Wow! Awesome! Expressions such as these would be apt responses to the terrific turnout and fantastic festivities at last night’s Annual Tennis Celebration Banquet. If any of the 135 attendees didn’t have a good time, it was because he or she didn’t feel well, or holds a natural (or unnatural as the case may be) antipathy for lots of people having a great time.
From the delightful décor courtesy of Anna “The Diva” Dance and Pat Ostrom, the fabulous fare from Chef Norbert and his staff, the splendid service provided by Georgine Davidson and her crew, the dancing display by Joel and his numerous “Joelettes” (who will remain anonymous to protect their marriages), and the sagely short presentation by our dynamic Director, Mike Curran, the event was a smash, a winner, an ace…ok, I got a little carried away there!
Unfortunately, keeping it short meant that we didn’t get to welcome some of the new members who were in attendance for the first time, such as Tom and Bev Auda, Angela Mitrisin and Scott Turner, Judy Wilson, Chip and Nannette Graddy to name a few. And, we didn’t get to mention how good it was to see individuals like Linda Gardiner, Preston Clark, Bob Ostrom, Todd Lewis and others bounce back from serious health challenges to join the celebration.
Also in the name of brevity, we didn’t take the time to express our gratitude to:
• Bob Ostrom for continuing to champion the tennis program despite immense personal challenges
• Lili Canfield, Connie Hess, Terry Brady, Bill Wright, John Hess, Jim Rollero and others who contributed to the record-breaking Memorial Foundation tennis effort
• George Kane and Linda VanWyk for the major role they played in making our Club Championship events so successful
• Amy and Len Ciarrocchi for providing outstanding banners and sign work for our events
• Linda VanWyk for so adeptly taking the helm of the LCWTL Captains Council
• Tim Baldwin for all the organizing he does
• Laurie Giordano for keeping our ladies in the latest tennis styles and keeping the pros on track…as much as that is possible
• Jerry Jimenez for keeping our courts as well-groomed as any in Southwest Florida
• Georgine Davidson, Mike Snyder and their staffs, who stepped up to help make our events the successes that they were
• Meg Jacobs for bringing her champagne personality to the courts for every single event
• To each and every one of you for making the tennis program what it is.
Despite the omissions for brevity’s sake, the event was nothing short of spectacular. So successful was the event that the following mega-hit spinoffs are now in production:
• How to present over 60 awards in 30 minutes or less by Mike Curran
• How to have potentially disabling surgery, endure debilitating radiation treatments while appearing as though you have not a care in the world by Bob Ostrom
• How to show up Michael Jackson and John Travolta in three steps, while sandwiched between 13 women by Joel Hampton
• How to maintain a humble, yet pleased, smile on your face during repeated trips to the podium to collect your hardware while everyone looks on enviously by Jemin Martinsen, Chip Graddy, and Maxwell Thompson
• Presenting fine fashion for the beautifully mature by Anna Dance and Bev Adams
• How to dance, jump, and run rings around people decades younger than you by Peter Karofsky, Judy Schafft, Meg Jacobs
• How to energize a tennis party by the women of the 4.0 team and 3.0 Double Trouble
• How to look properly shocked (as in totally flabbergasted) when your name is called for an award by Sandy Gebara
• How to take 1000 photos while ensuring your smile is featured in 999 of them by John Hess and Jim Rollero
• How to imbibe massive amounts of alcoholic beverages and appear perfectly lucid by _________ (fill in the blank cuz I like my job)
• How to become, and remain, a member of the best tennis program within a 100-mile radius of your home or summer home by all of Gulf Harbour’s tennis members.
In case you missed the bottom line woven through the tangled strands of thought above, last night was truly a fitting climax to a tremendous tennis season during which so many of you contributed so much. As always, we will continue working to enhance your tennis experience, so gear up for an even better season next year! Game, set, match….
and
Bev Adams
An Apology
Ok, before I get rolling here, I'm going to apologize to one of the nicest guys you will ever meet at Gulf Harbour: Maxwell Thompson. Apparently some of the humor in my previous blog was not appreciated for what it was, so I have edited that blog and have asked that the same edit be done on the front page of Harbour Views. The humor was meant for our tennis community, all of whom know that Maxwell is hardly one to go around bragging, and not for direct distribution to the Gulf Harbour community at large. Sorry for any problems Maxwell. Moving onward...
