35th Annual ATA Open

Tennis Association Hosts its 35^th Annual Open.

The Alamogordo Tennis Association saw its largest player turnout in several years for its 35^th Annual Adult Open tournament, 18 and 19 April. The 89 players represented several cities in New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, and Arizona, and included one individual from New City, NY. There were 12 events sanctioned by the US Tennis Association, and 11 non-sanctioned events. Several people that played in the 1^st Annual tournament, 1975, also played in this tourney. Grady Nicholson was the tournament director for both tournaments. The tennis association held a dinner party Saturday night, attended by 65 people, in recognition of the 35^th tournament.

Unseeded local player Cameron Brace-Emmert won the Men’s Open Singles final, defeating Steve Katz from New City, NY, 6-0, 6-0. Number one seeds Clint Loest and Richard Vickrey, Las Cruces, defeated Steve Huebner, Roswell, and Dennis Johnston, Ruidoso 3-6; 6-2; 6-3 in the Men's Open Doubles final.

Other event finalists in the sanctioned events were: Men's 45 Singles Steve Huebner (1) Roswell, NM def. Michael Herrera (2) Albuquerque, NM 6-2; 5-7; 6-4. Men's 55 Singles Dennis Johnston (1) Ruidoso, NM def. Kaz Dziamka Albuquerque, NM 6-0; 6-3. Men's 60 Singles Robert Jack (1) El Paso, TX def. Thomas Springer Cloudcroft, NM 6-2; 6-3. Men's 70 Singles Bill Fangio Carlsbad, NM def. Robert Schreiner Alamogordo, NM 6-0; 6-2. Men's 45 Doubles Steve Huebner / Johnston Dennis def. Darryl Gallent / Barry Lawshe 7-6(2); 5-7; 7-6(4). Women's Open Singles Elizabeth Chase (2) El Paso, TX def. Emma Riggs Alamogordo, NM 2-1 Ret (em). Women's Open Doubles Alexa Gallardo / Miranda Yolanda def. Elizabeth Chase / Linda Gilliland 6-1; 6-2. xMixed Open Doubles Jose Fantauzzi / Emma Riggs (1) def. Alexa Gallardo / Robert Jack (2) 1-6; 6-2; 6-3. xMixed 35 Doubles Yolanda Miranda / Edgan Phinney def. Elizabeth Chase / Robert Jack 7-5; 7-5. xMixed 60 Doubles Carolyn Satterlee / Robert Schreiner def. Bill Rapp / Faye Stokes 6-2; 6-1.

In the non-sanctioned finals-NTRP Men's 4.0 Singles Rick Sotak Alamogordo, NM def. Edgan Phinney El Paso, TX 5-7; 6-3; 1-0(5). NTRP Men's 3.5 Singles Virgil George (1) Alamogordo, NM def. Rudy Trujillo (2) Glenwood, NM 6-1; 6-4. NTRP Men's Open Doubles Jeff Lazar / Murray Jeffrey (1) def. Steve Schuster / Rick Sotak (2) 6-4; 6-3. NTRP Men's 3.5 Doubles Robert Meints / John White def. Patrick Morgan / Wolfgang Peterson 6-3; 6-4. NTRP Women's 4.0 Singles Alma Villanueva High Rolls, NM def. Helena Loest Las Cruces, NM 6-2; 6-2. NTRP Women's 4.0 Doubles Cindy Carey / Lois Whitmire def. Josephine Gallent / Alma Villanueva 6-3; 6-2. NTRP Women's 3.5 Doubles Sandy Sanchez / Witac Anke def. Marita Meints / Cathy Waggoner 6-4; 6-3. xNTRP Mixed 8.0 Doubles Gail Richardson / Steve Schuster (2) def. Silvia Garcia / Edgan Phinney (1) Wo (inj). xNTRP Mixed 7.0 Doubles Marita Meints / Meints Robert def. Muriel (Nori) Morgan / Patrick Morgan 6-1; 6-2. yBoys' 14 Singles Cameron Riggs Alamogordo NM def. Cody Moezzi Alamogordo, NM 6-2; 6-3. yGirls' 14 Singles Karli Raggio HAFB, NM def. Megan Sampath Alamogordo, NM 6-1; 6-0.

April Newsletter

Court Status:
A critical city bond election was held on March 10th. Question 3 which would have provided funds for rebuilding the Oregon courts was defeated with 975 voting for, and 1361 against. After the defeat, tennis players met with city officials and asked them to again review the parameters of the capital outlay funds. It appears that the wording can be construed to allow building the tennis complex at the current Oregon tennis court site.
Special thanks to city official Maureen Schmittle, and to the ATA members who met with the city.



ON THE CALENDAR:
April 18-19: ATA Spring tourney; this year is the 35th year ATA has conducted this USTA sanctioned event. (No April play day) Registrations and dinner RSVP’s are being accepted now
May 2: May Play Day, hosted by???
May 6: ATA Board meeting at noon; all members welcome

ATA roster is being updated and will be attached with Apr. or May newsletter. Please double check your information and let Evelyn or Neil know if anything is incorrect.

High School Scholarship: High School Seniors interested in applying for the 2009 ATA scholarship need to submit a short essay to the ATA Scholarship Committee. This will be due by April 15th and can be turned into the High School counselor’s office. Contact Linda Gilliland or Neil Bottger for more information.

Grady and Nell ran the high school tournament again this year on March 6th. Seven high schools participated with Hobbs and Silver City sharing 1st and 2nd, with Alamogordo taking 3rd. Thanks to all who came out to lend a hand.

Grady & Nell at the HS tournament board













March Play Day hosted by Darryl and Joy Gallent

March Play Day: Two dozen players braved cold temperatures to join in for April play day. Joy and Darryl Gallent provided warm drinks and muffins, pizza and other snacks to help the players stay warm and happy. High scorers were Steve Schuster and Diane Gustafson, with Pat Morgan and Sabine Fahl in 2nd place. Thanks Joy and Darryl!!


Volunteers Needed:
Court repairs: Upcoming work days will be scheduled to patch and fill cracks on courts in preparation for the ATA tourney on April 18. Watch for emails on this.

35th Tourney: ATA board and committee members have been working hard in preparation for this special tournament. You should have already received your entry forms and your dinner invitation. Early registrations and RSVPs would be appreciated.
Also special donations (prizes or funds) are welcome.

Roswell/ATA Exchange—March 21st
Eighteen players from Roswell joined ATA players for the first bi-annual Alamogordo/Roswell Exchange which included ladies, means, and mixed doubles. When all was said and done, the match scores were 8 to 8, so games were counted. Games results totaled 154 for Alamogordo, and 153 for Roswell. It just doesn’t get any closer than that! Special thanks to Harold Waggoner who designed and arranged for the traveling trophy, which ATA keeps until the next exchange in the fall when Roswell will host in their attempt to win back the trophy. Thanks to Steve Schuster and Terry Cleveland for their efforts in organizing this event.

ATA & Roswell presidents receiving trophies from Harold Waggoner traveling trophy

Senior Olympics are approaching with local competition the end of April, State competition the end of May in Las Cruces, and National competition in August in San Francisco. To be eligible to play, you must be 50 or older. Pick up entry forms from Jean Duncan at the Sr. Citizens Center. Local event requires $10 entrance fee.

ATA joins Alamogordo Chamber:
Ribbon cutting ceremony on March 19th.