Teams from Collier County (Marco Island) and Pinellas County (Clearwater) took home trophies at the 2019 USTA Florida Mixed 55 & Over Invitational Championship, held Nov. 15-17, 2019, at the St. Petersburg Tennis Center.
Approximately 180 players and 18 teams took part in the invitational tournament.
The Collier County team (Greater Marco Family YMCA, Marco Island) won the 7.0 division, defeating Brevard County (Fee Ave Courts, Melbourne) 2-1 in the final.
Players on the Collier County team were Reimar Gauch (captain), Brita Swanson, Ramsay Erikson, Susan Nimmo, Karen Lewis, Sam Lewis, Anthony Tarakdjian, Connie Johnson, Mark Waks, Chuck Schmidt, Isabelle Adly, Mark Bunecky, Mary Mastrogiacomo, John Valenti, Roberto Pericoli, and Peggy Chandler. Players on the runner-up Brevard County squad were Carol Whalen (captain), Christopher Carlson, Donald Small, Christine Small, Barry Whalen, Larry Sellers, Patty Sellers, Craig McLachlan, Cheri McLachlan, and Karen Lee.
In the 8.0 division, two Pinellas County teams battled for the championship. The team representing Clearwater (McMullen Tennis Complex) captured the division title with a 5-0 win-loss record in round robin play, edging out returning champs St. Petersburg (St. Pete Tennis Center) with a 4-1 record.
The Clearwater team was comprised of David King (captain), Ethel Murphy, Karen Abrams, Joseph Starnes, Elizabeth Burdick, Patricia Ryan, Mark Nasworthy, Irene Nasworthy, John Holland, Sharon Benson, Roger Bensinger, Brenda Kunkel, Kathleen Stein, Scott Mantell, and Richard Larcomb. On the St. Pete team were Ellen Johnson (captain), Lucy Robertson, David Kenny, Jaclyn Turner, Mony Rodon, Jeffrey Mars, Charlene Knetsch, Bill Bond, Darla Gatesman, Mary Miller, Brian Kenney, Linda Wolf, Jore Alvarez, and Jacqueline Klein.
Several counties entered multiple teams, with other participating teams including Alachua County (300 Club Inc., DB Racquet Club), Duval County (Fleming Island Plantation, Eagle Harbor Tennis, Boone Park Tennis Courts), Escambia County (Pensacola), Lee County (Heritage Palms, Park Meadow Tennis Club), Leon County (Forestmeadows Park), and Marion County (Glenview Champions Tennis Club, Citrus Hills Tennis Club).
Both winning teams have been invited to take part in the Mixed 55 & Over National Invitational, which will be held April 24-26, 2020 at facilities in Vancouver, Wash. and Beaverton, Ore.
For more match results, visit tennislink.usta.com.
