Six Counties Victorious at Tri-Level & Mixed 55 & Over Sectional Championships

USTA Florida hosted a Tri-Level and Mixed Sectional Championship at the USTA National Campus. The event highlighted the incredible talent and spirit within the USTA Florida community, bringing together players of varying levels to compete in Tri-Level and Adult Mixed matches. 

The Tri-Level League, a doubles format that pairs players of differing NTRP levels on teams, offered a unique experience for participants. Teams advanced through local and sectional competitions, with winners earning a coveted bid to the 2024 USTA League Tom Fey Tri-Level National Invitational. 

In addition to Tri-Level play, the championship also featured intense competition in the Mixed 55 & Over division. This format pairs one man and one woman, combining their NTRP ratings to match up against similarly rated opponents. Mixed play adds a unique twist to traditional tennis, showcasing the power of teamwork and complementary skillsets. 

Victorious Tri-Level division teams secured their spot in the Tom Fey Tri-Level National Invitational, scheduled for March 6-10, 2025, at the Barnes Tennis Center and Balboa Tennis Club in San Diego, California. Meanwhile, the winners of the Mixed 55 & Over division earned automatic bids to the Mixed 55 & Over National Invitational, set for March 14-16, 2025, in Scottsdale, Arizona. 

The weekend’s action was a testament to the dedication and passion of USTA Florida players, who left it all on the court while celebrating the game they love. 

Full Results:

Tri-Level Men’s 4.5/4.0/3.5 

Championship: Miami-Dade County (Alper JCC) defeated Broward County (Midtown Athletic Club Weston) 2-1 

      

4.5 Doubles: Alejandro Aller/Antonio Necuze (Miami) d. Pedro Ramirez/Guillermo Torrellas 6-4, 1-6, 1-0 

4.0 Doubles: Enrique Bonifaz/James Lewis (Broward) d. Eli Panell/Santiago Restrepo 6-4, 6-1 

3.5 Doubles: Thomas Tamayo/Tomas Matamoros (Mami) d. Peter Vazquez/Mel Tejada 7-5, 7-6 

Miami-Dade County Season Roster: Schubert Sengupta (Captain), Eli Panell, Sebastian Martinezchristensen, Andres Lozano, Alejandro Aller, Federico Molinari, Luis Felipe Fuenmayor, Antonio Necuze, Mel Tejada, Thomas Tamayo, Ivan E Paez C, Jose Mejia, Daniel Oropeza, Santiago Restrepo, Tomas Matamoros, Hector Paez 

Tri-Level Women’s 4.5/4.0/3.5 

Championship: Alachua County (DB Racquet Club) defeated Duval County (Charles J. Williams YMCA) 2-1 

      

4.5 Doubles: Kelly Banes/Emily Dace (Alachua) d. Jill Saig/Meredith Frisch 7-6, 1-6, 1-0 

4.0 Doubles: Stephanie Vihlen/Ellen Dyal (Duval) d. Wheeler Crawford/Rachel Rodriguez 6-4, 6-3 

3.5 Doubles: Elizabeth Dickerson/Rhoda Wilburn (Alachua) d. Aura Bernal/Ali Hall 6-4, 6-4 

Alachua County Season Roster: Rachel Rodriguez (Captain), Kelly Banes, Samantha Penhale, Elizabeth Dickerson, Megan Molyneux, Rhoda Wilburn, Margot Maurer, Tara Johnson, Wheeler Crawford, Jennifer Hitchcock, Emily Dace 

Tri-Level Men’s 5.0/4.5/4.0 

Results: Miami-Dade County (Doral Park Country Club) finished in first place of the round robin with a record of 3-1 and a game winning percentage of 58.62%. Broward County (Parkland Tennis Center) finished in second place with a record of 3-1 and a game winning percentage of 55.51%. 

  

Miami-Dade County Season Roster: Sebastian Martinez Christensen (Captain), Eli Panell, Alejandro Aller, Luis Felipe Fuenmayor, Santiago Restrepo, Carlos Manuel Parra-Alvarez, Eduardo Castillob, Antonio Necuze, Andres Lozano, Daniel Oropeza, Jose Mejia, Tom Buetikofer, Hiren Bhatt, Nicolas Malkind 

Tri-Level Women’s 5.0/4.5/4.0 

Championship: Hillsborough County (HCC Tennis Complex) defeated Duval County (Charles J. Williams YMCA) 3-0 

      

4.5 Doubles: Natalie Paiva/Elizabeth Baldwin (Hills) d. Brooke Stachler/Cary MacRae 6-3, 6-3 

4.0 Doubles: Maki Smith/Elizabeth Rodgers (Hills) d. Cynthia McGehee/Melissa Glasgow 6-4, 6-3 

3.5 Doubles: Kammie Bilardello/Angie Jones (Hills) d. Stephanie Vihlen/Kristen Surface 7-6, 6-0 

Hillsborough County Season Roster: Farheen Aldeen (Captain), Elizabeth Baldwin, Beatrice Few, Christina Brugger, Katrina Duquemin, Rikke Kemp, Maki Smith, Angie Jones, Kammie Bilardello, Natalie Paiva, Lisa Ross, Elizabeth Rodgers, Merissa Rock, Eva Sambrano 

Mixed 55 & Over 7.0 

Championship: Orange County (Red Bug Lake Park) defeated Duval County (Eagle Landing) 2-1 

      

No. 1 Doubles: Pam Fritz/Tim Fritz (Duval) d. Rob Haben/Alida Astudillo 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 

No. 2 Doubles: Marvin Yee/Silvia Landgraf (Orange) d. Chau Do/Van Le 6-2, 6-0 

No. 3 Doubles: Judith Melendez/Gary Graham (Orange) d. Allen Foley/Patsy Reynolds 7-6, 2-6, 1-0 

Orange County Season Roster: Judith Melendez (Captain), Jaqueline Pelliccia, David Mayorca, Bing Tien, Gary Graham, Silvia Landgraf, Serena Jin, Rob Haben, Marvin Yee, Romeo Bautista, Deidre Parker, Alida Astudillo, Pedro Hernandez 

Mixed 55 & Over 9.0 

Results: Hillsborough County (HCC Tennis Complex) finished in first place in the round robin with a record of 2-1. Broward County (Golden Isles Tennis Center) finished in second place with a record of 1-2. 

      

Hillsborough County Season Roster: Chris New (Captain), Gail Gibson, Chris Canfield, Chris New, Karen Olson, Craig Hajdich, Margaret Roset, Dianne Albina, Ignacio Molina, Joan Simmons, Karen Blount