October 6th, 2015
Gainesville, Ocala, Sarasota Win at USTA Florida Mixed 18 & Over League Tennis Sectionals
Teams from Alachua County (Westside Park, Gainesville), Marion County (Fort King Tennis Center, Ocala), and Sarasota/Manatee counties (Payne Park, Sarasota) will represent the USTA Florida Section at USTA League Nationals after capturing titles over the weekend at the 2015 USTA Florida Mixed 18 & Over 2.5/7.0/9.0 League Sectional Championships, held Oct. 2-4 at the Florida Tennis Center in Daytona Beach.
Marion County and Ocala’s Fort King Tennis Center almost claimed two of the three titles but was forced to settle for second place in the 2.5 division. Gainesville in that final stopped a run of five straight 2.5 division titles for Marion County.
The event drew the top regional winners from throughout Florida in the 2.5, 7.0, and 9.0 USTA League Mixed 18 & Over divisions. The teams, which represented various clubs, parks, recreational departments and organizations, finished at the top of their local leagues.
The three division champions will next represent the USTA Florida Section at the 2015 USTA League Mixed 18 & Over 2.5, 7.0 & 9.0 National Championships on Nov. 13-15 at the Hilton El Conquistador Resort in Tucson, Ariz.
Division finals:
Mixed 18 & Over 9.0 Division
Final: Sarasota/Manatee counties (Payne Park, Sarasota) d. Lee/Charlotte counties (Park Meadow Tennis Center, Ft. Myers) 2-1
Championship Match Results:
No. 1 Doubles: Kristina Von Kessel/Michael Karka (S/M) d. Oliver Stenger/Belinda Dufrene 6-2, 6-0
No. 2 Doubles: Laurie Greenlaw/Robert Greenlaw (L/C) d. Montana Moore/Brock Gratton 6-4, 6-4
No. 3 Doubles: Jennifer Fiers/Rene Muzquiz (S/M) d. Samuel Desimone/Erica Cossairt 4-6, 7-6, 1-0 (super-tiebreaker)
Sarasota/Manatee Season Roster: Barbara Lancer (captain), Rene Muzquiz, Scott Schuhriemen, Steven Soberts, Michael Karka, Dean Dancer, Kristina Von Kessel, Jennifer Bright, Kelly Dancer, Dale Slimick, Paul Jaworski, Brock Gratton, Tanya Ferris, Brandon Hilyer, Jennifer Fiers, Montana Moore, Josh Melton, Jennifer Chessler
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Mixed 18 & Over 7.0 Division
Final: Marion County (Fort King Tennis Center, Ocala) d. Duval County (Boone Park, Jacksonville) 2-1
Championship Match Results:
No. 1 Doubles: Austin Darden/Katlyn McNeal (Marion) d. Hayley House/Stephen Bennett 6-1, 6-3
No. 2 Doubles: Katie Altom/Brett Winney (Duval) d. Alan MacMurray/Wendy MacMurray 6-3, 6-1
No. 3 Doubles: John Fitzpatrick/Breanna McNeal (Marion) d. Elizabeth Donnelly/Sean Kelly 6-4, 6-0
Marion Season Roster: Alan MacMurray (captain), John Fitzpatrick, Jorge Nevarez, Paul Steinberg, Catherine Fitzpatrick, Austin Darden, Leigh Steinberg, John Collins, Edward Aulwes, Mauro Porcelli, Katlyn McNeal, Michelle Knox, Karin Dean, Breanna McNeal, Nitin Bala, Wendy MacMurray, Amy Gibboney, Sean Walton, Yasmine Okonkwo
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Mixed 18 & Over 2.5 Division
Final: Alachua County (Westside Park, Gainesville) finished ahead of Marion County (Fort King Tennis Center, Ocala) 3-0 to 0-3 in round robin play
Alachua Season Roster: Colleen Anderson, Mari Ann Rivera, William Charles Wright, Rick Melzer, Lenny Kennedy, Marc Schnoll, Vinata Vedam-Mai, Raksha Ramkissoon, Charles Koval, Dee Dee Scharf, Richard German Valenzuela
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2015 USTA FLORIDA ADULT LEAGUE
SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE LEADERS
Pinellas County remains in the top spot on the leaderboard for USTA Florida League Sectionals titles thus far in 2015, with Broward and Duval counties moving into a second-place tie (through Oct. 4):
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+
2T. Broward County (4) — 55 & Over W4.5, 18 & Over W4.0 & M5.0+, 18 & Over W4.5
2T. Duval County (4) — 65 & Over W6.0, 55 & Over W4.0, 55 & Over M3.5, 18 & Over W2.5
4T. Hillsborough County (3) — 55 & Over M4.0, 40 & Over W4.5+, 18 & Over W5.0+
4T. Marion County (3) — 40 & Over W3.0, 18 & Over M2.5, 18 & Over X7.0
4T. Miami-Dade County (3) — 40 & Over M4.0, 18 & Over M4.0, 18 & Over M4.5
4T. Orange/Seminole counties (3) — Mixed 40 & Over 7.0, 18 & Over W3.0, 18 & Over W3.5
8T. Escambia County (2) — Mixed 40 & Over 8.0, 40 & Over W3.5
8T. Indian River/Martin/St. Lucie counties (2) — 65 & Over W7.0, 55 & Over W3.5
8T. Leon County (2) — 40 & Over M3.0, 18 & Over M3.5
8T. Sarasota/Manatee counties (2) — 55 & Over M4.5, 18 & Over X9.0
8T. Volusia/Flagler counties (2) — Mixed 40 & Over 6.0, 18 & Over M3.0
13T. Alachua County (1) — 18 & Over X2.5
13T. Collier County (1) — 55 & Over W3.0
13T. Lee/Charlotte counties (1) — 65 & Over M7.0
For more tournament information go to www.ustaflorida.com/event/2015-mixed-18-2-57-09-0-league-sectional-championships/.
