We had a full slate in both events for the new Year’s Doubles Tournaments. Thanks for all who came out and participated.

For the Men’s Round Robin Doubles on Saturday, the team of Tom Pitt & Fabio Buda prevailed with the pairings of Richard Rykhus & Phil Callan as well as Jay Nazario & Darryl Henderson notching a good showing.

With the Double’s Scramble on Sunday, the upper half for game winners started with Mark Brodner, Keiko Anno and Rodney Robinson bunched together with 14. Next up was George Nelson with 15, then in ascending order, Paul Frischer (17), Andrea Mainelli (18) and Regina Lookis in 3rd place with 19 games. At the top, Cate Brodner came through with 24, for 2nd and the number one slot was captured by Dan Seals with 25 games.

Look for announcements for spring doubles kick-off party.

NEW YEAR’S DOUBLES DETAILS

On Saturday, Jan. 2nd — Starting at 4:00 PM
Men’s 3.5-4.0 Doubles Round Robin for six teams.

On Sunday Jan. 3rd — Starting at 4:00 PM
Doubles Scramble Tournament for 20 players
Open to ALL at a 3.0/3.5 or higher level.

Both events are slotted to last two hours.

Combe Tennis Center
(Henry Crown Sports Pavilion)
Northwestern University
2311 North Campus Drive
Evanston, Illinois  60208
Combe phone# 847/491-4300

Cost: $25/player (ECTA members)

Doubles/Mixed Doubles Scramble format will play 20 minute matches with different partner each rotation. Details to follow for entrants.

A great way to meet new players and get set for indoor season!

Please arrive at least 20 minutes early to allow for parking and check-in.

Park in new garage at front of pavilion.

Plenty of food and beverages will be provided throughout the event.

Please send in your response ASAP to Coordinator, Richard Bell. Draws will be forwarded.

DEADLINE FOR ENTRY TO EITHER EVENT IS DEC. 28.

Entry Contact: Richard Bell
e-mail: rsbell@ameritech.net
Phone: 847-475-5095

Please make Check out to ECTA for $25.00 and bring to event.

You can use the form below to copy and paste in an e-mail to Richard Bell to reserve your spot.

BE SURE TO INDICATE WHICH EVENT — YOU MAY ENTER BOTH

———————————————————

Name _________________________________________________

e-mail _________________________________________________

Address ________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

Phone (home) ___________________ (cell) ___________________

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THANKSGIVING SCRAMBLE TOURNAMENT NEWS

We had a great turn-out of 20 players with over 12 people on the wait list. Sandy Sherwood, Marjorie Chen, and Mary DaVanti were in the top half with 26 games total won. Mark Ainsworth came in 4th with 28, following Ken Herrmann with 30 games. In second place was Maurice Russell at 33 and the Top Game Winner, with 38, was Regina Lookis. (Believed to be a record in ECTA history for this format!)

ETHS SCHOLARSHIP NEWS

Every year, the Evanston Community Tennis Association awards a $500 scholarship to a senior girl who has demonstrated excellence to her ETHS tennis team, in her school and in her community.

Each applicant also is asked to provide a letter of recommendation and an essay explaining how tennis has impacted her life.

The recipient of the 2015 ECTA Girl’s Tennis Scholarship is Jessica Ampel.

For the fall tourney we had fantastic weather, a very nice turnout across the board and some top notch play, especially in the doubles fields.

First, A BIG SHOUT OUT to our Sponsors, who came through again in great form — from NU letting ECTA use the courts (alas, the Vandy Christie “Hut” is scheduled for demolition) to very generous gift certificates from these companies and organizations.

Prairie Moon    Firehouse    Bluestone    BAT17

Ten Mile House    Murphy’s Fit    Piron Belgian Chocolatier

Buffalo Joe’s    Così    Fit & Frisky    Agora Spa

SOOD Physical Therapy Services    Evanston Athletic Club

(CAC)     Duxler    Northwestern University

The Men’s singles saw Jay Woldenberg triumph once again, this time over George Thomas in the final, 10 – 1. George T. prevailed over a game Ray Nano in his marathon semis, 10 – 9 (10 – 8). Jason Mantzouranis rounded out the semis bracket. For the Men’s 3.5 singles, Chad Anderson was in solid form all weekend and won over Paul Frischer (who subbed in for Ken Rattner, a victim of a tender achilles heel, but not before getting through round robins and delivering more delicious home baked goods.)

