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Letter to the editor

State berths on line for local champs

By NANCY MORGAN
Published July 5, 2007

Nine local USTA league champions hope the "home-court advantage" philosophy prevails this weekend in the Central Region Adult League Championships.

With the benefit of making just a short drive to host sites Countryside Country Club and East Lake Woodlands, local teams will challenge league winners from Tampa, Orlando, Altamonte Springs and Polk County for regional titles and the right to advance to the state tournament next month.

Among the local teams in the three-day tournament are Countryside 2.5 and 3.5 women and 3.0 men; East Lake 3.0 women; Southwest 3.5 men; St. Petersburg Tennis Center 4.0 women; Seminole 4.0 men; McMullen 4.5 men; and Royal Racquet Club 4.5 women.

Members of the Countryside 2.5 team had not competed in USTA leagues before, with the majority having just started playing the game. Catherine Kelly captained the team with co-captain Judy Jordan Corsmeier.

"This was a new group of players at the club and since we were hosting regionals, we wanted to get as much participation as possible, " Kelly said. "I wanted to help them get started and learn about what USTA league was all about."

Kelly Preston, Kathy Vanhorenbeck, Julie Carlson and Lucy Sasscer played singles for Countryside and were joined by Mari Haas, Caron Hobson, Nancy Spiegel and Corsmeier in doubles. Kelly also was Countryside 3.5 captain with Kassie Ruby co-captain.

"I think we have a terrific chance at regionals, " Kelly said. "Our 3.5 team went to regionals last year, plus our 3.0 team advanced to nationals and some of those players moved up. All of that results in a lot of knowledge and experience."

In its 12-0 record among 13 teams, singles were defended by Dina Glover, Kim Rega, Lea Avery, Barbara Emery, Rachel Mayhew, Lisa Pratt and Ruby. Among the doubles players are Mary Beth Whiteleather, Minnie Roth, Donna Bleakley, Joyce Hall, Mary Guthrie, Jil Colen, Tracey Sullivan, Jenny Bell, Gigi Mashburn and Kelly.

East Lake Woodlands' 3.0 women's team also was a first-year team that played to a 9-1 regular-season record. Kelly Hansen and Carol Mutschler played the majority of the singles matches and were spelled by Stephanie Karpman and Nancy Kimball.

"We had some established doubles teams, plus mixed partners around as well, " captain Pam Mills said. "Up front, we talked about putting out the strongest lineup. We've been doing a lot of overtime practice for regionals and are excited about going."

Doubles action will be shared by Mills, Cathi Macy, Debra Chadwick, Cynthia Sloyer, Kathleen Hollick, Wendy Sender and Patricia Hubbard.

In his first season serving as captain of the women's 4.5 team, Dale Alford predicts a good showing at regionals.

"We have decent singles players that can give anyone a hard time and our doubles teams can hold their own, " Alford said.

Expected to share singles action are Lili Rivera, Donna Roberts, Julie McGuire and Lisa Freeman. Stephanie Ladell, Linda Thompson, Karen Randazzo, Jane Robinson, Linda Bacon, Judi Morris and Julie Holcomb round out the team.

Countryside's 3.0 men's team of 15 were unbeaten in the regular season and looked to Jerry Walker, Kurt Frahn, Stephen Frey and captain Frank Blainey to defend the singles positions.

"This is a second trip for us to regionals and we're excited to go back, " Blainey said. "We were close to winning last year and I'm optimistic about our chances this time."

Rounding out the squad are Kyle Duncan, Matt Ruby, Art Esterbrook, Jim Gardner, Jim Serrabella, Bert Tucker, Richard Boderek, David Buell, Patrick Nehls, Ed Ostiguy and Lawrence Livingston.

McMullen's 4.5 men's team includes players ranging throughout Pinellas. Playing the majority of the singles matches were Juan Segovia, Matt Holsopple and Terry O'Grady.

"We had a couple of teams that play fairly often together, like Michael Erbe and Marvin Wilhite and Ron Wiser and Tim O'Brien, " captain Steve Talner said. "I pretty much filled the third position with players according to their availability."

Mark Taylor, Scott Spoerl, Michael Carroll and Paul Reilly round out the squad.

Competition begins Friday for 19 women's teams and 12 men's. Winners advance to the state tournament Aug. 10-12 in Daytona Beach.

NET SHOTS: Collecting singles titles in last weekend's Junior Summer Bash in Temple Terrace were Yasmin Franco in girls 12-and-under, Julia Sikorski 16 and top seed Danielle Collins 18. Playing to the finals were Carolina Barnett in girls 14 and Ganesh Rajaram boys 12.

- Among the singles champions in last month's Junior Summer Classic in Clearwater were top seeds Danielle Collins in girls 18, Parker Hayslett boys 10 and Anthony Barrancotto 18. Reaching final action were Agatha Ambrozy in girls 14, Julianne Gruber 18 and Kirk Kucin boys 18.

- Ricky Symanski won the boys 14 singles title in last month's Seminole Summer Super Series in Tallahassee. In the final, the top seed beat Chandler Saunders of Monteverde 6-2, 6-1.

COMING UP: The July Spectacular Super Series for juniors 14-and-under begins Saturday at Seminole Lake Tennis Center. Call 394-1773. ...Royal Racquet Club hosts a super series for 18-and-unders this weekend. Call 799-3200. ...The Countryside Summer NTRP Designated Tournament begins July 13. Call 796-1136.

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 July 4, 2007, 22:00:17]