Talent Thrives at Combo 18 & Over 5.5/7.5/9.5 Sectional Championships

USTA Florida officially closed out its 2022 Sectional Season with the Combo 18 & Over 5.5/7.5/9.5 Sectional Championship on February 11 through the 13. 

For those that may not know, the Combo division adds a twist to how tennis is played. Each doubles pair must be within 0.5 of their NTRP ratings, and make sure, when added, it doesn’t exceed the level in which they have chosen to compete in. 

This Sectional Championship closed out the 2022 season.

For example, in the 9.5 division, you can see a 5.0 player team up with a 4.5 player. This creates a different dynamic to the game and can be very fun to play. 

This past weekend saw over 40 teams from across the state battle it out in three different divisions. The energy was electric at the USTA National Campus, with tennis spirit consuming the atmosphere.  

Alachua County was well represented for both men and women as teams from that area were able to win the two divisions (Men’s 5.5 & Women’s 7.5) and finish runner-up in another (Women’s 5.5). 

Other counties that saw themselves lifting trophies this weekend included Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, and Orange. You can check out the full results below.  

Alachua County found a lot of success this weekend.

Final Results: 

Combo 18 & Over 5.5 Men 

Championship: Alachua County (Westside) defeated Marion County (Fort King Tennis Center) in round robin play 

Alachua County Season Roster: Ehsan Amini (Captain), Don Monk, Aaron Kelley, David Cianci, Sean Vahdat, Alexander Johnson, Derek Farnsworth, Michael Slater, Gonzalo Suarez, Richard Madolid, Michael Pierri, Pietro Bianchi, Stefan Gerber, Donovan Bailey, Morteza Alipanah, Farshad Kamalinejad 

Combo 18 & Over 5.5 Women 

Championship: Miami-Dade County (Riviera Preparatory School) defeated Alachua County (Westside) 2-1 

No. 1 Doubles: Emily Burrows/Valerie Berrin (Miami) d. Sophie Marcoux/Judith Bertran 6-4, 6-1 

No. 2 Doubles: Kristin Anderson/Deanna Etzold (Miami) d. Julie Sager/Eslie Nero 7-5, 6-4 

No.3 Doubles: Melissa Justis/Jenny Neelands (Alachua) d. Bertha Lowell/Lauren Schneider 5-7, 6-3, 1-0 

Miami-Dade County Season Roster: Bobbie Fetherston (Captain), Kristin Anderson, Maritza Marchand, Valerie Berrin, Jessica Patino, Emily Burrows, Daniella Reynolds, Randi Sandler, Lauren Schneider, Barbara Berg, Amy Tolman, Deanna Etzold, Rina Saborio, Nathalia Blanco, Bertha Lowell, Claudia Donnelly, Katiria Peguero, Ileana Guzman 

Combo 18 & Over 7.5 Men 

Championship: Hillsborough County (HCC Tennis Complex) d. Broward County (Midtown Athletic Club) 2-1 

No. 1 Doubles: Enrique Escobar/Michael Gauthier (Hills) d. Manuel Arismendy/Ronald Coletto 6-4, 6-3 

No. 2 Doubles: Jorge Prado/Javier Gomez (Broward) d. Ralph Razon/Hugo Rodriguez 7-5, 1-3 RET. 

No.3 Doubles: Robert Miller/James Price (Hills) d. Juan Pablo Rincon/Alejandro Pernias 6-2, 6-2 

Hillsborough County Season Roster: James Schneider (Captain), Enrique Escobar, Erik Breitenbach, Joseph Harrington, Griff McGoldrick, Hugo Rodriguez, Andre Estrada, Michael Gauthier, David Ponraj, James Price, Robert Miller, Michael Detsis, Ralph Razon

Combo 18 & Over 7.5 Women 

Championship: Alachua County (DB Racquet Club) d. Marion County (Country Club of Ocala) 3-0 

No. 1 Doubles: Heather Gibson/Megan Molyneux (Alachua) d. Eileen Lombardo/Beth Riendeau 6-3, 6-3 

No. 2 Doubles: Kelly Banes/Wheeler Crawford (Alachua) d. Jennifer Boyd/Marisa Farrel 6-2, 6-3 

No.3 Doubles: Haile Ratliff/Tara Edelstein (Alachua) d. Lisa Steed/Dina Sapienza 6-4, 6-1 

County Season Roster: Megan Molyneux (Captain), Tara Bromirski (Captain), Aubrey Hall, Tara Edelstein, Heather Gibson, Stacey Anderson, Kelly Banes, Haile Ratliff, Lynn Godwin, Wheeler Crawford, Debbie McMillan, Emily Dace, Rachel Rodriguez, Hadleigh Green 

Combo 18 & Over 9.5 Women 

Championship: Orange County (Winter Park Tennis Center) defeated Broward County (Lauderdale Tennis Club) in round robin play 

Orange County Season Roster: Lisa Becket (Captain), Bryn Auld, Lindsay Puder, Anne-Marie Miller, Christine Alfert, Kristine Dionne, Stacey Williams, JoAnn Mokris, Sarah Harkins, Stacy Girdley, Adelaide Wood, Mimi Tran, Kerry Sproles 

If you are interested in signing up for USTA Florida Adult Leagues, or specifically Combo play, click here to get more information. Adult League Sectional Championship will pick up again in April, you can view the full 2023 schedule here.