2010 APTA National Championships: On-line Postings Provide Real Time Story
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Thursday, March 4, 7:30 a.m. EST
We're here at the Waynesborough Country Club in the Philadelphia suburbs for the 2010 APTA National Championship Competitions. I will be documenting the event and posting news and results every few hours.
Today, we will feature the Women's and Men's President's Cups. Tomorrow will be the Women's day one of the Nationals. The men will play some first round matches to open up more courts for Friday's matches.
Thursday, March 4, 9:15 a.m. EST
Well, the team photos have been taken, and the Men's and Women's President's Cup competitions are under way. Are you familiar with the President's Cup? This special event is held every year immediately prior to the Nationals. Each APTA region selects five of their best teams (ex[...]
One of the great highlights during the APTA National Championships in Philadelphia was the party at the Waynesborough Country Club and Cindy Prendergast's induction into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame.
Hall of Fame Committee President Bob Brown and APTA President Tim McAvoy presented the award to this dedicated enthusiast.
These achievements were noted among Cindy's many contributions to the sport:
- Winner of six APTA National events, including three mixed, two women's, and one senior women's titles
- Recognition for her effortless style of play, easygoing manner, and outstanding sportsmanship
- Served on dozens of tournament committees and a force behind Delaware's hosting of the Mixed Nationals
- Led a delegation to Germany to introduce the sport of platform tennis
March 17th was the biggest night of the year for the Chicago league. Teams battled it out in playoff fina[...]
It seems that Chicago has been getting more and more attention lately in the platform tennis world. No disrespect to the East or West coasts, but I would say this is rightfully so.
Although only 2-3% of the known platform tennis courts are in the Chicago area, their's is the largest organized league in the country with approximately 3,000 players.
Also, over the past seven years, seven Chicago men and women have captured ten of the 14 National Men's and Women's Nationals( Susie Keane, Mary Doten, Scott Mansager, David Keevins, Brian Uihlein, David Ohlmuller and Chris Gambino). [enlarge image to read more]
Jerry Albrikes
Age: 40
Hobbies: Fitness, running, tennis and the Minnesota Vikings
Family: Married to Beth; Children: Olivia 15, Liza 14 and William 3
Residence: Mystic, CT
Tennis Highlights: Former #1 in New England in Men's Open, Doubles and Mixed
Occupation: Head Professional at Mystic Indoor Tennis for 10 years to present
Platform Tennis Beginnings: Peter Harvey introduced me to the game six years ago. I played tournaments for four years with Lennart Jonason and this year with Johan. Currently plays out of Essex Platform Tennis Club in Essex, CT, once a week and tournaments on weekends."
Johan du Randt
Age: 32
Hobbies: Golf, Squash,teaching my dog tricks and playing poker
Family: I have a girlfriend named Neely and a Stafforshire Bull Terrier named Bliksem. He was our mascot at the Nationals.
Born: Somerset East, South Africa
Residence: Newton MA
Tennis Highlights: Ra[...]
Tom Stafford, the new Czar, filed this report on the development in PTM
The APTA Junior Tour Czar has quite a ring to it. As most things with me — it’s self-titled. Timmy simply asked me to head up the new APTA Junior Tour.
Dave Kjeldsen and Viking had done such a great job with it for the last umpteen years and now APTA was going to bring it in house. David was not passing on that great horned hat, but certainly I had to have a title that was fitting. Director — boring, Head — don’t have much of one, Chief in charge — closer, CZAR— Now we’re getting someplace.
This is my 41st year of playing platform tennis — not bad for a 47 year old. I played in my first tournament at 6, had 13 fun filled years of Juniors with the same partner, played “the circuit” through the 70′s, 80′s and 90′s and now get to watch over as the future stars take shape from the junio[...]
Mike Cochrane and Scott Estes secured the Men's #1 position while Mary Doten and Susie Keane edged Heather Prop and Lynn Schneebeck for the top Women's slot.
November 9, 2009 - The platform tennis world lost a great champion. Hall of Fame inductee, Edwina (Winnie) Worth Hatch, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. Winnie, a 14-time National Senior Champion was inducted into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame in 2008.
Winnie introduced hundreds to the game of platform tennis and ran scores of tournaments, from the Nationals to local events.
Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 11, Issue 2, 2009
Brian O'Connor
Age: 25.75
Hometown: Larchmont, NY
Marital Status/Kids: "I am not sure what marital status means. If that is the same as martial arts status, yes, I have a yellow belt with two black stripes. Kids... no, I do not fight kids, although some in my class are pretty tough”
Hobbies: Tennis, beaches, bodybuilding, and Gossip Girl
Achievements in Tennis:
• Hold record at Binghamton University for most singles victories
• Team advanced to NCAA's 3 times
• Two-Time National Grandfather/ Grandson Champion
How and When You Got Into Platform: " I fell in love with paddle when I was a young bang-baller. I spent most of my childhood following women's paddle, as my mother (Joanmarie) would bring me to all her local events and league matches."
What You Like About the Sport: "The various styles of play provide for interesting matchups. Among the top teams strategies [...]
The 5th Annual Premier Cup took place this year at Sunset Ridge Country Club in Chicago on October 10th & 11th. This year's field featured the strongest veteran teams in the sport as well as many of the top up and coming teams. Sunset Ridge boasts six courts and is under the direction of Peter Berka. This year's field had representation from states of Illinois, Ohio, New York, and New Jersey for the two-day event that had a total purse ofS5,000.
The first day of competition started at 10 a.m. on Saturday and lasted through dark as each team played a round robin competition within their own group (three matches).
Format:
• Two out of three sets; regular scoring
• Super tie-breaker for 3rd set (Sat. only)
• Top two teams from each group advanced to semi-finals on Sunday
Rules for Advancement:
• Best overall record from round robin play
• 1st tie-breaker used i[...]
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