The USTA National Campus hosted the 55 & Over 6.0/8.0 Sectionals this past weekend, and the competition was fierce.
We had two first-time winners with Collier County in the 6.0 women’s, and Indian River, Martin, St. Lucie (IRMSL) County over in the men’s 8.0. For the women’s 8.0, Orange County took home the trophy for the second straight year.
In the finals, Collier was faced against Escambia County, which they handled in convincing fashion without dropping a single game.
Orange County saw similar success, despite two of the matches being a back-and-forth bout. Ultimately, Orange pulled out wins in every match to clinch the sweep and the title.
The closest match of the sectionals came in the Men’s 8.0 as IRMSL and Hillsborough County were dialed in. Hillsborough was able to take their Line 1 game, but IRMSL wasn’t going down easy. The team was able to bounce back in their other two matchups to close out the division and become champions.
The competing teams represented various clubs, parks, recreational departments and organizations, and finished at the top of their local leagues during the 2022 season to advance to the USTA Florida 55 & Over Sectional Championships.
These winning teams have also qualified for the 2022 USTA League National Championships, which are scheduled to begin in late September.
Final results:
Adult 55 & Over Women’s 6.0
Final: Collier County (Greater Marco Family YMCA) d. Escambia County 3-0
Championship Match Results:
No. 1 Doubles: Jodi Schaufus/Inge Lund (Collier) d. Kiara Szalai/Robin Rowan 6-3, 6-3
No. 2 Doubles: Pattie Yergler/Lori Ceryak (Collier) d. Nena Haigler/Judy Harrington 7-5, 6-4
No. 3 Doubles: Maria Hoffman/Sally Mattke (Collier) d. Trish Kington/Lori Orslene 6-3, 5-7, 1-0
Collier County Season Roster: Jodi Schaufus (Captain), Inge Lund, Jan Jackman, Marla Hoffman, Jennie Sullivan, Celia Bolzani, Sally Mattke, Joyce Hail, Pattie Yergler, Ruth Holland, Lori Ceryak, Betsy Conte, Mary Pavichevich
Adult 55 & Over Men’s 8.0
Final: Indian River/Martin/St. Lucie County (Friendship Park) d. Hillsborough County (Sandra W Freedman Tennis Complex) 2-1
Championship Match Results:
No. 1 Doubles: Donals Bell/Mark Wolfson (Hillsborough) d. John Whidden/Robert Grusky 6-4, 6-3
No. 2 Doubles: James Knepper/Daniel Semkow (IRMSL) d. Albert Alhadeff/Steven Ehrenpreis 1-6, 6-2, 1-0
No. 3 Doubles: Chase Donaldson/James Fichera (IRMSL) d. Thor Moody/Stephen Mullis 6-3, 6-4
IRMSL Season Roster: John Whidden (Captain), Stephen Bankert, Robert Grusky, Robert Milligan, James Fichera, Daniel Semkow, Lyle Grimm, Peter Carr, Russell Allen, Chase Donaldson, Tony Bender, James Knepper
Adult 55 & Over Women’s 8.0
Final: Orange County (Grand Cypress Racquet Club) d. Marion County (Fort King Tennis Center) 3-0
Championship Match Results:
No. 1 Doubles: Ingrid Clapp/Kellye Hug (Orange) d. Amy Graham/Beth Riendeau 7-6, 2-6, 1-0
No. 2 Doubles: Denise Tormey/Tina Long (Orange) d. Lynn Swets/Nicole Wigelsworth 7-5, 6-4
No. 3 Doubles: Jamie Roedig/Shery Cassidy (Orange) d. Leigh Clark/Dina Sapienza 7-6, 6-2
Orange County Season Roster: Lisa Peele (Captain), Sherri Testa, Sonia Herring, Carolyn Rotermund, Jamie Roedig, Denise Tormey, Ingrid Clapp, Kathleen Hansen, Kelly Foote, Angela Tuckerman, Shery Cassidy, Giselle Serralles, Tina Long, Bobbi Carter, Kellye Hug
