Senior tennis teams from Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts and Virginia captured titles at a seniors division-only WTT National Qualifier at Owl Creek Tennis Center in Virginia Beach, Va., over the weekend.
The National Qualifier was the only one of the seven World TeamTennis events to feature senior-only divisions. It was also the second of seven events that will determine which WTT teams advance to the 2018 WTT Nationals, November 2-4, in Palm Desert, Calif.
It will be the first trip to Nationals for two of the five teams ÔÇô Senior 3.5 champion Topspin Lobers of Silver Spring, Md., and Senior 4.0 champion Boston Hotshots of Groton, Mass. Senior 4.5 champion I‘d Hit That of Fredericksburg, Va., earned a return trip to Nationals where they will be looking for their first National title.
Two teams who captured the Nationals title in 2017 will return to defend their crowns as Super Senior 3.5 champion Miami Aces of Miami, Fla., and Super Senior 4.0 champion LOV2PLA44 of Virginia Beach, Va., advance to WTT Nationals this fall.
Here‘s a breakdown of the action in each division:
Senior 3.5 Division: Topspin Lobers of Silver Spring, Md., posted an undefeated 4-0 record in round robin action to win the Senior 3.5 title. The Lobers, who will be making their first appearance at Nationals, outscored opponents 122-86 over their four matches. Led by non-playing captain Tony Papel, the Lobers‘ lineup includes Apolonio Canaria Jr, Silver Spring, Md.; Beth Papel, Silver Spring, Md.; Connie Jiang, North Potomac, Md.; Dina Cuttier, Falls Church, Va.; Francisco Cuison, Silver Spring, Md.; Jeff Gorinson, Silver Spring, Md.; Leandro Bagaipo, Washington, DC; Lore Luhrs, Olney, Md.; Taib Dipatuan Jr., Rockville, Md.; and Tony Jurlano, Silver Spring, Md.
Senior 4.0 / 4.5 Division: The two senior divisions combined for the weekend‘s competition, with Boston Hotshots of Graton, Mass., capturing the Senior 4.0 title, and I‘d Hit That of Fredericksburg, Va., taking home the Senior 4.5 Division crown.
I‘d Hit That, led by captain Suzanne McInteer of Fredericksburg, Va., had a clean slate with four wins and no losses. They will be returning to the Nationals as the Senior 4.5 representative. Team members also include Joe Cassady, Vienna, Va.; Keith Nix, Richmond, Va.; Leslie Caliri, Fredericksburg, Va.; Maureen Blackwood, Richmond, Va.; Suzanne Mcinteer, Fredericksburg, Va.; Timothy Waters, Alexandria, Va.; Tony Barbee, Stafford, Va.; and Widna Benitez, Fredericksburg, Va.
In the Senior 4.0 Division, the Boston Hotshots of Groton, Mass., punched a ticket to their first WTT Nationals by besting the field with a 2-0 record over the other Senior 4.0 teams. Teams members include Mark Eggleston, Lexington, Mass.; Adrian Peterson, Concord, Mass.; Janine Hill, Concord, Mass.; Kathleen Gammon, Bedford, Mass.; Doug Bigham, Chelmsford, Mass.; Howard Genser (captain), Groton, Mass.; Judy Bigham, Chelmsford, Mass.; Nicole Bloomfield, Carlisle, Mass.; Philippe Riand, Chelmsford, Mass.; and Betsy Howard, Harvard, Mass.
Super Senior 3.5 Division: The Miami Aces are heading back to Palm Desert, Calif., to defend their 2017 Nationals title after winning this weekend‘s Super Senior 3.5 Division in Virginia Beach. Led by non-playing captain Captain Pete Roscia, the Aces outscored opponents 59-43 over two matches. Other team members also include Noordin Lalani, Miramar, Fla.; Rajni Agarwal, Coral Gables, Fla.; and Ana Pierce, Astrid Artho, Carlos Serrano, Miguel Ramirez, Raul Moskovitz, and Siriporn Burke, all of Miami, Fla.
