Local doubles squad advances to state

By NANCY MORGAN

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 8, 2001

Innisbrook's senior doubles league team is heading to the USTA Florida Section State Championships this summer after a defeat of St. Petersburg in a district matchup.

"If we can field pretty much the same lineup as we had for the match with St. Pete we'll have an excellent chance at state," Innisbrook captain Joe Gari said. "That was one of our strongest lineups."

Richard Hough and John Kuhn in No. 1 earned a 6-4, 6-2 win to kick off Innisbrook's journey to team victory and state competition. In No. 2, Willie Coquelet and Bill Schieman saved a first-set win to complete the match 7-6 (4), 6-1. Fred Elflein and David Wisotsky easily won 6-0, 6-1 at the No. 3 position.

"We were actually ahead of St. Pete 5-3 in that first set," Schieman said of the match in No. 2. "They came back to not only tie us, but to go ahead 6-5."

Schieman and Coquelet responded by breaking St. Petersburg's serve to even the score for the tiebreaker.

"Whenever I'm in a tiebreak situation," Schieman, 65, said, "I always try to go after those first few points."

Thanks to Schieman's steadiness and Coquelet's aggressive net play, the Innisbrook duo took the first three points and went on to win the tiebreaker 7-4.

"I think that kind of demoralized them," Schieman said. "We didn't relax in the second set and went on to beat them."

Rounding out the team are Joe Robillard, Dick Lashley and Harry Zimmerman.

This year's super senior state competition will be held June 1-3 in Naples. SPRING CLASSIC: Danielle Stadelmann of Wesley Chapel upset top seed Karolee Jones of Bradenton to win the women's open singles title in the Spring Adult Classic held at East Lake Woodlands last weekend. Stadelmann eliminated Jones 6-2, 7-6 (4) in the final.

New Port Richey's Goran Dragicevic, seeded third in the men's open, reached the semifinal round before Sunday's rain postponed matches until Monday afternoon. Dragicevic is scheduled to play Bradenton's Steve Price. Dragicevic also reached the semifinals in the men's open doubles after teaming with James Bloore. Zephyrhills' Mahmond Karim is in another semifinal with partner Casey Nelson. Matches were to be completed Monday afternoon.

COUNTY LEADERS: At the midway point of Pasco County Parks and Recreation Department league play at Veterans Memorial Park in Hudson there is a tie in both men's and women's doubles leagues. Among the men, the team of John Hutchinson and Joe Walters is 7-0 along with the team of David Pittzenberger and Tom Harper.

In women's competition, JoAnne Baker and Fran Chinski are 3-0 and tied with Mattie Smouse and Tina Wolf.

COMING UP: National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) evaluations are planned for March 13 at 7 p.m. at Clearwater's McMullen Tennis Complex. For information, call (727) 669-1919. There is a $10 rating fee. ... The USA Ultimate Tennis Workshop will be held Saturday and Sunday in St. Petersburg. Teaching pros or tennis enthusiasts are encouraged to participate in the two-day workshop to learn about USA Tennis Pathway programs. Call Jeff Davis at (727) 360-6543. ... The Suncoast Tennis Singles, a tennis group for singles, will meet March 18 in Treasure Island. Call Barbara Bukovan at (727) 397-4231 or Jerry Heideman at (727) 398-7108 for information. ... Registration forms are due March 10 for this month's tennis competition in the Good Life Games. Competition includes men's and women's singles, doubles and mixed doubles in five-year age groupings beginning with the 50 to 54 division. Call (727) 892-5420 for information.

LOCAL TOURNAMENTS: Royal Racquet Club's Spring Fling begins Friday in Clearwater for adult age-division singles and doubles. Call the club at (727) 791-8415 today. ... Skill-level division singles competition is scheduled March 17-19 at Train Smart Tennis in Tampa. Call (813) 962-4253 to enter. ... The Zephyrhills Tennis Association's One-Day Doubles Tournament is March 17 at the McGannon Courts. Call (813) 779-9084. ... The Second Annual Junior Championships are March 17-19 at the Temple Terrace Recreation Department. Call (813) 989-7178 by March 14.

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