July 20th, 2015
Pinellas County Continues Run at USTA Florida 40 & Over 3.5/4.5+ League Sectionals Tennis
Pinellas County (Palm Harbor and St. Petersburg) won two titles, with Escambia County (Gulf Breeze) and Hillsborough County (Tampa) also victorious during the 2015 USTA Florida Adult 40 & Over 3.5/4.5+ League Sectional Championships, held July 17-19 at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, and at the Florida Tennis Center in Daytona Beach.
The four teams will next represent the USTA Florida Section in their respective 3.5 and 4.5+ divisions at USTA League Nationals in October.
Three Orange/Seminole county teams — Waterford Lakes Recreation Center in Orlando, Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, and the Orlando Tennis Center — teamed to post a heartbreaking 0-3 record in finals over the weekend, all by 3-2 match scores.
The Hillsborough County 40 & Over Women’s 4.5+ team from Harbour Island Athletic Center in Tampa earned their USTA Florida Sectionals title by the slimmest of margins, defeating Orange/Seminole counties (Sanlando Park, Altamonte Springs) 3-2 in a match decided by three super-tiebreaks.
Florida 3.5 men’s and women’s champions advance to the 2015 USTA League Adult 40 & Over 3.5 National Championships on Oct. 23-25 in Tucson, Ariz.
The Florida 4.5+ men’s and women’s champions advance to the 2015 USTA League Adult 40 & Over 4.5+ National Championships on Oct. 23-25 in Indian Wells, Calif.
Championship Finals:
40 & Over Women’s 3.5
Final: Escambia County (The Club II, Gulf Breeze) d. Orange/Seminole counties (Waterford Lakes Recreation Center, Orlando) 3-2
Championship Match Results:
No. 1 Singles: Anna Kreis (Escambia) d. Gale Poleschuk 6-1, 6-2
No. 2 Singles: Charlene Dahlberg (O/S) d. Ann Scott 6-0, 6-0
No. 1 Doubles: Cynthia Hart/Dawn Marino (Escambia) d. Michele Walker/Shannan Stegman 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 Doubles: Renee Baggett/Ingrid Hewette (Escambia) d. Daisy Estoesta/Michelle Borisenko 6-3, 6-2
No. 3 Doubles: Tina Mundelein/Janet Franklin (O/S) d. Jeanie Ephron/Jureda Lambert 3-6, 7-5, 1-0 (super-tiebreak)
Escambia County Season Roster: Renee Baggett (captain), Jennifer Gilroy, Kerry Powell, Cynthia Hart, Jeanie Ephron, Jureda Lambert, Ann Scott, Angela Stewart, Ingrid Hewette, Dawn Marino, Anna Kreis, Shana Thomas
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40 & Over Men’s 3.5
Final: Pinellas County (Innisbrook, Palm Harbor) d. Duval County (Boone Park, Jacksonville) 4-1
Championship Match Results:
No. 1 Singles: Richard Rivas (Duval) d. Mark Eisner 6-4, 7-5
No. 2 Singles: Dean Smith (Pinellas) d. Fernando Corretjer 6-1, 6-4
No. 1 Doubles: Arthur Burns/David Slater (Pinellas) d. George Bowles/Paul Valliere 7-5, 6-2
No. 2 Doubles: John Christison/Christopher Wyman (Pinellas) d. Jeffrey Ferguson/Stephen Bennett 6-3, 7-6
No. 3 Doubles: Richard Frizalone/Glenn Benjamin (Pinellas) d. Tod Eikner/Erik Berger 0-6, 6-4, 1-0 (super-tiebreak)
Pinellas County Season Roster: Richard Frizalone (captain), Arthur Burns, Malcolm Slive, Marcus Griffin, Dean Smith, John Christison, David Felix, John Turk, Mark Eisner, Glenn Benjamin, Mark Stys, David Slater, Luis Oliart, Christopher Wyman, Richard Waddick
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40 & Over Women’s 4.5+