Super Senior 4.0 Division: Another 2017 Nationals championship team will return to the Finals later this year as LOV2PLA44 of Virginia Beach, Va., advanced from the Super Senior 4.0. Division. LOV2PLA44 outlasted the Topspin Lobers SS 4.5 in two head-to-head matches, 28-21 and 27-24. LOV2PLA44 team members include Rachel Fritz, Alexandria, Va.; Carolyn Ware, Norfolk, Va.; Ed Flanders, Portsmouth, Va.; Barbara Langbord, Brenda Wexel, Doug Atkins (captain), Lynn Utecht, Manny Bagtas, and Ben Mccoy, all of Virginia Beach, Va.
Next up on the WTT National Qualifier calendar is one of the largest events on the WTT Community tennis schedule as hundreds of players head to Las Vegas, May 11-13. The full calendar for the remaining National Qualifier events is:
May 11-13 Darling Tennis Center – Las Vegas, Nev.
July 6-8 Plaza Tennis Center – Kansas City, Mo.
August 10-12 Hempfield Sports Complex – Landisville, Pa.
August 17-19 Virginia Beach Tennis & Country Club – Virginia Beach, Va.
September 14-16 Heritage Park – Irvine, Calif.
November 2-4 WTT NATIONALS ÔÇô Palm Desert, Calif.
For more information on WTT Rec League programs, visit www.WTT.com/RecLeaguesÔÇ»or visit the official Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/wttrecleague.
Final Results ÔÇô WTT National Qualifier in Virginia Beach, Va. ÔÇô April 13-15
SENIOR 3.5 DIVISION
Champion: Topspin Lobers of Silver Spring, Md.
Captain – Tony Papel (non-playing)
Apolonio Canaria Jr, Silver Spring, Md.; Beth Papel, Silver Spring, Md.; Connie Jiang, North Potomac, Md.; Dina Cuttier, Falls Church, Va.; Francisco Cuison, Silver Spring, Md.; Jeff Gorinson, Silver Spring, Md.; Leandro Bagaipo, Washington, DC; Lore Luhrs, Olney, Md.; Taib Dipatuan Jr., Rockville, Md.; and Tony Jurlano, Silver Spring, Md.
2. Team Miami of Miami, Fla., finished second in the Senior 3.5 Division with a 3-1 round robin record.
Captain – Peter Roscia (non-playing)
Ana Pierce, Carlos Serrano, Paula Barth, and Kristin Knous, all of Miami, Fla.; Madatali Panjwani, Davie, Fla.; Michael Pradhan, Miramar, Fla.; Noordin Lalani, Miramar, Fla.; Rajni Agarwal, Coral Gables, Fla.; and Filomena Cantillana, Key Biscayne, Fla.
3T. Fireballs of Virginia Beach, Va., tied for third in the Senior 3.5 Division with a 1-3 round robin record.
Captain – Judy Isak
David Cline, Chesapeake, Va.; and Cheryl Griggs, Cynthia Briscoe, Cynthia Futrell, Gary Heisler, Joyce Howell, Judy Isak, Robert Clark, Russell Smith, and Sandra Claxton, all of Virginia Beach, Va.
3T. RH91 of Bixby, Okla., tied for third in the Senior 3.5 Division with a 1-3 round robin record.
Captain – Terry Cumbey
Stephanie Pugh, Owasso, Okla.; Terry Cumbey, Bixby, Okla.; Divina Roman, Glenn Lafitte, Lloyd Prueitt, Malisa Nell, Michelle Bryan and Steven Nell, all of Tulsa, Okla.
3T. Utah PaceMakers of Midway, Utah, tied for third in the Senior 3.5 Division with a 1-3 round robin record.
Captain – Deborah Leigh
Deborah Leigh, Midway, Utah; Marvin Fentress, Salt Lake City, Utah; Sarah Berkowitz, Park City, Utah; Bruce Carmichael, Park City, Utah; Carlos Garcia, Salt Lake City, Utah; Daniela Cramer, Salt Lake City, Utah
SENIOR 4.0 DIVISION
Champion: Boston Hotshots of Groton, Mass., won the Senior 4.0 Division title with a 2-1 round robin record
Captain – Howard Genser
Mark Eggleston, Lexington, Mass.; Adrian Peterson, Concord, Mass.; Janine Hill, Concord, Mass.; Kathleen Gammon, Bedford, Mass.; Doug Bigham, Chelmsford, Mass.; Howard Genser, Groton, Mass.; Judy Bigham, Chelmsford, Mass.; Nicole Bloomfield, Carlisle, Mass.; Philippe Riand, Chelmsford, Mass.; and Betsy Howard, Harvard, Mass.