Annual Tennis Celebration
We have 124 members registered for the Annual Tennis Celebration Banquet on the Saturday, the 20th and the maximum number of registrants is 150. It is shaping up to be a shindig of major proportions! It sounds as though anyone who cares about the tennis program and won’t be away has already signed up, but if you haven’t, just click here, login to the Club website, and you too can join the revelry.
Men’s & Women’s Team Competition
Some of our men’s teams have wrapped up their seasons, and it has truly been a successful one for Gulf Harbour’s tennis men, with two teams likely to be champions and all but one amongst the top-five in their divisions. Guys, if you think you will miss the competition, or didn’t get the chance to compete on a men’s team this season, Men’s Intramurals are almost here. See Laurie in the Pro Shop to sign up, and talk to John Hess for more info.
Our women are coming down the stretch also, and we are anticipating at least two champions from ladies teams. Jenny King’s 3.0-Minus team looks good for the top position and Norma Schuyler’s Gold team is closing in on a repeat of last year’s triumph. Stay current by checking out the Team Report on the Team & Leagues page of the Club website.
LCWTL Captains Council
Speaking of teams and leagues, the Notice of Intention to Play, which all members of the female persuasion who wish to play on a Gulf Harbour LCWTL need to complete, will soon be available for online completion thanks to the collaborative efforts of Norma Schuyler and Captains Council Chairperson Linda VanWyk. An updated version of the form is being developed.
If you haven’t yet read the LCWTL Guidelines, a link to the document is available on the Tennis & League page as well. There will be a meeting of the Captains Council this Tuesday, the 16th, and another iteration of the document is likely to emerge. We’ll keep you posted.
Your Pros
Mike’s shoulders are doing better after some “needle therapy” administered by a physician highly recommended by a number of our members. A few MRIs and co-pays later, and our Director is ready for Pro League next week.
That’s right! The final two Pro League events are coming up. The next two Fridays (the 19th and 26th) we are playing at Grandezza and Shadow Wood. As always, we enjoy having you there to represent Gulf Harbour. Apropos to this season spent underwater, we are ready to finish with a splash! Mike’s and T.A.’s teams are trying to avoid the cellar, and Joel’s team seems to be a lock to finish atop the standings. Whichever way it goes, the final two weeks ought to be entertaining.
I’m not sure how Joel’s USTA team is faring, but given the exceptional year he’s having, I imagine they are leading their league. Have you seen Joel’s new two-wheeler? It makes me nervous. Joel has a need for speed, and not just in his tennis game. He’ll also be demonstrating some quick steps at the Celebration too, so get your high-speed cameras ready John, JR.
If you haven’t checked out my USPTA site lately, I’ve made some minor revisions, and added some tidbits of interest on the News page. We will make Gulf Harbour known across the country! You can review the Tips page if you need a little assistance with your game, but don’t have the time or inclination to see me on the court in person (shame on you! Just kidding).
Ok folks, it has been a long day and I'm out of steam. We'll do a season wrap up in a few weeks. Until then, game, set, match...
A shortage of men left more than a handful of eager women waiting (that never happens, right?) and wanting when it came to the Mixed Doubles Club Championship. Despite that, we still fielded 90 men and women for the event.
Triple Crown Winners
Four members were seeking to win championships in all three Club Championship events. Chip Graddy, Jemin Martinsen (All Aces Division), Maxwell Thompson, and Judy Wilson (Ball Bashers A Division) had won the Singles and Doubles events, and were aiming for Mixed Doubles titles as well. Of the four, Chip, Jemin, and Maxwell accomplished the feat. Judy’s try for three came up a couple matches short as she and Greg Pilant fell in the quarters.
Morning Matches
On Finals Day yesterday, the Court Crashers and Ball Bashers B Divisions took to the courts first on a brilliantly crisp morning for the two early finals. Of the first two finals, the Court Crashers produced the high drama.
Court Crashers Final
Towering Tom VanWyk and fleet-footed Ann Wright, the No.1 Seeds, faced the always smiling Bill Otey and Wennie “The Wise One” Johannes, the No.3 Seeds, for the title. It was a tug-of-war affair most of the way through, with seven of the nine games in the first set reaching at least 40-30. Tom and Ann broke serve in the eighth game and held in the ninth to wrest the first-set away from Bill and Wennie.
