USTA League
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Team Stories
Issue 8: Summer/Fall, 2003
The Foster City Tennis Club sponsors many teams and we have written many stories to share our team experiences with the club. For prior issues, please check out our archive.
by Vikki Mion, USTA League Coordinator
As the Foster City Tennis Club Newsletter is sent out quarterly, keep up to date with what's happening within your club at www.fostercitytennisclub.org and within the tennis world locally at www.norcal.usta.com.
RESULTS OF SPRING ADULT LEAGUE 2003
Our Men's 3.0 (Ray Wong) and Men's 3.5A (Clarke Nelson) made it through the local playoffs and headed off to the Districts.... When the Districts ended, our Men's 3.0 Team had no time to unpack as they headed off to Sectionals
But their hopes and dreams of playing at Nationals ended on Sunday, August 24th, the final day of Sectionals. They were defeated 3-2 by Millennium, who went on to Nationals. It was so close with there every match being a tough one... Our guys finished their spectacular season with a 19-2record.
SUMMER 50 MIXED DOUBLES LEAGUE 2003 (age 50 and over)
Is over for this year.......see you in 2004
COMBO DOUBLES LEAGUE 2003
Is winding down and our Women's 5.5 and 6.5, as well as, our Men's 6.5 and 7.5 (1 of them) are fighting to be in the local playoffs.
Let's go out and cheer them on to victory...
Men's Teams Women's Teams 6.5 - Ray Wong 5.5 - Kathleen Pender 7.5A - Clarke Nelson 6.5 - Lisa Chang 7.5B - Clarke Nelson 7.5 - Allison Collins 8.5- Clarke Nelson SENIOR LEAGUES 2003-04 (age 50 and over)
Is underway - started September 15 and runs till February 29, 2004...
Men's Teams Women's Teams 3.0 - Steve Tutt 3.0 - Kacey Karmendy 3.5 - Jake Karmendy 3.5 - Judy Olson 4.0 - Lisa Strait MIXED DOUBLES LEAGUES 2003-04
Is underway - started September 15 and runs till February 29, 2004...
6.0 - Bob Arnold 7.0A - Jake Karmendy 7.0B - Vikki Mion 8.0 - Clarke Nelson
For those of you interested in playing on a League team the remainder of this year 2003, I'm sorry to advise - the teams are full....Since the weather is still nice, consider signing up and playing on the Men's or Women's Tennis Ladders...... Otherwise, you will have to wait as sign-ups won't begin again until January 2004 -- for the Adult League Season and the start of another new year of now stop tennis.by Ray Wong, Captain
The 3.0 adult men team ended the season with a very respectable 19-2 record. Team members were Collin Chu, John Geer, Jacek Guzowski, Bruce Klafter, Paul Ko, David Li, Richard Mar, Dino Martins, Victor Tan, Steven Tutt, Ram Venkatesan, Eric Wong, Ray Wong, and Mike Zhou. The strength of the team was in the single ladder with an outstanding 34-8 record.
The team almost got derailed when it was playing Foothill for the league championship and found itself behind by losing 4 of the 5 first sets. Down 2-1, finding solace in a can or two of light beer, someone mentioned that there were two more matches going on. Cooler, under one arm, half closed tennis bag in the other, warm up pant on one leg and off the other, we dashed for the
cars and headed over to Edgewater courts. Ram was off first with a win and now the teams were knotted 2-2. Paul wins the second set and the two warriors headed into super tie breaker. Once again, Paul plays his opponent like a Stradivarius and we walk off with a come from behind thrilling 3-2 victory that sends the team off to Districts.
Having two outstanding 3.5 brothers to emulate, both of which had undefeated regular seasons, we adopted the swagger of the "Dream Team" and hopped on the "little engine that could" and chugged down to Sunnyvale for the District Tournament. Won the first match 4-1 with four of the 5 matches going into a third set. Second day, won 3-2, highlighted by a win at the #3 double position by David and Eric, going 3 sets against their #1
double team. Day 3, won 3-2, and again the team was able to ride the backs of the single ladder, Paul and Ram, who were able to register a 5-1 record during the tournament.
Off to Sectional, and good news, Mike Zhou is back after a horrific tennis accident requiring surgery on his elbow. "Did your doctor say it was OK to play tennis so soon?" "He didn't say and I didn't ask."
Day 1, at Sectional, win 3-2, and Paul's marathon match resulted in a win and excruciating leg cramps. Day 2, win 4-1, and Day 3 lose 2-3 to a younger and fresher team. Our season comes to an abrupt end, one match point away from Nationals.
This team not only will be memorable for how far it got, but also for the truly congenial members of the team making it one of the easiest team to captain. No complaints on partnerships, playing time, or position, and everyone on time. Members volunteering to drive or help out with scouting even if they were not scheduled to play. What we have learned from this season
is that team chemistry and dedicated players are needed to be successful and there is an element of luck involved. Also learned to cut the dosage of Viagra in "Ray's Elixir," since the guys were feeling a little light headed and concentration strayed from tennis.
Thanks guys, for a wonderful season!
by Judy Olson, Captain and Louise Tierney, Co-Captain
Our season begun on the 15th of September and we are off to a great start! We have played 2 matches and are in the win column on both. We have an enthusiastic team and outstanding players. On our team are Janet Adams, Jane Bagley, Cheryl Baugh, Lori Bledsoe, Diane Burgess,Christina Cooper, Jennifer Gurevitz, Brooke Howie, Jackie James, Helen Kishi, Ann Nyser, Jane Reynolds, Sheryl Thirlwall, Sara White and Scarlett Wood. We hope to keep up the good work, stay on the winning side and have lots of fun along the way....
by Ray Wong, Captain
Currently, our team record is 4-3 with two more remaining matches. Team members are John Geer, Jin Jue, Wally Katigbak, Bruce Klafter, James Layton, Kay Lee, Sun Leung, David Li, Dino Martins, Jeff Peterson, Ram Venkatesan, Eric Wong, Ray Wong, Kenneth Woo, and Mike Zhou.
On paper, the recipe calls for taking two teams, one 3.5 men flight winner, add to that one 3.0 men league champion, some of Ray's Magical elixir, bake slowly for 1 hour, and the resulting dessert should be a very competitive 6.5 Combo Team. Not so fast, Batman!
Initially, Early Start Ratings were to start in September but was changed to Combo Season which resulted in a drastic change in our roster. It seems all teams were hurt across the board and the season is beginning to shape up as highly competitive with all teams being about equal.
This is the second season for Combo Leagues and there were no 6.5 Men Combo in either the San Francisco or Mid Peninsula Leagues last year. We are on a quick learning curve and will be able to improve next season.
by Lisa Chang, Captain
As a first-time combo team, we formed a new team and recruited some new talent to the club. Team members include: Betsy Holak, Lisa-Marie Namphy, Cheryl Chang, Cathy Chang, Jennifer Weber, Joan Holland, Nancy Kane, Ashley Nguyen, Jane Reynolds, Haruko Kurata and Lisa Chang. The team practices twice a week and all are very cooperative and flexible which makes my life easier--THANK YOU!!
I am extremely pleased with the small team that we have assembled and am very proud of our accomplishments!! Our current win-loss record is 4-1 heading into the second half of the season and we continue to prepare for those close matches and tough opponents. Wish us luck as we work towards making playoffs at the end of the season.....
Updated 9/29/03
© 2002 Foster City Tennis Club