Pinellas players net several titles

By NANCY MORGAN

© St. Petersburg Times, published September 7, 2000

The summer season of the K-Swiss Tennis League concluded last month with Pinellas players dominating the singles championship circle.

In women's competition, Pinellas captured six of the eight titles. The men won five of the 11 crowns.

Plus, two of the three women's doubles divisions and all three of the mixed doubles were won by Pinellas teams.

Largo's Caryn Lassen, in 3.0, and Treasure Island's Lynn Pratt, in 4.5-minus, overcame three-set challenges to win singles championships.

Safety Harbor's Laura Hungiville, in 3.5-minus, St. Petersburg's Victoria Hess , in 3.5, Palm Harbor's Linda Thompson, in 4.0-minus, and St. Pete's Margaret O'Grady-Roset, in 5.0, each won in two.

"This is just my second K-Swiss season and the first time in a playoff," Lassen said.

"I hadn't played for 15 years when I played my first time in the 3.5-minus," she said. "I did poorly and was happy to move to 3.0."

Lassen's mother, Joan Mylchreest, who competes in the 4.0-minus division, registered her daughter for K-Swiss as a birthday gift to get her playing again.

Lassen won all her matches in the regular season, with just one extended to three sets.

In the final with Carmen Tarantino, however, Lassen was challenged to three sets and won 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

"I think my two-fisted backhand was my strength," said Lassen, "although, it used to be my serve. Now, it's just not as consistent and I rely more on my backhand."

Lassen, who during the summer season learned she was pregnant, plans to play in the fall in the 3.5-minus class before taking some time off for motherhood.

This time around in the 3.5-minus, she hopes to improve on the results from her first encounter.

Straight-set wins were earned in all the area men's singles finals, including Ted Springer of Clearwater in the 3.0, Terry Griffith of St. Petersburg in 4.0-minus, Dan Mollica of Clearwater in 4.0, George Niedzwicki of Safety Harbor in 4.5-minus and Kurt Long of Clearwater in 5.0.

Like Lassen, it was Long's second season in K-Swiss and his first win.

"We had a tough division, with probably 40 to 50 players total," Long said.

"There were 10 in my division and the top four advanced to the playoffs. Three of the four from my division made it to the semifinal round."

In one semifinal, Long faced Chris Skinner, who served Long a 6-2, 7-6 loss in the regular season.

Long returned the favor with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Skinner to advance to the final against Ray Petrus -- the 4.5 division high-pointer. Long won 6-1, 6-2.

"I was cut from the Clearwater High School team as a junior," Long said. "As a senior, I won the high school conference, made the All-Sun Country Team and was runner-up in districts to St. Petersburg Catholic."

Long didn't play in college but resumed competing in 1992. He's advanced to national team competition in 4.5 USA League Tennis and was a 5.0 team regional winner.

"I've played a lot of competitive tennis and am glad to get back into it," said Long, who had a knee surgery two years ago.

"It's good to go out and play hard and not worry about just surviving," he said.

Long plans to compete in the 5.5 singles this season. He hopes that after a couple of years he can score another playoff victory.

In women's doubles, Stefani Montgomery and Vicki Smith survived a first-set loss to win the 7.5 division. Pat Kelly and Lyn Ballinger won the 8.5 in straight sets.

Three-set mixed doubles victories were earned by Allyson Iwanski and Shane Tolbert in 6.5, Micki and John Gelestor in 7.5 and Rhonda Thompson and John Beda in 8.5.

Registration for the K-Swiss fall season continues through Tuesday for men's and women's singles and doubles and mixed doubles. Call 865-0615 for details.

UMPS AT U.S. OPEN: Among the 300-plus umpires at the U.S. Open Championships in New York are Terry Logan of St. Petersburg, Roger White of Belleair, Steve Ullrich of Tampa and Edward Wilson of Wesley Chapel.

Over 900 matches will be officiated during the two-week Grand Slam event.

USTA MEETING VOLUNTEERS: Among the volunteers at this week's U.S. Tennis Association semi-annual meeting in New York City are Sue DeLong, Peggy and Bertrand Beard, Maria Cercone and Ed Turville.

USA Pathway Programs, strategic planning, technology and community tennis development are some of thes topics of discussion.

JUNIORS AT DESIGNATED: Competitors in last weekend's First Coast Tennis Foundation Designated singles tournament included Kelly Nelson and Sydnie Zillig in the 18-and-under girls division, Kaela Kennedy in 16s, and Lindsay Dvorak in 12s.

On the boys side, Haley Dodson, Patrick Gleason, Ryan Buchanan, Fred Johnson and Marc Sawyer were in the 16s. George Navas was in 14s, and Christopher Kucharski, Nicholas Berning and Sonny Kennedy were in 12s.

Nelson, seeded fourth, finished second to Christyn Lucas of Miami. Buchanan and Sonny Kennedy were consolation finalists.

USTA SCHOLARSHIPS: Carla Wrassmann of Dunedin was among four Florida recipients of a USTA Foundation Scholarship for College Textbooks and Individual Grants.

Wrassmann, a freshman at the University of Florida, was awarded a textbook scholarship. It goes to high school graduates who excelled academically and participated in USTA youth tennis programs.

Wrassmann graduated from Palm Harbor University High School last year, played No. 1 for the tennis team two years and participated in USTA programs the last 10 years.

The other players selected were Carol Tien of Tampa, Laura Ahmes of Sarasota and Adriana Segura of Pensacola.

CHARITY TENNIS: The seventh annual charity tennis tournament to benefit the Humane Society of North Pinellas Inc. is Sept. 15-17 at Royal Racquet Club.

Competition is offered in men's and women's 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and open doubles divisions and in 6.5, 7.5, 8.5 and 9.5 mixed doubles.

The Humane Society is a non-profit organization that relies on donations and gifts for the 8,000-plus animals it cares for annually.

Proceeds will be directed toward providing refuge for homeless animals, funding abuse prevention programs, as well as the capital campaign for a new medical building.

To register for the tourney, call 791-8415.

COMING UP: The second annual Free Lesson Blitz is scheduled to begin Monday and continue through Sept. 24. Various tennis facilities will be participating. New or re turning players should call 528-1018 for specific locations. ... A Junior Tennis Fun Night begins at 6 p.m. Sept. 15 at Royal Racquet Club. An evening of matchplay, rallyball, prizes and pizza are available for a $10 fee. Call 799-3200 to register. ... Mark your calendar for the Oct. 14-15 fifth annual benefit tournament at the McMullen Tennis Complex. Call 785-2537 for information.

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