The teams battled evenly throughout the second set, and Bill and Wennie edged Ann and Tom 7-4 in a second-set tiebreak. As the third set began, Bill and Wennie seemed on the verge of cruising to the title in their first event playing together when they went up 2-0. But Tom stood tall (as if he could stand any other way), and Ann darted around the court retrieving the gazillion lobs Bill threw up. After the slow third-set start, Tom and Ann ran off six consecutive games to claim the title.
Ball Bashers A Final
In the other early final, featuring the more skilled level of the Ball Bashers group, Maxwell bolstered his candidacy for the “Most Improved Player” award, by teaming with newcomer Angela Mitrisin to dethrone last year’s Champions, Bill Wright and Lili Canfield, and capturing his third event of the Club Championships.
The straight-set victory was a close match until the new Champions took control midway through the second set. Bill and Lili did not make it easy for Maxwell to complete the hat trick though. The first set (6-4) was nip and tuck all the way through, and Bill and Lili saved three set points before succumbing to Maxwell’s flaming forehand and Angela’s quick hands at net.
The match remained close in the early going of the second set, but Maxwell and Angela broke and held serve in the fifth and sixth games, respectively, to win the set 6-2, and capture the Ball Bashers A Division crown.
Afternoon Matches
An awesome afternoon of Florida sunshine with temps to match was the setting for the afternoon finals involving the Ball Bashers B and the All Aces Divisions.
Ball Bashers B Final
The former pitted the husband-wife team of Tim and Carol Carr versus last minute entries Bill Donegan and Sharon Bock. After a terrific run to the final, including a third-set super-tiebreak-win in the semifinals, the Carrs couldn’t find the same rhythm and intensity they had brought to the courts for their two matches the previous day.
Bill and Sharon (Have you noticed how many Bill’s played in finals?), who didn’t even know each other, much less played together before, seemed to get stronger with each match played, and peaked in the final. They lost just one game, although eight of the thirteen games reached at least 40-30.
It was Sharon’s second event win of the Club Championships, having claimed the Women’s Court Crashers Doubles title with Sally “No Mercy” Mellendorf. Shall we sing, “Movin’ on up?"
All Aces Final
In the All Aces Division, which features the Club’s best players, Chip Graddy and Jemin Martinsen faced perennial Club Championship Mixed Doubles Champions, Gary Delanois and Diane Johannes in the final, and it was a final to remember (I know cuz I was in the chair). I’m betting the spectators will agree with me, too, as they were treated to a momentum-shifting, three-set battle, the outcome of which remained in doubt until the final serve hit the net.
The first set was even-steven through the seventh game, when Gary and Diane seemed on the verge of the first break of serve, going up 0-30 and 15-40 on Jemin’s serve. With Chip offering support and assurances, Jemin held on to win that game. Diane was broken in the subsequent game, and Chip served out the set (6-3).
The Defending Champs cruised to a 5-0 lead in the second set, before “Big Mo” (momentum that is) turned on them, and Chip and Jemin stormed back, winning three consecutive games. But the second-set comeback would fall short, as Gary delivered a momentous (that’s Big Mo’s cousin) second serve at 5-3, 40-30, to close out the set 6-3.
Despite the stalled second-set comeback, Jemin and Chip coaxed “Big Mo” to stay on their side for the third set, and they jumped out to 4-1 and 5-2 leads. But Gary and Diane would not go gently into that good night. As befitting Defending Champions, they clawed back to 4-5, but couldn’t hold serve in that final game, giving both Jemin and Chip their coveted Triple Crowns.
The Event Epitomized
Despite the loss, Gary remarked, “It was the best match I’ve been involved in with this event.” Tim Carr also epitomized what this event was all about. If you know Carol and/or Tim, you know that they are excellent athletes who hate losing. Yet, after their losing effort and the accompanying disappointment derived from not playing their best, both said that they were glad they played. When I ran into Tim on the driving range later in the afternoon, he said, “That’s the most fun I’ve had in competition around here in a long time! I’m really glad we played.”
Despite the fact that the three Club Championship events were held in weather foreign to Southwest Florida at this time of year, and we had a singles draw significantly smaller than last year’s, the events included over 200 participants. During the semis on Saturday, Spectators huddled together for warmth well after the sun had set, still cheering on their friends and neighbors.
