2 Florida Teams Runner-Up at USTA Mixed 18 & Over League Tennis Nationals

Two teams representing the USTA Florida Section finished runner-up and one team finished in third place last weekend when the USTA League Mixed 18 & Over National Championships were held on Nov. 9-11 at the Copeland-Cox Tennis Center in Mobile, Ala.

The Mixed 18 & Over 6.0 team from Broward County (Midtown Athletic Club, Weston) was edged 2-1 in the championship match by the team from USTA Caribbean (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico).

November 11, 2018 – The Florida section came in second place in the Mixed 18 & Over 6.0 League National Championship at the Mobile Tennis Center in Mobile, Alabama. (Left to right) Front: Lucy Bastidas, Ismael Rosales, Lili Gonzalez, Yenny Herrera, Carlos Alesson, Maria Escarra, Lissette Loddo; Back: Reinaldo Marquez, Ricardo Uliambre, Juan Rios, Maria Suarez, Jose Bravo

Earlier in the day the Weston team defeated a team from USTA Texas (Amarillo) 2-1 in the semifinals. They reached the semifinals by winning their round robin group. Their season roster was comprised of Lili Gonzalez (captain), Lucy Bastidas, Carlos Alesson, Ricardo Uliambre, Juan Rios, Yenny Herrera, Jose Luis Bravo, Maria Escarra, Lissette Loddo, Ana Ortiz, Reinaldo Marquez, Marilyn Zaragoza, Jorge Alejandro Romo, and Maria Suarez.

The Mixed 18 & Over 10.0 team from Hillsborough County (MacFarland Park, Tampa) was also edged 2-1 in their final, falling to the USTA Southern Section (Sandy Springs, Ga.).

November 11, 2018 – The Florida section came in second place in the Mixed 18 & Over 10.0 League National Championship at the Mobile Tennis Center in Mobile, Alabama. (left to right) Front: Lisa Balsera, Erin Bryce, Jamie Mckibban, Andrea Lord, Jessica Sucupira; Back: Chris Allen, Aly Peterson, Richard Sobieray, James Bryce, Jonathas Sucupira

Earlier in the day the Tampa team defeated a team from the USTA Midwest Section (Southfield, Mich.) 2-1 in the semifinals. They reached the semifinals by winning their round robin group. Their season roster was comprised of Lisa Balsera (captain), Jessica Sucupira, James Bryce, Pascal Collard, Jonathas Sucupira, Richard Sobieray, Jamie Mckibban, Erin Bryce, Aly Peterson, Gigi Fernandez, Andrea Lord, and Amit Taggar.

Winning a 3rd/4th place playoff to finish in third place was the Florida Mixed 18 & Over 8.0 team from Okaloosa County (Bluewater Bay, Niceville). In the playoff round they defeated the USTA New England Section (Weymouth, Mass.) 2-1.

November 11, 2018 – The Florida section came in third place in the Mixed 18 & Over 8.0 League National Championship at the Mobile Tennis Center in Mobile, Alabama.

In the semifinals the Niceville squad lost 2-1 to USTA Texas (Amarillo), which in the final lost to USTA Missouri Valley (Omaha, Neb.) 3-0. The Niceville season roster was comprised of Lubomir Kaderjak (captain), Christopher Poate, Kati Hill, Jenna Kafferly, Michele Poate, Gary Bertoldo, Van Hughes, Antonia Poate, Ernesto Gonzalez, Michael Grim, McKenna Mills, Natalie Vonhilsheimer, Matt Kirkham, and Akiko Ichimasa.

The Florida Mixed 18 & Over teams qualified for nationals by winning their respective sectionals championships in October.

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 League or the USTA, visit www.usta.com.

To find a league in Florida go to www.ustaflorida.com/leagues.