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Tennis

State association, leaders celebrate their successful year

By NANCY MORGAN
Published December 7, 2005

Nearly 20 area volunteers helped USTA Florida celebrate its 56th year last weekend in West Palm Beach.

The three-day event, including more than 250 enthusiasts, honored the state association for its success this year and leaders among the 45,000 members.

Recognized were league coordinators and captains in men's and women's Adult, Senior, Super Senior and Super 70 doubles leagues, Adult and Senior Mixed doubles and Adult and Senior Combo doubles. This is the 25th year for USTA leagues. More than 30,000 players are participating in 2005.

Among the coordinators attending were Carol Levin and Ruth Ann Ott, who organize the women's Adult, Super Senior and Super 70 doubles; David Wisotsky, with the same leagues on the men's side; Linda Meehan, Adult and Senior Mixed; Judy Murphy, Senior women; and Norm Ott, men's and women's Adult and Senior Combo leagues. Among the invited team captains were Mickie Gelestor, Sue Luidens, Maureen Sternberg and Ron Massey.

"This was my first time to attend, and it was interesting to learn about the structure of the section and how much money is raised for tennis," said Gelestor, who plays out of Shipwatch Tennis Club. "Before this weekend, I thought it was just about league players and pros, but there is so much more." Last year, the association's board of directors voted to reorganize the boundaries within the section by eliminating the 19 districts and forming eight regions, with each including a varying number of counties. Each county within a region had a designated volunteer who worked with the regional director, also a volunteer, and a community coordinator, a USTA Florida staff member.

Levin serves as Pinellas' representative, and Stefanie Seropian is the assistant rep. Nancy Morgan is the Region 3 director, and Jeff Davis is the region's community coordinator.

Other Region-3 counties are Pasco, Hernando, Polk and Hillsborough. USTA Florida operates on a 1.5-million dollar budget, with about 35 percent going to community programming. Rounding out the area volunteers in attendance were Maria Cercone, Craig Corry, Sue DeLong, Judy Foster, Phil Girardi, Mark Taylor, Irene Tharin, Susie Winship and Morgan.

"This is about my seventh annual meeting to attend, and I've never seen as much comraderie between everyone - from volunteers and staff to the first-timers," said Girardi, tennis director at Treasure Bay and a USTA Florida officer. "It was so exciting to see over 100 new volunteers at the meeting and learning about how participation is increasing nationwide."

First vice president Jane Brown Grimes said tennis participation had reached 25 million, the highest since 1992, with 5.8 million players picking up the sport this year. League play is a key factor in player participation. With Adult Mixed and Senior Combo leagues winding down, plans are under way for the men's and women's Senior, Super Senior and Super 70 leagues that will begin in January. Interested players should contact Levin (clevin01@tampabay.rr

MORE LEAGUES: Shipwatch Tennis Club captured the Senior Women's 7.5 Combo League championship with a 3-0 win over East Lake Woodlands last weekend. Collecting straight-set victories were Gail Pierce and Lynne Norring, Susan Wendkos and Pat Colacchio and Vicky Tuller and Elizabeth Proctor. Shipwatch is eligible for the USTA Florida State Championships in January.

Countryside-Walker/Emery recorded its seventh consecutive win last weekend to claim the Adult 7.0 Mixed Doubles League crown. Playoffs among the 8.0 division's Shipwatch, McMullen/Spa, East Lake and Renaissance Vinoy begin Friday, with the championship Sunday. Countryside and the 8.0 winner qualify for October's state tournament. NET SHOTS: Alyssa Bellini, in the girls 14-and-under division, and Jana Sindelarova (16) collected singles titles in last weekend's Pre-Holiday Junior Classic in Clearwater. Consolation winners included Mason Beiler (boys 10), Philippe Novikov (14) and Matt Herrock (16).

Alex Deeb, in men's 50-and-older singles, was among the winners in last weekend's Safety Harbor Holiday Classic, a state-sanctioned designated event. Second-place finishes were produced by Marc Mazo (50 division), Mark Wagner (40) and Debbie Hobbs (women's 50). Franz Henikl won the 50 consolation draw.

[Last modified December 7, 2005, 00:33:18]