It is participating in such experiences and hearing comments such as those above that make giving up weekends with family worth it to your tennis staff. Next year we anticipate better weather and even higher levels of participation, as Gulf Harbour’s tennis experience is proving to be one of the best tennis experiences offered in the area.
Tennis Grill Night
After the hot competition on the courts, players and spectators cooled down by congregating at Johnny Brown’s for Tennis Grill Night. The event included 38 diehard members who gathered on the terrace to relive the Club Championships culminating weekend. But it wasn’t long before the evening chill chased participants inside. Although many who were present during the weekend’s competition were absent at the aftermath, those who did attend could attest to the quality of the experience.
Annual Tennis Celebration Banquet
Speaking of quality experiences, one you really won’t want to miss, and which should be able to accommodate everyone, is the Annual Tennis Celebration Banquet. If you haven’t yet seen Joel dance, or one of his “party” outfits, it’s worth the price of admission. He tells me he’s got something special lined up for the occasion.
If you don’t like to dance, that’s perfectly all right, because after a few wet ones, some of our tennis members forget that they don’t like to dance either, and that, too, is worth the price of admission. If good food, good music, great company, and Jim Rollero’s slideshow doesn’t whet your appetite for the smorgasbord of fun we have lined up, well I’ve got a nice 12’ X 6’ plot that might interest you. Oh, and by the way, we’ll be presenting competition awards as well.
Men's Intramural Teams
Also “coming in hot,” as Joel likes to say, is the annual Men’s Intramural team competition which kicks off March 23rd and runs through April 8th. You can sign up for the fun in the tennis pro shop. John Hess is the man behind the wheel of this one, so talk to John if you would like more information.
NetCaddy Numbers
Just a little FYI: Club Essentials, the folks that created NetCaddy, our court reservation system, reports that 70% of our online court bookings are being done by members as opposed to staff. Given that this percentage incorporated Courts 1 and 2, which are booked exclusively by staff, the actual percentage of member-initiated online reservations would be considerably higher. Gulf Harbour’s tennis members are showing, once again, that we are quite capable of adapting to change.
Team Home Matches
Before I close up shop, I’d like to remind you that it is crunch time for all of our teams, and we have some REALLY, REALLY BIG home matches coming up this week. First and foremost is Captain Tony Cupaiuolo’s Blue B team, which is right in the hunt for the Blue B Division lead. They play tomorrow at home against Division-leading Colonial, and must win big to have any hope of taking the top spot. Come on out and cheer them on, and check the Home Match Schedule on the Club's Tennis page for other upcoming matches. Game, set, match...
The Morning of Day 2
Though still cooler than we like in these parts, a brilliant and relatively calm morning greeted competitors and fans as they arrived at the courts this morning.
The big guns were out in force as the All Aces Division cruised into high gear. Top seeds Gary Delanois and Diane Johannes ended the dramatic run of Arnie and Randy Wohl in straight sets, and the second-seeded team of Chip Graddy and Jemin Martinsen overcame Pete McElroy and judy Schafft, also in straight sets.
In early Ball Bashers A action, Bill Wright and Lili Canfield continued their quest to be repeat champions by downing Rich Fox and Norma Schuyler in straight sets. The team of Bob and Tania Pleischl eliminated Bruno Glavich and Gina LaManna in another straight-set match that was a lot closer than the score.
Judy Wilson kept alive her hope for a triple crown, when she and partner Greg Pilant ousted Tim Baldwin and Bonnie Graham. Maxwell Thompson almost saw his hopes dashed, as he and partner Angela Mitrisin barely slipped by Jake Keltner and Monica Robb in a third-set super-tiebreak. It was the second consecutive year that Jake and Monica were ousted in a third-set super-tiebreak.
The Morning’s Ball Bashers B competition provided the most dramatic matches for the spectators. Three of the four quarterfinal matches ended in third-set super-tiebreaks, with one going beyond the 10 points necessary to win.
In the first of those drama-filled affairs, Tim and Carol Carr edged No.1 Seeds Bill Cole and Sandi Hill 3-6, 7-5, 10-8. Next to finish was Gabe Gebara and Bev Adams, who lost the first set 2-6, and came back to win 6-3, 10-3. In the longest match of the day, lasting well over two hours, Bryan Schwartz and Linda Gardiner squeaked out the super-tiebreak against Jim Hynden and Joan Palermo11-9 after trailing 4-9 in the breaker. The first two sets were 7-5, and 2-6.
