UF 3 for 3 After USF Bull Run ‘Tennis on Campus’ Title in Tampa
The UF Gold Bracket champs
It’s three events into the 2015-16 USTA Florida ‘Tennis on Campus’ series of tournaments, and three tournament titles for the University of Florida club tennis team, all over the same opponent.
This past weekend the UF-“A” team defeated the University of Miami-“A” squad 26-17 in the World TeamTennis scoring format to win the Gold Bracket at the 2015 USF Bull Run in Tampa. The result in the championship match followed the first two of the year when UF beat UM at both the UF Gatorbowl tournament in Gainesville, and at the FAMU/FSU Battle in the Capital in Tallahassee.
Players competed on five courts per round: men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. In the accumulated-score World TeamTennis format, UM won the women’s doubles 6-2, but UF put points between the teams winning 6-4 in the mixed doubles, 6-3 in men’s doubles, 6-2 in women’s singles, and 6-2 in men’s singles for the 26-17 final score.
The FSU Silver Bracket champs
In the semifinals UM powered past the UCF-“A” team 30-8, while UF defeated the FSU-“A” squad 27-18. All teams after the first day of round robin play, based on results, fell into either the Gold, Silver or Bronze brackets for single-elimination play.
The Silver Bracket final saw the FSU-“B” team edge the USF-“C” team 21-17, and the Bronze Bracket final witnessed a second bracket win for FSU as their “C” team defeated FSU-“D” 25-16.
Thirty teams in all participated from UF, UM, Florida Atlantic, Florida State, North Florida, Stetson, Central Florida, South Florida, Florida Gulf Coast, and the University of Tampa.
The next event on the 2015-16 USTA Florida ‘Tennis on Campus’ calendar will be the UT Spartan Challenge in Tampa on Nov. 7-8.
2015-16 USTA Florida ‘Tennis on Campus’ Tournament Schedule:
Sept. 19-20 — UF Gatorbowl, Gainesville (FINAL: UF d. UM)
Oct. 3-4 — FAMU/FSU Battle in the Capital, Tallahassee (FINAL: UF d. UM)
Oct. 24-25 — USF Bull Run, Tampa (FINAL: UF d. UM)
Nov. 7-8 — UT Spartan Challenge, Tampa
Nov. 21-22 — Knightro Cup, Orlando
Jan. 23-24 — UM Ibis Open, Coral Gables
Jan. 30-31 — FGCU Dirty Bird Classic, Ft. Myers
Feb. 13-14 — Delray Beach Campus Challenge
Feb. 27-28 — USTA Florida ‘Tennis on Campus’ Section Championships, Altamonte Springs
The FSU Bronze Bracket champs
About USTA Tennis On Campus
The USTA Tennis on Campus program is designed to provide college students with opportunities for team camaraderie, social networking, and rivaled competition through tennis without the rigors or time commitment of NCAA varsity play. Tennis on Campus offers fun co-ed team-based play (using the World TeamTennis scoring format), regional and national championship competition, and helps students maintain active and healthy lifestyles through their college years. Currently the program is offered on more than 500 college campuses. The USTA ‘Tennis on Campus’ team format features men’s and women’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles, with a minimum of two men and two women per team.
For more information on the USTA Florida ‘Tennis on Campus’ series or to start a team at your school go to http://tennisoncampus.adulttennisflorida.com, or contact Desirae McLaughlin at tennisoncampusflorida@gmail.com.
Tennis Providers: Seek Out and Leverage Your Local TSR
USTA Florida’s Molly Zimmer at a school tennis event
Tennis Service Representatives (also called Tennis Program Coordinators in Florida) exist across the country in all 17 USTA Sections, playing a unique role in helping to fulfill the USTA’s mission to promote and develop the growth of tennis by helping to support our country’s vast network of coaches and organizers.
There are more than 85 TSRs serving communities nationwide, so there’s a good chance there is one is near you.
“My local TSR Molly [Zimmer] regularly reaches out to me and my tennis center staff to share USTA information, news and grant opportunities,” says Billy Specht, executive director of the Titusville YMCA in Titusville, Fla. “She helped us host USTA trainings, youth tournaments and Kids’ Tennis Club programs.”
How can a TSR help you and your program(s)?
* On-court and off-court trainings
* Starting a Community Tennis Association
* Facility Assistance — technical and financial assistance to renovate or build new courts
* Starting an NJTL (National Junior Tennis & Learning) chapter for under-resourced youth
* Adult and high school programming ideas
* Youth Tennis
* Kids’ Tennis Clubs and School Tennis
* Play Days and other events for new audiences
* Junior Team Tennis
* Access to grants and incentives
* Free advertising
* Custom marketing materials
TSRs stay up to date on the latest trends, initiatives and improvements in the sport. They gather ideas and information from the best and most innovative programs across the country — and they use this knowledge to help provide consultation, resources and custom programming solutions to assist local tennis providers (tennis facilities, pros, coaches, clubs, parks, schools, etc.).
To find your local TSR go to www.usta.com/TSR.
