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Letter to the editor

Flex league names season champions

By NANCY MORGAN
Published June 27, 2007

The spring season of the St. Petersburg flex league came to a close this month, with champions named in four women's singles divisions, seven men's and a men's doubles.

Winners among the women included Sheree Mangone in A-1, Diana Rakoczy in A-2, Karen Hettinger in B-1 and Ellen Howells in B-2.

Pipe Douangboupha led the men in the A division with his A-1 win, followed by Reza Mashayekhi in A-2, Chris Carson in A-3 and Jon McAuliffe in A-4. In the B, Ivan Hernandez won B-1, Guy Lieberman B-2 and Bill Siegel B-3. Pat Phetsadasack and Tonu Toomepuu shared a partnership with Matt Wilson to claim the league's doubles title.

Mangone, who won the A-2 division in the winter season, advanced to the A-1 for the spring and compiled a 10-1 record.

"I took about 10 years off from tennis but have been playing regularly the last year and a half, " Mangone said. "I'm also playing in the Ultimate Tennis League, and I think getting more playing time in - at least twice in singles each week - is helping my game."

Rakoczy earned an 8-2 record, Hettinger 6-1 and Howells was 4-0.

Undefeated Douangboupha, 33, has won the A-1 division in the past and always enjoys the stiff competition in the division, especially from Nik Sukhasam.

"I'm basically a baseliner, mostly stay back and rally and like to hit with power, " said Douangboupha. "Nik and I match up pretty well, and we always have long sets, usually three."

Carson converted from a pretty decent racquetball player to a tennis player when he moved to Florida 10 years ago. Once he adjusted his strokes, especially the forehand, his game improved.

Last year, he sat out due to an elbow injury, but since January, Carson has played in two leagues.

Lieberman was unbeaten with an 8-0 record, as was Siegel at 4-0.

The summer season started this month and will continue through the summer. For details on the league, call 893-7755.

NET SHOTS: Among the singles champions at last weekend's Junior Summer Classic in Clearwater were top seeds Danielle Collins in the girls 18-and-under, Parker Hayslett in the boys 10 and Anthony Barrancotto in the boys 18.

- Local players collected six singles titles in the Summer Classic at the Seminole Lake Tennis Center this weekend. Amy Lowther in the girls 14 and Adam Ambrozy in the boys 12 defended their top seedings with straight-set final wins, while Robert Dvorak in the boys 14 and Julia Sikorski in the girls 16 battled in three-set victories. Sisters Yasmin Franco in the 12 and Alexis Franco the 10 finished ahead of their round-robin competition.

- Top seed Ricky Symanski beat beat Chandler Saunders of Monteverde 6-2, 6-1 to win the boys 14 singles title in this month's Seminole Summer Super Series in Tallahassee.

LEAGUE NEWS: The third annual USTA League Captains' Appreciation Party is Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Vinoy. Tennis, food and prizes are planned. E-mail raott@tampabay.rr.com with questions.

- USTA league players can now appeal their computer NTRP rating online by visiting www.tennislink.com and clicking on "Find a Rating." An instant response will be available.

COMING UP: The Temple Terrace Junior Summer Bash begins Saturday. Call 813 989-7178.

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

[Last modified June 26, 2007, 20:32:37]