Even the lone match that didn’t go to the third-set breaker produced some thrills. After dominating the first set, Bill Donegan and Sharon Bock cruised to a 5-0, 40-0 lead against Jim Rollero and Sally Mellendorf. One spectator notified me that he match was all but done. Someone forget to tell Jim and Sally.
Despite the huge deficit, Jim found himself serving at 4-5, 30-0 and the crowd was anticipating yet another super-tiebreak. They were disappointed as Bill and Sharon broke serve to claim the victory on their second match point.
The Court Crashers played their semifinal matches this morning as well, and No.1 Seeds Tom VanWyk and Ann Wright posted an easy victory to ease their way into the final. Tom and Ann will face Bill Otey and Wennie Johannes, who won a close first set against Chuck Beagan and April Burkholder before cruising through the second and final set.
Overcoming Tom’s imposing net presence and Ann’s agility will be no easy task for Bill and Wennie, but they have experience on their side. The match should be an interesting one to watch.
Afternoon Delight
In the afternoon matches, another Johannes made her way into a final, as Diane Johannes and Gary Delanois took another step forward in their All Aces title-defense. They eked out a close two-set battle with Tim Jones and Kathy Lanzalotta, and will meet Singles and Doubles winners Chip Graddy and Jemin Martinsen in one of the most anticipated finals of the event. Chip and Jemin ended the championship hopes of Alan Canfield and Amy Ciarrocchi in straight sets.
The climax of the Day 2 afternoon matches was the Ball Bashers A Division semifinal that pitted Defending Champions Bill Wright and Lili Canfield against Greg Pilant and Judy Wilson. It appeared as though we would have a new Champion in the early going, but despite winning the first set with relative ease, Greg and Judy lost a close second and didn’t contend in the third-set super-tiebreak.
Maxwell Thompson kept his hat-trick hopes going when he and Angela Mitrisin held off a game Bob and Tania Pleischl in a tight second set, after dominating the first set. The stakes will be high for both parties in tomorrow’s Ball Bashers A Final, as we have the triple and the title defense on the line.
The Ball Bashers B Division brought the day to a close with Tim and Carol Carr posting a straight-set win over Bryan Schwartz and Linda Gardiner, and Bill Donegan and Sharon Bock doing the same over Gabe Gebara and Bev Adams. Sharon will be trying for her second event win of the championships, having won the Court Crashers Women’s Doubles with Sally Mellendorf.
Once again Gulf Harbour members were out en masse to support the players, and tomorrow’s finals at 10am and 12pm ought to be worthy of record attendance. In addition to the opportunity for three of the competitors to win triple crowns, the Wright family can have husband and wife champions in two divisions, and the Johannes family can have mother and daughter champions in two divisions.
I’m sure there are some other sub plots that I am neglecting to mention, but the bottom line is that the third and final day of our Club Championships is likely to be a special one, especially with the Tennis Grill Night to follow. We look forward to seeing you once again, and good luck to all the participants. game, set, match...
In a reprise of the Men's and Women's Doubles Championships, the first day of the Mixed Doubles Championship featured multiple layers of clothing, and spectators ducking around corners to escape "The Hawk." In Southwest Florida? Yep, and it's getting to be old hat...really old hat.
In any event, the event got underway today, featuring a number of new members who entered the fray, and actually challenging for bragging rights as Club Champion. In fact, if this were a teenie-bopper movie, we’d have to call it “New Blood.”
In the Ball Bashers A Division, newcomer Angela Mitrisin joined with Maxwell Thompson to defeat Richard and Ruth Edelman, the 2008-2009 Champions of the Ball Bashers B Division who had moved up to challenge for the Ball Bashers A Division crown. As noted elsewhere, Maxwell is working on the triple-crown this year.
Also still in the hunt for the triple in the Ball Bashers A group is Judy Wilson, another recent addition to the Gulf Harbour tennis fold, who teamed with Greg Pilant to oust Jim King and former Ball Basher Singles Champ, Martha DeLeeuw. Fresh faces also upended last year’s Finalists, as Bruno Glavich and Gina LaManna took out Eddie Dance and Pam Lemon.
