Northpinellas: Tharins, Winship receive honors

Irene and Bob Tharin of Tarpon Springs were named the state's Tennis Family of the Year during the annual state meeting, and Susie Winship was recognized as the top USA School Tennis area coordinator.

"When I first learned that we had received the award, I called our state office, thinking it was a mistake," Irene Tharin said.

"I just thought of the families that had received the award before and thought there was just no way we would be considered," she said.

But when the Tharins began to list their accomplishments in the sport -- such as organizing programs, coaching and traveling with teams and supporting others playing -- the chart kept expanding.

Not only did all the Tharins participate in some form, but in many cases, it was a family affair.

"I was really excited and felt in a way we earned it without ever thinking about winning it," said Antonia Tharin, a Tarpon Springs High School senior.

"I remember watching my mother play tennis before I could even walk. I would be in a walker holding on to a ping pong paddle watching her play.

"I watched my brother play in team tennis before I was eligible," Antonia said of Jonanthan. "I couldn't wait until I could play."

With Antonia and Jonanthan involved, the sport became a family pastime that included trips to prep matches and team tennis events.

"Our involvement as a family has been a wonderful experience," Irene said. "We've all -- kids and parents -- grown up through those experiences."

Irene learned tennis as a 15-year-old growing up in Tarpon Springs and went on to defend the top position for the Spongers her last two seasons.

While she took lessons from teaching professional Ted Stone to improve her game, little did Irene know that her future husband was taking lessons to compete on the Dunedin High squad.

"We've had some great experiences as a family and with the kids," Bob Tharin said. "I think we have all learned from each other and been able to see one another mature. It's been a lot of fun for all of us."

Winship, a Largo native, played on Largo High's team and for St. Petersburg Junior College before a knee injury sidelined her.

"I was really surprised and quite pleased with the award," said the 30-year physical education teacher at Dunedin Middle School.

"I teach tennis in my classes, and I try to encourage and support in any way I can the other schools -- middle and elementary -- to offer tennis.

"Back in the mid 80s, we had an inservice training that illustrated how you could teach tennis to a large class," Winship said. "After that, I was ready to get involved and to try to get others interested."

NATIONALS: The senior women's 4.0 team at Treasure Island Recreation, Tennis and Golf Center narrowly missed advancing to the final four in last week's USA League Tennis National Championships in Palm Springs, Calif.

The TI squad finished its flight matches in a three-way tie with a 2-1 record.

To break the deadlock, the team with the fewest sets lost was named the winner. TI lost nine sets in nine matches. Georgia, a 2-1 loser to TI in flight play, dropped four sets and advanced to the final four.

The Mid-Atlantic USTA section from Virginia finished first, followed by Northern California, Delaware and Georgia. Northern California won the senior men's 4.0 national title.

In the round-robin flight competition, Treasure Island's Susan Hobbs and Patti Prestera won all three of their matches. Ann Worthington and Joan Plaster were 2-1, as were Donna Brewer, Jean Krauss and Lynn Klein. The squad won seven of nine possible position matches. It played five three-set matches, winning each.

STATE NEWS: The USTA Florida Section announced its newly approved name, USA Tennis Florida, during its 52nd annual meeting last weekend in Daytona Beach.

LEAGUES: USTA Florida Section-sponsored doubles leagues ranging from men's and women's senior and super senior divisions to adult and senior mixed are forming.

The coordinators are Judy Murphy (727-815-9618), senior women; Josie Doucette (727-862-1656), super senior women; Seaton Kenworthy (727-785-8399), senior and super senior men; and Erika Boardman (727-399-2459), Liz Dunlop (727-391-0811) and Bob Hagerman (727-391-4380), adult and senior mixed leagues.

New this year in mixed doubles is Sunday noon play for the adult league and Sunday 3 p.m. matches for the senior league.

NET NOTES: Terry Tetzlaff of Clearwater won the men's 55-and-older singles title in the SPTC Adults Senior Vets Tournament last month. Tarpon Springs' Don Zimmerman finished atop the 70s consolation. ... Bugsy Bauer won the girls 18 championship and Ryan Buchanan the boys 16 crown in the Pete Wolfberg Super Series at Royal Racquet Club. Benjamin Kronk was second in the 18 bracket. ... Yuri Kurashima, Palm Harbor, took the girls 18 title in the Second Annual Halloween Classic in Temple Terrace. George Navas finished first in boys 18 consolation. ... Luke Bodine outplayed the boys 14 competition in the Top Gun Satellite Circuit in Tampa. Kevin Rood won the boys 16 consolation. ... The winning team in the first annual B&G Celebrity Tournament at Feather Sound last week was Kathy Murray, Phyllis Fellows, Andre Etman, Gloria Hollingsworth, Luis Melendez and Pat Siracusa. In all, 24 players competed in the fund-raising event for the Abilities Foundation.

CLUB CHAMPIONS: The Westin Innisbrook Resort named its club champions last month in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

Cheryl Cravener (3.5) and Ria Graham (4.5) won in women's singles, and Rob Hamill (4.0) and Malcolm Slive (3.5) in the men's.

Slive teamed with Mike Lyman to capture the 3.5 doubles title, and Phyllis Gary and Joan Holland won the women's 3.5. Mixed doubles winners included Wendy Kall and Bruce Blubaum (4.0) and Reme Johnson and Lyman (3.5).

COMING UP: The Ariel Goldman Classic, a fundraiser for the Good Samaritan Health Clinic in New Port Richey, begins today with its Tennis Ball draw party and continues with competition Friday-Sunday at Paul Kronk Tennis Club in Crescent Oaks. ... A Junior Super Series is Nov. 10-12 at East Lake Woodlands. Call (727) 785-2212.

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