Four USTA Florida League teams captured top 4 finishes at the 2019 USTA League 65 & Over Invitational for 6.0/8.0 and 7.0/9.0 at the USTA National Campus in Orlando.
During the 6.0/8.0 matchplay held Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2020, the women’s 6.0 division from Collier County (The Players Club & Spa, Naples) upset top-seeded USTA Texas (Northeast Texas) 2-1 in the semifinals, before falling 2-1 in the championship dual to USTA Pacific Northwest (Kent, Wash.).
February 2, 2020 – Laurie Dwyer, Ann Putnam, Diane Sullivan, Janet Olliges, Karen Shmihluk, Robin Harper, Melanie Rose, Michelle Taj, and Judith Cappello of the Florida section came in second place in the 2019 USTA 65 & Over 6.0/ 8.0 League National Invitationals at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Florida.
Championship Match Results:
#1 Doubles: Ruthann Nelson/Carrie Bergquist (PNW) d. Melanie Rose/Diane Sullivan (FL) 6-3, 6-1
#2 Doubles: Juanita Kraght/Mary Jo Leonardson (PNW) d. Robin Harper/Laurie Dwyer (FL) 6-1, 6-4
#3 Doubles: Janet Olliges/Karen Shmihluk (FL) d. Jill Wakefield/Barbara Selemon (PNW) 7-6, 6-4
Collier Team Roster: Judith Cappello (captain), Karen Shmihluk, Geri Cerio, Ann Putnam, Janet Olliges, Diane Sullivan, Melanie Rose, Robin Harper, Michelle Taj, Laurie Dwyer, Beverley Wilen
In the 8.0 division, the men from Broward County (Parkland Tennis Center, Parkland) lost to the eventual second-place USTA Middle States (Del.) 2-1 in the semifinals. In the 3rd-4th round playoffs, the Broward men fell 2-1 to USTA Southwest (Phoenix, Ariz.) to finish 4th in the competition.
February 2, 2020 – The Florida section came in fourth place in the 2020 USTA 65 & Over 6.0/ 8.0 League National Invitationals at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Florida.
Match Results:
#1 Doubles: Chris Cox/G.F. Tanham (Southwest) d. William Dellinger/Malcolm Waldron III (FL) 7-6, 7-5
#2 Doubles: Chris Shol/Timothy Shum (Southwest) d. Howard Weinstein/Johnny Cisneros (FL) 6-3, 1-0 (ret)
#3 Doubles: Arnold Resnick/Charles Fox (FL) d. Warren Kutchyera/John Davis 6-2, 7-6
Broward Team Roster: Les Liese (captain), Malcolm Waldron III, William Dellinger, Kevin McCarthy, Johnny Cisneros, Howard Weinstein, Carlos Rios, Charles Fox, Arnold Resnick
The 7.0/9.0 matchplay was held Feb. 7-9, 2020, and saw two more Florida teams make it to the semifinals.
Playing out of Duval County (Boone Park, Jacksonville), the 7.0 women captured a third-place finish after a 2-1 win over USTA Southwest (Tucson, Ariz.) in the third-fourth round playoff. Earlier in the day the squad from Jacksonville was defeated 2-1 in the semifinals by USTA Middle States (Hershey, Pa.), who went on to be the runner-up in the finals.
February 9, 2020 – The Florida section came in third place in the 2020 USTA 65 & Over 7.0 & 9.0 League National Invitationals at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Florida.
Match Results:
#1 Doubles: Martha Poitevent/Deidre Martin (FL) d. Mindy Evans/Nancy Atherton (Southwest) 6-1, 6-2
#2 Doubles: Catherine Davis/Vicki Collins (FL) d. Candi Baranski/Hedy Kurland (Southwest) 6-3, 6-4
#3 Doubles: Vanessa Radford/Paula Kelly (Southwest) d. Rosemary Arnold/Susan Sceifers (FL) 6-4, 6-3
Duval Team Roster: Pam Cohen (captain), Deidre Martin, Susan Sceifers, Shelley Thompson, Diane Hendry, Michele Rainwater, Catherine Davis, Martha Poitevent, Myrle Robinson, Rosemary Arnold, Vicki Collins
The men’s 7.0 team from Marion County (Glenview Tennis Club, The Villages) was edged out 3-0 in the semifinals by USTA New England (North Eastham, Mass.). The squad from Marion secured a fourth-place finish after dropping 2-1 in the third-fourth playoff match against USTA Southern (Athens, Ga.).
February 9, 2020 – The Florida section came in fourth place in the 2020 USTA 65 & Over 7.0 & 9.0 League National Invitationals at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Florida.
Match Results:
#1 Doubles: Danny Parkinson/Billy Mortonson (Southern) d. Carlos Munoz/Robert Anglace (FL) 6-0, 6-2
#2 Doubles: Robert Kluemper/James Robertson (FL) d. Leslie Conway/Allan Armitage (Southern) 6-2, 6-2
#3 Doubles: Ronnie Boogs/William Hoyt (Southern) d. Juno Guevara/David Barnes (FL) 6-4, 2-6, 1-0
Marion Team Roster: Michael James (captain), John Ulrich, Robert Anglace, Robert Kluemper, David O’Steen, James Robertson, Tim Puckett, Juno Guevara, David Barnes, James VanEmburgh, Carlos Munoz, Paul Whitehead
Established in 1980, USTA League has grown from 13,000 players in a few parts of the country in its first year to more than 310,000 players across the nation today, making it the world’s largest recreational tennis league.
USTA League was established to provide adult recreational tennis players throughout the country with the opportunity to compete against players of similar ability levels. Players participate on teams in a league format, which is administered by the USTA through its 17 sections. The league groups players by using six National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) levels, ranging from 2.5 (entry) to 5.0 (advanced). USTA League is open to any USTA member 18 years of age or older.
For more information about USTA Leagues in Florida visit our League page at www.ustaflorida.com/leagues.