Among the matches that could be considered candidates for “Match of the Day,” honors, Bob and Tania Pleischl came back from a first-set loss to pick up the win in a third-set super-tiebreak against their good friends Bill and Marsha Cavinder. Jake Keltner and Monica Robb bounced one of the newcomer teams, getting by T.A. and Bev Auda in straight sets.
Rounding out the Ball Bashers action was Rich Fox and Norma Schuyler's win over Len Ciarrocchi and Sandy Gebara, and Tim Baldwin and Bonnie Graham's victory over John and Connie Hess. Rich and Norma are up against the Defending Champions and No.1 Seeds, Bill Wright and Lili Canfield, in one of tomorrow’s quarterfinal matches.
In the Court Crashers Division, tourney neophytes Chuck Beagan and Bill Otey both got wins in their first tournament matches at Gulf Harbour. Chuck partnered with April Burkholder to beat Rick and Meg Jacobs (Rick’s first tourney ever), and Bill teamed with veteran Wennie Johannes to defeat Bernie and Penny Klotz. The two newcomers play each other tomorrow in one semifinal, so one will have wrapped up his first foray into the Club Championships.
In other Court Crashers action, top seeds Tom VanWyk and Ann Wright advanced against Roy and Val Steigerwald, and will meet Jim Masiello and Teressa Crocker in the other semifinal. Jim and Teressa outlasted Peter Malen and Liz Byck in the first of two third-set super-tiebreaks. Teressa’s recovery from recent heart surgery makes the win against quality players like Peter and Liz that much more remarkable.
In the Ball Bashers B Division, the team of Tim and Carol Carr eased past Don and Anna Pitts and will face No.1 Seeds Bill Cole and Sandi Hill, who will be seeing their first action of the event. Sandi is physically questionable for tomorrow’s match, but will give it a go. In her return to tournament action after a victorious bout with cancer, Linda Gardiner teamed with Bryan Schwartz to down Mark Davis and Jackie Jewel, and will face Jim Hynden and Joan Palermo.
Erstwhile event photographer and Club DJ, Jim Rollero, partnered with Court Crashers Doubles Champ Sally Mellendorf to defeat Preston Clark and Nancy Davis. Preston came out of semi-retirement at the last minute, despite a shoulder in need of surgical attention, to replace Sy Davis, Nancy’s intended partner, who came up lame for the competition. Jim and Sally will take on Bill Donegan and Sharon Bock tomorrow morning. Wrapping up the Court Crasher matches, Ron and Marvel Jones eliminated Bob and Laurie Watson in straight sets, and will meet the No.2 Seeds, Gabe Gebara and Bev Adams in their next match.
The opening day opened and closed with matches in the All Aces Division, the top division of the Club Championships. Earlier in the day, Pete McElroy and Judy Schafft eclipsed another pair of talented first-timers in Brian and Sunni Hammermeister. Pete and Judy have the task of getting past No.2 Seeds, Chip Graddy and Jemin Martinsen, both of whom are trying to accomplish the Club Championship trifecta in the top division.
In the final match of the day, ending well after darkness and the temperature had fallen, Arnie and Randy Wohl escaped a third-set, super-tiebreak thriller against former Singles Champion Geoff Negin, who was partnered with Amy Markovich. As the diehard Gulf Harbour tennis members huddled together to forestall the night’s chill, the foursome exchanged rousing rallies that prompted both cheers and groans from the chilled crowd. Arnie and Randy will battle Defending Champions and No.1 Seeds, Gary Delanois and Diane Johannes in the early morn.
Other matches on tap in the top division tomorrow morning include Ed Bonkowski and Marcia DeVries against Tim Jones and Kathy Lanzalotta, Kathy being one half of last year’s Mixed Doubles Finalist team and current Doubles Champion; and Alan Canfield and Amy Ciarrocchi versus Joe Schwartzel and Carole Shapiro. All of the action promises to be worth braving the morning chill, and Club Manager Mike Snyder has even agreed to come in early to provide hot coffee for our hardy tennis fans. What-a-guy!
In closing, after the incredible display of support tonight with the wind-chill factor making a mockery of the actual temperature, I must say that I know of no more supportive tennis members anywhere in the land! Thanks for making the event what it is folks! Game, set, match…
