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Tennis

McMullen men roll to senior state championship

By NANCY MORGAN
Published June 1, 2005

McMullen's 4.0 senior men's team won the USA Tennis Florida Senior Sectional Championships in Daytona Beach.

The squad of 10 won all five matches 3-0 and lost just four sets during the three-day competition to reach the national tournament Oct. 7-9 in Palm Springs, Calif.

It's the second state title this season for six players. In May, the 4.0 super senior men's team (60 and older) dominated on its way to a title. Double champs are: Wendall Walker, John Beda, Ron Klieve, Ed Hamilton, John Rensch and Ron Massey.

"I'm a little surprised we did as well as we did in the seniors," Rensch said "But we have the depth."

Rensch, who was an airline pilot for 35 years, played four matches with Hamilton, winning all but one in straight sets.

"Ed and I have played together a long time," said Rensch, a Treasure Island resident. "I'm the net closer, ... and Ed slices and drops like no one I've ever seen."

Hamilton and Rensch, Massey and Hap Ellerby and Beda and Walker won in straight sets against Ocala. Against Jacksonville, Massey and Eric Goldman and Walker and Jeff Persky won in third-set tiebreakers. Klieve and John Williams won in two sets.

Beda teamed with Walker for four wins, three by straight sets.

"We're understanding each other's play," Beda said. "I play the forehand, and we try to take the net."

McMullen also beat Miami and Vero Beach to reach the semifinals against West Palm Beach. There, Massey and Ellerby, Beda and Walker and Hamilton and Rensch won in two sets. In the final against Pensacola, Hamilton and Rensch, Goldman and Massey and Beda and Walker won.

"Having been to a 4.0 senior national in 2002 with a pretty good team," Walker said, "I believe this team is at least 25 percent stronger. I feel we have better than a 50-50 chance at being a contender for the national championship. The tricky part is ... (making) the conversion to the hard courts."

CLUB NEWS: The Racquet Club of St. Petersburg hired Peter Keber as club manager and Kathy Woods tennis director.

Keber played at St. Mary's Public Honors College in Maryland. He came to St. Petersburg 10 years ago and earned a business administration degree from Eckerd. The certified PTR pro has experience working with juniors and adults.

Woods, president of the USPTA from 1994-96, has more than 20 years of oncourt teaching experience with players of all ages and levels. She played for Penn and has been ranked No. 1 in USPTA singles and doubles. In 1996, Woods received the Educational Merit Award from the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

NET SHOTS: Top-seeded George Navas reached the final of the boys 18-and-under in the USTA National Open in Naples. He also teamed with Andrew Mazlin of Altamonte Springs to reach the 18 doubles semifinals.

Morgan Basil lost in the second round of the girls 18s to Largo's Christina Liles, who reached the round of 16.

Top-seeded Danielle Collins won the girls 12 title in last weekend's designated tournament. Julia Sikorski reached the consolation semifinals.

In the boys 18 designated, Nicholas Berning reached the round of 16. Nicholas Gallaeur reached the quarterfinals.

Anthony Barrancotto competed in the Peach State Junior Tennis Classic last weekend in Norcross, Ga. After losing his first match, he won two in the consolation.

Basil won her first match at the Roxy Junior Open in Newport Beach, Calif. After a loss to the fourth seed, she won two consolation matches.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED: The Academy Prep Summer Tennis Camp is 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June20-24 at the St. Pete Tennis Center. To volunteer, call 823-2225 or e-mail mrtennis55@aol.com

COMING UP: USA Team Tennis for youth begins this month. Call Sam Vuille at 867-9105 or Phil Girardi at 368-0882 for details. ... Weekly full- and half-day camps for players 6-16 are offered by the Tennis Connection at various bay area facilities. For details, call 724-6400 or go to www.thetennisconnection.com ... The Phil Green Tennis Academy Summer Classic begins Saturday in Safety Harbor for junior singles players. Call Al Virgus at 724-7729 for details.

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 June 1, 2005, 00:38:18]