Asiya Roland was the top in Women’s singles, 10 – 5 in the final over Christine Frank. Sally Riessen-Hunt and Keiko Anno were able to valiantly scramble out the round robin section.

Men’s Open Doubles saw a number of highly competitive matches. The finals witnessed a rematch of sorts in that the team of George Thomas and Tim Fisher edged out Jay Woldenberg and Mark Oreskevich 10 – 8. Very solid teams comprised the semis with Matt Wakeknight & Mark Fessler thwarted by Thomas/Fisher and Anders Klein & Louis Aurichio running into the brick wall of Woldenberg/ Oreskevich. Men’s 3.5 Dubs had the favorites in this bracket, Ray Boyer and David Fenn hang on in the second set for a 6-1, 7-5 victory in their finals.

Ironically, in a mirror image of numbers, the favorites in Women’s Doubles, Regina Wooten and Regina Lookis (known as the Regii) triumphed 7-5, 6-1 over Theresa Whittington & Carol Chiles.

Thanks also to Ten Mile House for hosting our get together on Saturday evening where more than 25 players and friends showed up.

Look for info on ECTA Thanksgiving event next month.

PLAYERS

Men’s Singles – Open

Jason Mantzouranis*
Ray Nano*
Dennis Hoelzle*
Baird Smart
George Thomas*
Russ Needler
Jay Woldenberg

Men’s Singles – 3.5

Ray Boyer*
Chad Anderson
Paul Frischer*
Ken Rattner

Men’s Doubles – Open

Mark Fessler / Wakeknight
Richard Rykhus / Jason Mantzouranis*
Ray Nano* / Kirby Dospiljulian
Anders Klein / Louis Aurichio
George Thomas* / Tim Fisher
Darryl Henderson / Roger Allen
John Broderick / Dennis Hoelzle*
Jay Woldenberg / needs partner

Men’s Doubles – 3.5

Ray Boyer* / David Fenn
Kevin Lookis / Steve De Alcala
Paul Frischer* / Needs Partner
Alexandros Nathan / Albert Berahas

Women’s Singles

Cathy Witt*
Keiko Anno*
Sally Riessen-Hunt*
Mitra Hartman*
Asiya Roland
Christine Frank*

Women’s Doubles

Theresa Whittington / Carol Chiles
Cathy Witt* / Keiko Anno*
Sally Riessen-Hunt* / Christine Frank*
Mitra Hartman* / Needs Partner
Regina Wooten / Regina Lookis

(Alex Hobson & Steve Binninger)

The short story is that the old guard champion (Jay Woldenberg) continued to triumph in Men’s Open Singles. (At least his fourth time in the fall.) But once again, we also had a nice influx of fresh blood with former D-1 players at All-American level in the open category. Not to be overlooked, the 3.5 category likewise had solid fresh players.

Jay Woldenberg defeated Steve Binninger in Open Singles. Other players of note in the round robin and into the semis were Alex Hobson, Rey Nano and Tom Nacher.

In the Men’s 3.5 Singles, Blake Horwitz prevailed over Dan Gill after a series of marathon matches that went to tie-breaks with Romil Sood thrown in the mix.

Doubles heated up mostly on Sunday after a couple of late summerish rain squalls on Saturday. There the duo of Alex Hobson and Steve Binninger powered through the draw, but not after a number of competetive and draining matches leading up to the final.

Alex Hobson and Steve Binninger triumphed over perennial doubles favorites Rey Nano and Gene Huh. Other teams including Dan Stollar, Romil Sood and Blake Horwitz and Mark Fessler gave gallant performances.

In the Mixed/ Open Draw, newcomers Carmen Schneider and Ken Sitar defeated Deb Cassell and Karen Topp.

Plus a Big Thanks to our sponsors and Northwestern University for the use of the Vandy Christie site.

SPONSORS

Prairie Moon, Firehouse, Buffalo Joe’s JT’S Grill, Clarke’s, Evanston Athletic Club, Cosi, Murphy’s Fit, Steve Albertson Massage Therapy, Pilates Connection, Fit + Frisky, Duxler, EGEA Spa, Piron Belgian Chocolatier, Dave’s Italian Kitchen, NU.

Lastly, a nice shout out to the volunteers on site and behind the scenes who helped run the event. Allison Cohen, Deb Cassell, Richard Bell, Alan Soell, Chuck Friedl, Don Walton.

(posted by George Nelson)

(Rey Nano & Gene Huh)

Our Sponsors