeb to a 4-6, 7-6, 7-6 semifinal victory, upset No. 1 Marc Mazo in the championship. Meyerdierks beat Oscar Steckman, and Avirett defeated Lady Lake's Edmond Heisler.

In doubles, Meyerdierks and John Boliver of Pennsylvania topped Bob Allen and Andrew Chau in the 80 final and Ed Hamilton and Dave Krebs won against Don Mathias and Eugene Poplawski of Vermont in 65.

THIS WEEK: Through Sunday, St. Petersburg Country Club is the site for the Raymond James Super Senior Grand Prix, a USTA Category II national men's tournament. It includes singles and doubles for 160 players in the 55-90 age divisions. For information, call tournament director Sam Vuille, 867-9105.

COMING UP: The Treasure Island Adult Classic is scheduled for Saturday-Monday at Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club.

Men's open and men's and women's 30, 40 and 50 singles and doubles are offered. For information, call Scott Smith, 367-5479.

The Seminole Winter Classic is Saturday-Monday for junior singles players 18-and-under at Seminole Lake Racquet Club.

For information, call tennis director Curly Davis, 394-1733.

The St. Petersburg Rookie Tournament is March 5-6 at St. Petersburg Tennis Center.

Call Al Sarmiento, 823-2225, to enter the junior singles competition.

Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club has the Parent-Child Tournament on March 5. Call 367-5479.

- News for this column may be faxed to Nancy Morgan, 796-5559; e-mailed to namorgan46@msn.com or sent to 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. Please include phone number.

[Last modified February 23, 2005, 00:34:19]