Tampa Blog: Partnerships Bring Tennis to Special Olympics, More

Special Olympics Partnership in Pinellas County

The Suncoast Tennis Foundation has teamed with the City of Clearwater to provide tennis training to athletes registered in the Pinellas County Special Olympics.
Last month Florida’s Director of Tennis Development for Special Olympics and USPTA Master Professional Howard Chodak led training for interested volunteers to prepare to be coaches in tennis for Special Olympics.
Lori Burdell, recreation programmer for Clearwater and a Suncoast Tennis Foundation board member, is leading a series of six weekly training sessions at the Henry L. McMullen Tennis Complex for the athletes and is joined by volunteer coaches Debbie Hobbs, Dee Dolson and Nancy Morgan.

In all, 13 sports are offered in Special Olympics during the year. The tennis season runs Jan.-May culminating with the Senior Olympic State Games scheduled May 20-22 at Disney’s ESPN.

To learn more, visit www.specialolympicsflorida.org.

Ultimate Tennis Rounds Up Its 25th Season

The Ultimate Tennis flex league closed out its 25th season with the Fall Playoffs held at Countryside Country Club. There, seven women’s singles champions and 12 men’s were determined.

Among the women winners was Brandy Mickey, who in five seasons of play has won four times, including 2.5, 3.0, 3.5- and 3.5.

Joining Mickey in the women’s winner circle were Sophea Danh in 5.0, Jennifer Byer 4.5, Karen Bates 4.0, Eleni Larcombe 3.5-, Louise Tedesco 3.0 and Michelle Tipton 2.5.

Leading the men’s winners was Jonathas Sucupira in the top division 6.0, followed by Greg Hilbert 6.0-, Brian McGonagill 5.5, Luthfur Miah 5.0, Mike Bargstadt 4.5, Vong Keovongsa 4.5-, Ron March 4.0, Brian Hartz 4.0-, Kiran Surisetti 3.5, Jed Matricaria 3.5-, Michael Hambrick 3.0 and Michael Mele 2.5.

The 2016 Winter (Adult doubles and Junior singles) and Spring (Adult singles & doubles, Senior doubles & Mixed doubles) seasons have begun. Log on to www.ultimatetennis.com for specific details.

Good Life Games in Pinellas

Good Life Games and the Suncoast Tennis Foundation have partnered to present the 37th Pinellas County Senior Games on March 5-6 at the Henry L. McMullen Tennis Complex in Clearwater.

The Pinellas’ Games, which offer 5-year age categories in more than 20 sports beginning at age 50, are among over 20 competitions scheduled around Florida as qualifiers for the 2016 Florida Senior Games slated for December in Pinellas County. These Games are qualifiers for the 2017 National Senior Games to be held in Birminham, Ala.

Visit www.floridaseniorgames.org for more details.