And The Rest of The Leagues- SCAT, USTA, Ultimate Tennis, & Bonero

Blogger's note: Photos included in BonEro segment were derived from the BonEro websites and courtesy of BonEro officials. SCAT photos were downloaded from SCAT website.

SCAT

Players from Ft Myers Racquet
and Plantation. Front row: Jody (FMR);
Rosie (FMR); Donna (PCC)
Back row: Jen (PCC); Anneka (PCC);
Elaine (FMR); Polly (PCC)

In what we might call, “the big girls league,” given that the league was created to provide the “better” women players and opportunity to compete against each other,  Defending Champs Park Meadow Diane (named for Captain Diane Geater) show absolutely no signs of relinquishing their title. Through six matches, one-third of the season, PMD has posted a 6-0 record, and won 14 of 18 individual matches (SCAT plays three courts per match).

Not far behind at 5-1, and with the same number of individual matches won and lost is Eileen Reynolds’ Heritage Bay (HB), which lost to PMD 1-2 in their first and only meeting this season. However, the match was held at Park Meadow, and it took a three-set-win by Elaine Capps and Angie Guillette over Josie Anderson and Jenni Lee Reiss on court one to seal that victory.

Paula and Kerry from
Ft Myers Racquet & Linda
 and Candy from Plantation

The next closest competitor is Waldorf Astoria, captained by Maureen Wells, and that team has posted a 3-3 record thus far.  It appears as though it will take some doing to dethrone PMD, but HB seems poised to give it the ole college try. If you haven’t visited the SCAT site recently, they have developed a new relationship with Topdog Sports, which provides a terrific platform for viewing standings and statistics. Click here for more.

In addition to providing a home for some of the better women in town to play, the SCAT League has shown that it can make even more important contributions. Click here for a report on the SCAT Annual Holiday Charity Event held December 12, 2012 at Plantation Country Club. 

Ultimate Tennis League (UTL)

Those of you who have been blog readers over the past 15 months may know that I am a HUGE fan of the Ultimate Tennis League, formerly (and currently by many) known as the K-Swiss League. Why? Because I love to compete and test myself, and it prepares me for USTA and USPTA tourney play. 

The great news for those who have yet to participate in UTL is that you can now join the league FREE! You can try UTL, play singles (Feb. 15 deadline), doubles (April 12 deadline), and/or Mixed Doubles (March 1) without spending a nickel. I'm guessing if you like to compete, you will like it.

Given the list below, it is apparent that I am not the only UTL fan in our area, and that those who play are representing the Greater Fort Myers tennis community quite well. All of the following players made it through "regular-season" play and into the playoffs for the Fall Season: 

Woman's Singles

Barbie Schultz

Barbie Schultz, Gulf Harbour Yacht Country Club- 2.5 Semi-Finalist
Kat Hawk, Fort Myers Racquet Club- 3.0 Semi-Finalist
Jennifer Budreau, Rutenberg Park- 3.5 Semi-Finalist
Mary Beth Brunne, Paseor- 4.0 Semi-Finalist
Carol Green, Fort Myers Racquet Club- 4.0 Finalist

Men's SinglesMatthew Roszkowski, Three Oaks Park- 5.0 Champion

Alex Blagojevic

Christian Karlovits, Rutenberg Park- 4.0 Champion

Tim Hamilton, Fort Myers Racquet Club- 3.5 Champion

John Thorp, Stoneybrook Golf Club- 3.0 Champion

Oscar Pascul, Three Oaks Community Center- 2.5 Champion

Darryl Wells, Page Field Park (Brooks Park)- 2.5 FinalistJack Karkis, Paseo- 3.0 Semi-Finalist
Ken Savage, Brookshire Bath & Tennis- 4.0 Semi-Finalist
Greg Natale, The Plantation- 4.5 Semi-Finalist
Mark Lohr, Heritage Palms Golf and Country Club- 5.0 Semi-FinalistAlex Blagojevic, Bell Tower Park- 5.5 Finalist

Mixed

Chris Wiles & Christine Beale, Cypress Lake Country Club- 3.0 Champion

Jim & Linda Hafner, Paseo- 3.5 Champion

Jamie Stevenson & Wendy Schell, Three Oaks Park- 3.0 Finalist

Holly Leland & Deanne Kyle

Woman's Doubles
Deanne Kyle & Holly Leland, Fort Myers Racquet Club- 3.5 Champion

Christine Beale & Linda Hafner, Reflection Lakes- 3.0 Champion

Kris Brooks & Kim Durham, Paseo- 4.0 Champion

Vivian Miller & Julia Owens, Cypress Lake Country Club- 3.0 Finalist

Cynthia Diet & Lisa Gottesman, Paseo- 4.0 Semi-Finalist

Grace McGee & Lori Emmons, Landings Racquet Club- 4.0 Finalist

Men's Doubles
Andrew Mikulaschek & Jim Hafner, Paseo- 3.5 Champion

Gary Goff & Mike Murray, Cypress Lake Country Club- 3.5 Finalist

Summary

Local men did very well in singles, producing several champions and finalists, but we didn't produce a woman champion this past fall. Hmmmm. 

