Mixed and Husband & Wife Nationals in Cleveland, OH

Ohlmuller & Johnson Defeat Main & Caldwell in Three-Set Finalin the Mixed

Marina Ohlmuller and Mark Johnson teamed up for their first run at the APTA Mixed Nationals, and after an amazing three-set final against Aila Main and David Caldwell, they emerged victorious, 6-7, 6-0, 7-5. There were big momentum swings in the match, as is often the case with paddle, and in the third set they were at one point down 3-0, 40-love with the other team serving. The match was marked with steady play by Marina and Aila, while dazzling displays of athleticism from Mark and David enthralled the spectators.

This is Marina’s third national title. She and husband David won the Husband/Wife Nationals in 2003 and 2005. Its Johnson’s first.

Props Outlast LeFevres for APTA Husband-Wife Title

The unseeded team of Heather and Vince Prop won the 2010 APTA Husband-Wife National championship, defeating Jessica and Nathan LeFevre. They came back from a first set loss to triumph in an exciting three setter 3-6, 7-5, 7-5.

The Props fittingly won in their home state of Ohio. Heather is ranked 2nd in women’s play with long time partner Lynn Schneebeck, and is now part of the #1 ranked husband and wife team. The Props beat perennial contenders and two time finalists Sandra and Fritz Odenbach in the semis while the LeFevres defeated local Cleveland team Debbie and Marc Duvin.

The rain held out, and the sun peeked through a few times during the day, allowing the competitors to don their tournament favors-Maui Jim sunglasses.

Todd Ward reflects on APTA clinics and exhibitions

The two things I will miss most about leaving the APTA board are the relationships I have bridged through trying to achieve a common goal and the experiences I have shared with the thousands of enthusiasts throughout the country during my time on the board.

It is hard to believe that it has been five years since our first clinic and exhibition took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mark Fischl and I went up to the Woodhill Country Club just off Lake Minnetonka on a beautiful Minnesota fall day. The leaves were in their prime fall colors and the weather was a gorgeous 55 degrees and sunny. We had 35 people come out for what would be the beginning of an 18-city tour during my tenure with the APTA board.

When I first started this initiative, my goal was to bring in some new life and direction to depressed or undeveloped paddle markets. The idea was to bring out new players and help the locals in organizing leagues and programs. Quickly, I realized that after the APTA had left town, there still may not be the tools in place to achieve this goal.

It was at that point Mike Rahaley and I decided to incorporate a pro teaching seminar on the night before these clinics. Our focus was to try to educate the area teaching pros on the finer points of teaching, playing and overall programming. [enlarge image to read full story]

Player Profiles: Jerry Albrikes and Johan du Randt

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: Ranked #331 ATP in the world in tennis; and #222 in doubles. Won the Futures.
Occupation: Tennis pro at Bosse Sports in Sudbury, MA.
Platform Tennis Beginnings: Started playing about three years ago with Paul Fairchild and Karl Levanat and was hooked ever since. Currently plays league for Cape Ann play seldomly, but with a great group of guys.

Without a doubt the new hottest team in the country, Albrikes and du Randt won the 2010 National Championships while playing together for only one season.

Du Randt has recently come off the ATP tour with a world ranking at 331. His athleticism and strength propelled the team to wins in Boston and the Nationals in Philadelphia. Many players were saying that he displayed one of the greatest platform tennis exhibitions ever seen before.

Albrikes compliments du Randt’s aggressive style with extreme consistency, mixed with frequent explosive shot-making.

Albrikes said, “Johan and I both needed a partner for the year and we both wanted to find someone who would commit for the whole year. We agreed to give it a go.”

Du Randt recalled, “Well I knew Jerry was a Pitt bull and I just wanted someone that was gonna give it all they got so I asked him! He was on the fence for about five minutes as he supposedly had another partner before he decided that I would crack the nod.”

“Jerry is consistent, positive and never yells. I’m inconsistent, I play crazy (increasingly less crazy)and I yell. I guess opposites attract. He does not realize that putting up with me for a season and beeing mentally tough is a huge talent.”

