League Tennis News
6.5 Loudoun Mixed Nuts Play All 17 Teammates at Combo Mixed Districts
6.5 Loudoun Mixed Nuts Back row (l-r): Rob Chambers, Jared Bourgeois, Steve Hafner, Rob Pearson; Front row (l-r): Jen Pearson, Ram Geddada, Prem Chindepalli, Missy Warner, Cindy Clingman, Jen Hunter, Kristen Roberts, Hannah Hafner. Not pictured: Joe Lee, Ardavan Mesbahi, Barb Tobler, Debi Strauch, Rich Johnson, Rachel Ashley, Karen Barattino.
Missy Warner and Kristen Roberts wanted to experience Boar’s Head Combo Mixed Districts because they had heard what a wonderful facility it was and how fun it was to play there. They recruited 20 seasoned players on their 6.5 team, Mixed Nuts, and explained to the players that the goal was to get to Boar’s Head but that we would try to play everyone an even number of matches. During the season, everyone on the team played at least 3 matches (except 1 injured person who played 2) and a few people played more than 3 due to availability. It was hard to try to give everyone an equal number of matches, but the end result was a 12-0 record. When it came time for Districts at Boar’s Head in January, the captains told everyone that if you come you will get to play a match. Missy asked her coaches for advice regarding guaranteeing matches for so many people and was told that it couldn’t be done. If you want to win, you play your top players because that is how people win Districts. Seventeen out of the twenty people came to play. Mixed Nuts had the smaller flight with only three matches to play so it was definitely a struggle to play seventeen people in only eighteen available match spaces. In addition, five of the teammates were playing 7.5, and the matches overlapped so making certain that everyone got a match took a great deal of organizing, compromising and working with captains of other 7.5 teams in order for Missy and Kristen to keep their promise that everyone play a match. They knew they had a strong team - 10 out of the 20 people moved to a higher USTA rating at the end of November. Mixed Nuts had one National player from the previous year and five ECHO tournament winners and runner-ups from previous years. In the middle of October, the team had two 3.0 women go to Nationals and finish third. At the end of October, they had one senior 3.0 woman go to Nationals and finish first. In November, five 7.0 players (two women, three men) went to Nationals also. Mixed Nuts played all seventeen people and became the Virginia 6.5 state champions for Combo Mixed Doubles. One opponent in the finals stated that from reading the roster she gave up trying to identify the strong people because the roster was so deep and all the players played an equal number of matches. Mixed Nuts finished the season 15-1. - Missy Warner, co-captain
USTA/VA says congrats to Mixed Nuts and thank you for setting a great example as captains and a TEAM. Best of luck next year! |
2011 Combo Mixed District Championships
6.5 Loudoun Mixed Nuts Back row (l-r): Rob Chambers, Jared Bourgeois, Steve Hafner, Geoff Clingman, Robbe Pearson; Front row (l-r): Jen Pearson, Ram Geddada, Prem Chindepalli, Missy Warner, Cindy Clingman, Jen Hunter, Kristen Roberts, Hasina Hafner. Not pictured: Joe Lee, Ardavan Mesbahi, Barb Tobler, Debi Strauch, Rick Johnson, Rachel Ashley, Karen Barattino.
7.5 Belmont Ace Kickers Back row (l-r): Ho Kim, Stu Doudy, Mike Piland, Dave Burley; Front row (l-r): MJ Steinmetz, Debbie Dowdy, Maya Wilder, Anne Hadden. Not pictured: Ken Starr, Mari Fahrbach.
8.5 NOVA High Rollers 8+5 Back row (l-r): Avi Parida, Katie Miglin, Laura Smith, Jon Hill, Randy DeGuzman; Front row (l-r); Paul Smith, Wendy Burnley, Tony Acosta,
9.5 NOVA High Rollers Back row (l-r): Paul Smith, Randy DeGuzman, John Mook, Matt Stillwagon, Vinnie Khera; Front row (l-r): Alanna Broderick, Caryn Winkler, Lju Pavlov, Jess Keener.
USTA Official Bob Hyatt prepares teams to go on court...
...on court action!
USTA/VA staff Anna Manilla (right) & intern Kara Fitzgibbon (left) keep the tournament desk running smoothly! 2011 Singles District Championships
3.0 Women Winners: NOVA 40-Lovers Back: Jeanne Bailey – Capt., Michelle Lucas, Julia Kurtz; Front: Suzanne Pitkin, Iko Diamond
3.5 Women Winners: Loudoun Go Divas! Left to right: Vi Romans-Murray, Libby Harman, Kristen Roberts, Debi Strauch, Captain. Not shown: Terry Cocozza, Farah Hasan, & Cindy Clingman
4.0 Women Winners: Virginia Beach Acers Left to right: Mike Hayes (co-captain), Lesley Burgess, Wendy Earl, Bridgett King, Whitney Stevens, Carol Branch, Casi Cottrell, & Alfredo Ginco (co-captain)
3.0 Men Winners: Richmond Belmont Beasts Left to right: Dhanaji Thorat ("DJ"), Kris Sampson, Doug Morgan, Tom Charles, Yalier Fuster ("Rico")
3.5 Men Winners: NOVA Bad 10S Left to right: Steve Grant, Michael Marint, Leigh Yu, Bill Biggs, Captain
4.0 Men Winners: Richmond TennisBums Left to right: Kyle Russell, Dave Burley, James Atchison, Lee Kelly, Captain
4.5 Men Winners: NOVA Team Carley Left to right: Joe Cassady, Ken Sharp, Scot Washow, Bill Biggs, Mike Carley, Captain USTA/MAS League Tennis First....