USTA Florida Leagues

As the sanctioning body for the sport in our State, USTA Florida offers a number of competitive league opportunities that complement our local leagues, and most USTA divisions offer the opportunity to advance to Sectionals, and ultimately, Nationals.

 

According to USTA Florida Local League Coordinator Susie Bessire, this coming Winter Season USTA Florida is offering the following divisions: 

• Adult 18+ Men and Women
• Adult 55+ and 65+ Men and Women
• Adult 40+ Mixed Doubles
• Adult 55+ Mixed Doubles

The leagues are scheduled to begin play this week and next, and there will be quite a few local teams playing in the different leagues. 

I went to the most recent Captains' Meeting, and was quite impressed with the number of teams our area will have participating. 

The Winter Season ends the third week of March, but if you missed it, don't worry because you can register for Summer Season beginning in May, 2013. 

BonEro League

Deb Graziani & Rosemary Goodwin

Sometimes you have to be careful what you ask for, and then sometimes you get what you ask for with a bonus on top. The latter is the case this time. I asked Rosemary Goodwin for some info on the BonEro league, and she provided the info in such a way that I don't think I need to add anything, just a tweak here and there, and to say "Thanks Rosemary."

Billed as as “a happy little league for women’s 50+ doubles” on their website, the following information pertains to Division 1 of the BonEro League, which has been managed by Deb Graziani and Rosemary Goodwin since September 2011, with scorekeeping by Linda Hermann and Joanne North:

BonEro Champions:  Colette Macdonald,
Country Creek 2010; Patricia Immonen,
Country Creek 2011; Gisela Molsen,
Country Creek 2009; Co-Founder,
Judy Brown, Country Creek 2007;
Karen Dominik, Shadow Wood 2012;
 Co-Founder, Joanne North;
Darlene Kozlowski, Bonita Bay 2008;
Deb Graziani Div I Co-Ordinator.

The league was founded in 2006 by Joanne North and Judy Brown.  The founding clubs were Country Creek, Highland Woods, Breckenridge and Copperleaf.  It was designed as a blend of players self-rated at 4.0 and 3.5, age 50 and over.  Competition is on three courts each Tuesday afternoon.  

Table 2 at the 6th Annual BonEro
Luncheon hosted by the Colony 

It includes the geographic area between Alico Road and Bonita Beach Road.  All administration is on a volunteer basis.  There is a heavy emphasis on after-match social time and a general spirit of support and camaraderie.

Shadow Wood team members

Last season, the team from Shadow Wood finished first of 12 teams in the standings, followed closely by Bonita Bay, Country Creek and Grandezza.  This season, there is a 13-week schedule in order to accommodate 14 teams.  As they prepare for the first round of matches on January 8th, there are 203 players on the rosters.

Country Creek at Bonita Bay

A Fall Fun League ran from October 23 through December 4, culminating in a Holiday Round Robin hosted by Bonita Bay on December 11.  More than 72 players were ready to go on the day, until three inches of rain washed everything out on the courts.  That didn't stop the party, however, as the players all showed up and enjoyed the wonderful hospitality of the host club.

Grandezza welcomes Bonita Bay

We're looking forward to a great season of competition, during which there will be conversations about how best to manage our growth.  It's possible we may divide into two flights/sections next season.  Our season finale will be a Spring Fling cocktail party at Shadow Wood on April 9. You can access the Division 1 website here. 

**********************

Rosemary Goodwin & Mary Ellen Vasile

BonEro's Division 2 was added in 2007, and the general principles are all the same as in Division 1.  It features players who self-rate at 3.0 and 2.5, and competition is on three courts each Monday afternoon.  

Barb LaSorella & Rosemary Goodwin

Since September 2011, Division 2 has been managed by Barbara LaSorella with support from Rosemary Goodwin.  Mary Ellen Vasile is taking on the role of Director this season.

Division 2 includes 9 teams this season and plays a complete home-and-home round-robin schedule that runs from November 5 to March 25.  As we went to break for the holidays, the standings leader after seven rounds of play was Village Walk, followed by Bonita Beach & Tennis, and Citrus Park. The winner of the 2011-12 season was Estero Country Club. Barb maintains an extensive website at http://home.comcast.net/~bslasorella/site.

Ok folks, that wraps up my end of year league report, only a week late. Wish I were more on top of things, but doing the best I can. Stay tuned for another report in the next few weeks. Thanks to all who contributed: Lindsey Watson of Ultimate Tennis, Susie Bessire of USTA Florida, Rosemary Goodwin of BonEro and whoever posted the pics on the SCAT website! Game, set, match...T.A.