Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Senior teams take on national foes

By NANCY MORGAN
Published October 12, 2006

Two local teams travel to Palm Springs, Calif., to compete for the USTA National Senior 4.0 League Championships. Challenging the other 16 USTA sections are Florida champions McMullen women's team and the Renaissance Vinoy men.

"A lot of us have been to nationals before and that experience will certainly help us in Palm Springs," Hank Skoczen said. "I think the fact that almost all of us are also eligible for the super senior at least 60 makes anything we do at nationals special."

Ria Graham is captain of the seven-player McMullen squad.

The women's team faces USTA sections Midwest and Mid-Atlantic on Friday and Middle States and the Caribbean on Saturday with hopes of winning that flight to advance to Sunday's semifinal and final.

Each of the 17 USTA sections is represented in the 50-and-over competition and are divided into four flights of four or five teams. Each match includes three doubles matches. Graham's strategy to do well is simply to collect at least two points in each match played.

Partnerships are set, with Marion Murch teaming with Skoczen, Graham with Nancy Morgan and Sandy Lamy, Carol Levin and Sharon Carlile rotating for the third position.

"Our best strength, I think, is that we all really want to do well," Graham said. "We have really pulled together, taken extra lessons and practiced on the hardcourts. If we lose, it certainly won't be because we haven't tried to prepare."

Florida's senior men's 4.0 champion, Renaissance Vinoy, faces USTA sections Northern, Middle States and Southern California.

To follow the championship action, visit www.usta.com.

MORE LEAGUE NEWS: Florida women's 5.0 adult league champion McMullen placed fourth in last weekend's USTA League National Championships in Palm Springs, Calif. After falling 3-0 to USTA section Southern, McMullen beat Missouri Valley and Northern 3-0. A 2-1 semifinal loss to Middle States put McMullen in a playoff for third with Southern, which won 2-1.

Representing Florida were Margaret Roset, Sue Gutierrez, Gail Gibson, Anh Thu Burks and Kim Cashman. Southern California won the national title.

- In the USTA League 3.0 Women's National Championships in Tucson, Ariz., last weekend, Countryside Country Club posted a 2-2 record to finish third in its flight. The overall champ was Intermountain.

- Shipwatch Tennis Club's 8.0 senior mixed doubles team placed second in last weekend's USTA Florida Championships in Daytona Beach. Shipwatch beat Tallahassee, Gainesville and Lee/Charlotte to advance to the championship with Sarasota, which won 2-1.

- This weekend, adult mixed doubles teams Countryside Country Club 7.0 and Royal Racquet Club's 8.0 and 9.0 compete in the state championships in Daytona Beach.

- Captains for the men's and women's senior, super senior and super 70 doubles leagues, senior mixed doubles and women's 6.5 evening combo leagues are encouraged to meet with league coordinators Nov. 16 in the Grill Room at East Lake Woodlands Country Club. The social begins at 6 p.m., followed by the meeting at 6:30.

- McMullen's senior men's 4.5 and St. Petersburg's senior women's 4.5 travel to Tucson, Ariz., for the Oct. 20-22 USTA Senior League National Championships.

NET SHOTS: Florida came in second behind Southern in last weekend's USTA Men's Intersectional Championships in Jacksonville. Marc Mazo was captain of the winning 55 team, as was Mark Taylor for the 35 team. Peter Crewe played on the second-place 75 team and Kevin Manning and Ed Krauss were 2-1 in the 45.

- Nearly 125 doubles teams competed in the three-day 13th annual Humane Society Tournament at Royal Racquet Club. Mixed doubles champions were Jennifer and Brian Siracusa in the open, Janet Poort and Tim O'Brien (4.5), Barbara Soto and Ken Emery (4.0), Martha and James Nadar (3.5) and Debbie and Jerry Walker (3.0).

Donna Roberts and Emily Foster clinched the women's open division, as did Jane Robinson and Karen Randazzo (4.5), Joanne Valone and Turtle Marshall (4.0), Sue Burroughs and Sonia Leshko (3.5) and Sabrina Smith and Pamela Hodges (3.0). Pat Gilliant and Rick Workman won the men's 4.5, Wendall Walker and John Beda (4.0), Jeff Kopelman and Larry Nickerson (3.5) and Tom Keller and Kris Nielsen won the 3.0 round robin.

- Dr. Jimmy Gatza won the Broward County Adult Championship in the men's 40-and-over.

- Anna Coy defended her top seeding to win the women's open singles in the Hunter's Green Adult Challenge last weekend. Reinaldo Valor upset the top seed to win the men's 6-0. Bridgett Harrer and Debbie Hobbs claimed the women's 50 doubles title.

- Laura Artale won last month's 3.0 women's NTRP Tournament at East Lake Woodlands. Artale upset the top seed 6-4,6-4 in the final.

News for this column may be faxed to Nancy Morgan, 445-4119; e-mailed to namorgan@tampabay.rr.com or sent to 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. Please include phone number.

[Last modified October 11, 2006, 22:53:56]