He added, ‘We both try to be consistent. Me, with hitting it in and him with hitting it hard. It seemed to work out for us at the Nationals. Johan is the most talented player I’ve been around or have seen. That doesn’t always lead to victories but it did in Philly Nationals.”

Albrikes said, “Winning the Nationals in Philly was the most exciting thing in sports I’ve ever done. In tennis, when I won some tournaments, there were always some people who weren’t there that could beat me. While at the Nationals in Philly, it’s hard to say we weren’t the best team in the nation that weekend.” He added, “One of the big things I coach my students in tennis is to believe they can win. I felt like a hypocrite in not believing we could win, but we did.

Each match I felt we could win I just wasn’t sure I believed it until the final point of the finals.”

Du Randt conferred, “The Nationals win was completely unexpected. As the tournament progressed, I gained confidence and felt we could beat anybody, but there was still the ‘LEGEND’ factor to deal with against Goodspeed and Mansager in the finals.” “During the Nationals, for the first time, I felt like I `got’ the game. Now, the question is if I should retire on a high (just kidding Mr. Bancila) or keep it together,” du Randt said.

During the course of the Nationals, du Randt smashed countless short overheads into the bodies of his opponents at the baseline. The shot is very rare and extremely hard to hit, but du Randt seemed to master it and used it nearly at will.

Du Randt said, “To anybody I intentionally hit with an overhead… apparently I never really apologized. The reason for this is I just tried to hit you and it is a legitimate shot, so I think a lift of the racquet is fair. For the two guys I nearly hit on the fly, it definitely was not intentional. That is why I apologized so much after that.”

He concluded, “You gotta feel the game and focus less on yourself but see the bigger picture and just keep it simple. These are my tips for whoever thinks I am worth listening to.”

Later this year, Jerry Albrikes is moving to Charleston, SC, to be Head Professional at a tennis club. He is hopeful to be able to build a platform tennis program there.

The 2010-11 tournament schedule is unclear for the pair, but one thing is for sure, they’ll be getting lots of calls from prospective partners.

Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 11, Issue 5, April, 2010

Hall of Fame Inductees: Cynthia Ann Prendergast and Alan M. Graham

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 finals across 18 levels of play and converged afterwards at the Glen View Club for the league’s annual party. In addition to a terrific barbeque, the record crowd of 600 players were delighted with a surprise announcement: “Mr. Paddle,” Alan Graham, was being inducted into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame.

The presenters noted Alan’s many accomplishments as a player, mentor, and leader in the sport:
– Three-time champion in the APTA Senior Nationals
– Co-chair of the 2006 APTA National Championships
– Served on the APTA board for six years and led the Chicago Platform Tennis Charities for 15 years
– Tripled the size of the Chicago league to more than 4,000 players
– Helped to raise $100,000 for 12 local charities

Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 11, Issue 5, April, 2010

APTA President Tim McAvoy on planning for the 2010 Nationals

Planning for the 2010 APTA Men’s and Women’s Nationals began April 20, 2009 and culminated with the four day event taking place March 4-7th, 2010.

With Waynesborough Country Club as the host facility, our vision was to change the format of the evening parties and host the men and women on Friday night, instead of Saturday, and offer a “Come as you are” party on Saturday evening, to allow players and spectators to watch the men’s quarter final play, with beer flowing and a BBQ grille serving up chicken and burgers through the night.

We were rewarded by the tremendous turnout for the Friday night party (over 400 players/volunteers attended) as well as for the Saturday night men’s quarter final play (close to 400 players/spectators came to watch). [enlarge image to read full letter]

College Platform Tennis – Chris Kelley reports

Georgetown University – After eight years of playing paddle and three years of passionately promoting college platform tennis I offer some observations, advice, and optimism for the future of the sport at the college level. There has been a lot of talk about college platform tennis and, I’m pleased to say, something to show for it too.

At Yale University, Kate Macauley (Yale ’11) and Rob Coster (APTA College Program Chair) have done a great job securing two courts at a nearby country club, getting support from local players and enthusiasts, and holding weekly events for Yalies. After two years in the making, Yale Platform Tennis Club has 30 students of all abilities on the roster, and about ten players who play each week. Kate has been successful by recruiting Yale friends to play and has grown interest through club fair events at school. [enlarge image to read full report]