Final: Hillsborough County (Harbour Island Athletic Center, Tampa) d. Orange/Seminole counties (Sanlando Park, Altamonte Springs) 3-2
Championship Match Results:
No. 1 Singles: Lisa Balsera (Hillsborough) d. Stacey Williams 6-3, 3-6, 1-0 (super-tiebreak)
No. 2 Singles: Lisa Haidermota (Hillsborough) d. Carolina Wallis-Crespo 6-3, 6-2
No. 1 Doubles: Brenda Sturm/Kim Cashman-King (Hillsborough) d. Deborah Ballerino/Ligia Bottinelli 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 Doubles: Anna Svaetichin/Christina Ninci (O/S) d. Allegra Campos/Sharon Benson 6-4, 6-7, 1-0 (super-tiebreak)
No. 3 Doubles: Christine Alfert/Stacy Girdley (O/S) d. Elizabeth Street/Chris Bartos 3-6, 7-6, 1-0 (super-tiebreak)
Hillsborough County Season Roster: Chris Bartos (captain), Sharon Benson, Allegra Campos, Margaret Roset, Brenda Sturm, Iris Kraft, Kim Cashman-King, Elizabeth Street, Lisa Balsera, Lisa Haidermota, Stephanie Means, Tami Florin
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40 & Over Men’s 4.5+
Final: Pinellas County (St. Pete Tennis Center) d. Orange/Seminole counties (Orlando Tennis Center) 3-2
Championship Match Results:
No. 1 Singles: Richard Schmidt (O/S) d. Fernando Gonzalez 6-2, 6-2
No. 2 Singles: Danny Chang (O/S) d. Ignacio Molina 6-4, 6-3
No. 1 Doubles: Drew Wager/Rhett Rollyson (Pinellas) d. John Reich/Stuart Saiki 6-3, 7-6
No. 2 Doubles: Michael Erbe/Craig Hajdich (Pinellas) d. Christopher Chaney/Edward McNeill 6-4, 6-3
No. 3 Doubles: Alejandro Mucino/Richard Larcomb (Pinellas) d. Tim Lynch/Scott Stewart 7-6, 6-3
Pinellas County Season Roster: Josh Melton (captain), Michael Rothberg, Randall Meisner, Alejandro Mucino, Ronald Wiser, Ignacio Molina, David King, Chris Canfield, William McMahon, Motez Robinson, Craig Hajdich, Richard Larcomb, Fernando Gonzalez, Rhett Rollyson, Peter Vandenboom, Drew Wager, James Smiechewicz, Michael Erbe, Chris Thomas
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Pinellas County further secured its top spot on the leaderboard for USTA Florida League Sectionals titles thus far in 2015 (through July 20):
2015 USTA FLORIDA ADULT LEAGUE
SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE LEADERS
1. Pinellas County (6 titles) — 65 & Over M8.0, W8.0, Mixed 40 & Over 9.0, 40 & Over W4.0, 40 & Over M3.5, 40 & Over M4.5+
2. Duval County (3) — 65 & Over W6.0, 55 & Over W4.0, 55 & Over M3.5
3T. Escambia County (2) — Mixed 40 & Over 8.0, 40 & Over W3.5
3T. Hillsborough County (2) — 55 & Over M4.0, 40 & Over W4.5+
3T. Indian River/Martin/St. Lucie counties (2) — 65 & Over W7.0, 55 & Over W3.5
6T. Broward County (1) — 55 & Over W4.5
6T. Collier County (1) — 55 & Over W3.0
6T. Lee/Charlotte counties (1) — 65 & Over M7.0
6T. Leon County (1) — 40 & Over M3.0
6T. Marion County (1) — 40 & Over W3.0
6T. Orange/Seminole counties (1) — Mixed 40 & Over 7.0
6T. Sarasota County (1) — 55 & Over M4.5
6T. South Miami-Dade (1) — 40 & Over M4.0
6T. Volusia/Flagler counties (1) — Mixed 40 & Over 6.0
The 4.5+ level allows up to two 5.0-rated players on a roster, where the players must compete in the No. 1 singles or No. 1 doubles positions. The NTRP (National Tennis Rating Program) scale progresses from 2.5 (beginner) to 5.0 (advanced) for USTA Florida League championship events. For more information on NTRP levels go to www.usta.com/Adult-Tennis/USTA-League/Information/About_NTRP.
For more info visit www.USTAFlorida.com/Leagues.