2. Fireballers of Virginia Beach, Va., finished second in the Senior 4.0 Division with a 1-2 round robin record.
Captain – Linda Cedo
Oscar Palarca, Virginia Beach, Va.; Alfredo Gingco, Norfolk, Va.; Jun Manuel, Virginia Beach, Va.; Lavern Savage, Virginia Beach, Va.; Linda Cedo, Virginia Beach, Va.; May Leslie, Camarillo, Calif.; Oscar Palarca, Virginia Beach, Va.; Ray Cruz, Chesapeake, Va.; Rose Blackmon, Carrollton, Ga.; Steve Medvick, Chesapeake, Va.; and True Caprio, Virginia Beach, Va.
3. Beach Nut of Virginia Beach, Va., finished third in the Senior 4.0 Division with a 0-3 round robin record.
Captain – Leetsa Nottingham
Louis Manugo, Norfolk, Va.; Michael Sullivan, Chesapeake, Va.; and Karen Adcock, Leetsa Nottingham, Ben McCoy, Beverly Benjumea, Carrie Triepel, Claudette Sealy, David Kendall, and Jean Bailey, all of Virginia Beach, Va.
SENIOR 4.5 DIVISION
Champion: I’d Hit That of Fredericksburg, Va., won the Senior 4.5 Division with a 3-0 round robin record.
Captain – Suzanne McInteer
Joe Cassady, Vienna, Va.; Keith Nix, Richmond, Va.; Leslie Caliri, Fredericksburg, Va.; Maureen Blackwood, Richmond, Va.; Suzanne Mcinteer, Fredericksburg, Va.; Timothy Waters, Alexandria, Va.; Tony Barbee, Stafford, Va.; Widna I Benitez, Fredericksburg, Va.
SUPER SENIOR 3.5 DIVISION:
Champion: Miami Aces of Miami, Fla., won the Super Senior 3.5 Division title with a 2-0 round robin record.
Captain – Pete Roscia (non-playing)
Noordin Lalani, Miramar, Fla.; Rajni Agarwal, Coral Gables, Fla.; and Ana Pierce, Astrid Artho, Carlos Serrano, Miguel Ramirez, Raul Moskovitz, and Siriporn Burke, all of Miami, Fla.
2. PittBalls of Virginia Beach, Va., finished second in the Super Senior 3.5 Division with a 0-2 round robin record.
Captain – Charlie Pittman
Daniel Weckstein, Chesapeake, Va.; Deb Karst, Chesapeake, Va.; Donna Bosze, Yorktown, Va.; and Charlie Pittman, Cynthia Futrell, Margaret Pittman, Mike Hayes, Rick Esguerra, Robert Clark, and Sandra Claxton, all of Virginia Beach, Va.
SUPER SENIOR 4.0 DIVISION
Champion: LOV2PLA44 of Virginia Beach, Va., won the Super Senior 4.0 Division title with a 2-0 round robin record.
Captain – Doug Atkins
Rachel Fritz, Alexandria, Va.; Carolyn Ware, Norfolk, Va.; Ed Flanders, Portsmouth, Va.; Barbara Langbord, Brenda Wexel, Doug Atkins, Lynn Utecht, Manny Bagtas, and Ben Mccoy, all of Virginia Beach, Va.
2. Topspin Lobers of Silver Spring, Md., finished second in the Super Senior 4.0 Division with a 0-2 round robin record.
Captain – Tony Papel (Non-playing)
Alma Canaria, Silver Spring, Md.; Bradley Lindgren, Mount Airy, Md.; Chung Bell, Silver Spring, Md.; Edgar Bernal, Rockville, Md.; Fiona Carson, Chevy Chase, Md.; Ivan Teelucksingh, Bethesda, Md.; Jackie Gorinson, Silver Spring, Md.; and John Harrington, Washington, DC