As you watch Carole Green’s 3.5 USTA league team in Fredericksburg warm up, you notice something quickly with the number one doubles team of Jillana “Mel” Curry and Henrietta Jolley - Mel Curry is in a wheelchair. In a first for USTA League tennis not only in Virginia, but in the Mid-Atlantic section, a wheelchair player is taking part in an able-bodied league. During the pre-match handshake, Curry explains to her opponents the only rule difference they should be aware of: wheelchair players are allowed two bounces instead of the usual one to return the ball. Curry has been playing competitive tennis since her early 20s. Playing in a variety of local leagues and tournaments, her passion and joy for the sport was on display every time she walked onto the court. In 2003, when a clot forced amputation of her left leg above the knee, the ability to play the sport she loves appeared to be over. However, during her rehabilitation, she read an article about wheelchair tennis, and thanks to local contacts, she was introduced to Rob Boyd, Director of the disAbility Resource Center at that time. Starting out in a rugby chair, Rob taught her the fundamentals of wheelchair tennis and her passion for the sport was reborn. Since playing in her first wheelchair tournament in Boca Raton, FL in 2006, Curry has played tournaments in ten states and the District of Columbia. Along the way, she has collected several championships in both singles and doubles. Most recently, she was the champion of her division in the 2010 Troung Grand Prix, a wheelchair circuit created by USTA/Virginia Tennis and sponsored by the Troung Rehabilitation Center in Fredericksburg, VA. This circuit includes wheelchair tournaments in Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina. Though she found success as a wheelchair tournament player, Curry missed the camaraderie of playing on a USTA league team. After happening upon an article on Curt Bender, a wheelchair player from Michigan who helped his team make it to the State finals, an idea sparked for Curry. Mentioning her desire to a group of friends, she was invited to join a team by Fredericksburg USTA 3.5 League Captain, Carole Green. Having played in the same league prior to Curry losing her leg, Green knew of the excitement and passion that Curry would bring. “I’d rather be her partner than her opponent”, Green added. As her first USTA league match as a wheelchair player approached, Curry and her teammates were excited about her returning to league play; and as the match began, it was easy to forget that Curry was in a wheelchair. Curry’s love of the sport led to her determination to play again and now she’s helping to pass that along to other wheelchair players. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the USTA/Virginia Wheelchair Tennis Committee and has assisted in several wheelchair and able-bodied clinics across the state. Most recently, she took part in an Operation WOW (Wellness Opportunities for Warriors) event, a joint effort by USTA/Virginia Tennis, the Fairfax County Parks & Recreation Department and the US Paralympic Military Program. She continues to assist with the Wounded Warriors program whenever possible. Curry summed up her feelings on the game she loves saying, “This is such a blessing in my life and I truly believe this was the path my life was supposed to take”. Combo Mixed District Winners
CHAMPIONSHIPS The 2010/2011 USTA/VA Combo Mixed District Championships were held Friday, January 7th through Sunday, January 9th, 2011 at Boar's Head Sports Club in Charlottesville. Here are the winners: 6.5 Richmond MAC-Scheps
Back row (l-r): Glen Riley, Bill Stephens, Patrick Bray, JD Thurman; Front row (l-r): Jennifer Scheps (Captain), Valerie Stephens, Beth Overacre, Sandra Mason; Not pictured: Roe DiGiovanni, Kirtsin Voss, Randy Pappert, Bill Skipwith, Michaele Bergan, Ed Fraley.
7.5 NOVA High Rollers 7+5
Left to right: Mark Horton, Bev Harmon, Tony Acosta (Captain), Charlene Parker, Shahab Noori, Sabrina Liao, Terry Lederer, Angel Santiago, Lindsey Bailey and Rob Tolbert. Not pictured: Denny Meelarp, Kimberly Bauer-Sharpley, Sylvia Okala, Michael Okala, Kim Speller, David Norris, Missy Topp.
8.5 NOVA Tap Dat Ace
Left-right: Karine Vincent, Ryan Moss, Joe McKenney, Ellen Wallendjack, Greg Chambers (Captain), Sam Lieber, Amanda Woods, Will Wong, Florian Hafner, Hillary Kuker, Ele Pratt. Not pictured: Eve Helmer, Doug Harris, Jason Wright, Ljudmila Pavlov, Katie Sloper, Djerdj Matkovic, Brittany Barsky, and Maraya Pratt.
9.5 NOVA Team 2
Captain, Vinnie Khera (far right)
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