Volume 7, Issue 1 USTA Eastern Long Island

March 2018 On The Ball: News From LI

LI Awards Dinner Scheduled Join the Celebration on May 2nd

Coming Planning is un- founder of Dr. Flicker said he and his derway for the the Port partners “will continue to be Soon 2018 USTA Long Washington a part of and support Long Island Region Acad- Island tennis for many years Annual Awards emy. Addi- to come. We're thrilled to be Dinner, which tional prestig- a part of 3/18 11th Annual High will take place ious awards this spe- School Coaches Work- on Wednesday, will go to Da- cial occa- shop @Bethpage Park May 2nd at Cha- vid McKean sion. I Tennis Center teau Briand Ca- (Vitas Geru- have en- 5/2 USTA LI Region terers in Carle Peter Kaplan, laitis “For the joyed Annual Awards Din- Place. This Hy Zausner Lifetime Love of Ten- playing ner @Chateau Bri- year’s event Achievement Award nis” Award); tennis and Caterers promises to be Fabiana Re- through- Dr. Jason Flick- the biggest and the best yet! zak ( Multi- out my er, South Shore 5/11-12, 14 Suffolk Boys’ Cultural Award) and the Mo- life,” Dr. Eye Care Individuals Tournament “We will be recognizing the rales Family (Rose Buck Flicker @William Floyd HS best and the brightest of ten- Scalamandre Tennis Family said. “It's a great cardio nis play and volunteering on of the Year). workout but more im- 5/12 & 5/13 Nassau Long Island, including USTA portantly forces you to be Boys’ Individuals Tour- League teams, volunteers, Several people will receive ‘present’ in the moment. nament @Eisenhower adult and junior players and awards for their sportsman- That's always appealed to Park much more,” said Jonathan ship, including Dawn Schos- me.” He added that having Klee, USTA Long Island Re- berg (Birdie Tarulli League grown up on Long Island Week of 5/21 Long Is- gion President (volunteer). Captain Sportsmanship playing tennis and going to land Boys’ Champion- Award), Darren Scheinberg local tournaments like the ship (location TBD) “Make sure to check our web (Blane Magee League Cap- Hamlet Challenge Cup and site and social media often tain Sportsmanship Award), the US Open, “to be part of a 5/31 - 6/2 NY State for updates including the Pieter Wernink (Anuj special event like (this din- Boys’ Individuals Cham- complete list of honorees and Agarwal Junior Sportsman- ner) is a great honor.” pionships @National how to buy tickets. We hope ship Award) and Sophia Tennis Center to see everyone at our 28th Schutte (Jennifer Sherry Additional sponsorship op- Annual Long Island Awards Junior Sportsmanship portunities are still available. Dinner,” Klee said. Award). For information, please email ustaonlongis- visit www. Honorees Sponsors [email protected]. longisland. This year’s Prestigious Hon- “We are grateful to this year’s usta.com orees will be led by Peter dinner sponsors, led by chief Join Us Kaplan, longtime owner/ sponsor South Shore Eye Want to join your Long Is- for details on all operator of Westhampton Care of Wantagh and Massa- land tennis community to events Beach Tennis. Mr. Kaplan pequa,” said Sunny Fishkind, celebrate this year’s best in ... will receive the Hy Zausner Vice President, USTA Long local tennis? Visit Lifetime Achievement Island Region (volunteer). www.longisland.usta.co follow us on Face- Award, which recognizes a “Thank you to Dr. Jason m for information on attend- book USTA Long lifetime of achievement both Flicker and his partners for ing the dinner, congratulat- Island or Twitter on and off the tennis court their generous contribution ing the awardees and more. on Long Island. It is given in to supporting our dinner.” @USTA_LI memory of Hy Zausner, On The Ball: News from LI Page 2 Athletics for All in Juniors in the News Commack

Oren Vasser, who trains at with a third place finish. Sportime Roslyn, won the The Commack High Oyster Bay HS senior Pat- School Girls Varsity Boys’ 18s National Title at Glen Cove, with an incredible rick Maloney (photo bot- Tennis team held a tom right, shown with his clinic with the school’s effort in the finals. Oren (photo at left, pictured with coach Adrian Chirici) won Athletics for All the Boys 18's Super 6, an athletes in December. Sportime Roslyn's Jay Harris) won the match in a tiebreaker Eastern tournament held at Athletics for All at the end of a 3-6, 7-6, 7-6 Robbie Wagner's Tournament the fall. informs and provides marathon that lasted almost Training Center. Patrick has the tools and guidelines four hours. Oren and his fu- been training at Robbie Wag- Sportime Kings Park Ten- by which coaches, ture William & Mary team- ner’s for three years, during nis Director Jason Wass host- athletic directors and mate, Daniel Pellerito, also which time he has won several ed the 1st annual JMTP school administrators had a strong showing in the National and Regional titles. (Johnny Mac Tennis Project) can include students National He will Night at the New York with disabilities in Doubles attend Open. “Our Sportime and interscholastic sports. Tourna- the Uni- JMTA (John McEnroe Tennis ment, versity Academy) Athletes got to hang of Mich- out and take pictures with “My Varsity Girls finishing second, igan on Sloane, Genie, James and of Tennis Team and I a tennis course, Johnny Mac himself,” think it is very and had a great run scholar- Wass said. Wass is a USTA LI important to give back ship in Board Member (volunteer). to the community, so in singles we do tennis clinics with them a few times a year,” said Jackie Spotlight: Net Generation Clark, Commack Girls Tennis Coach, speaking USTA Eastern and the USTA Long Island Region are working together to bring Net Genera- of Athletics for All. “We tion training sessions to schools and tennis programs across the Island. Net Generation is the use the red and foam USTA’s youth (ages 5-18) tennis brand, dedicated to welcoming millions of new players to the balls and provide the game by focusing on empowerment, unity and play. racquets. The athletes love it and it is so much fun and rewarding for Neil Thakur, USTA Eastern Tennis Service Representative for Long Island, led recent pro- us.” grams including:

The “Sportime World Tour” visited Sportime Syosset with a red, orange and green ball event, bringing Net Generation to children (photo left).

Nine elementary physical education teachers from the Oyster Bay School District attended a Net Generation school training program at Oyster Bay High School. Joe Arias conducted the program on behalf of USTA Eastern. Robbie Wagner's Tournament Training Center will be the district’s Net Generation school partner. On The Ball: News from LI

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LI’s National Champions! Tri-Level Men and Lynbrook’s 65+ Ladies Take Home the Prize Women Win Long Island has its second extraordinary comeback! strategy, National Champion USTA shot selec- Long Island boasted League team of the year! This amazing accomplish- tion, etc. two USTA League Tri- Sportime Lynbrook's 65-and- ment felt unreal but was fa- and to our Level Tournament over 7.0 women, captained by miliar to a core group of us. work ethic winners at Eastern Leslie Wecksler and Patricia This was the fifth time we and love of Sectionals, as both the Molloy, won the National In- had competed at Nationals, tennis. We women's and men's vitationals title in Surprise, with a 3rd place win (2011 60+ view Tina teams won and will Arizona in January. 7.0) and a Championship as an inval- head to National (2012 60+ 7.0)! The two- Invitationals this uable part Spring. The men play time Champions are: Cathy of our team and were very Team members are: (from Caldwell (captain of 60+ 7.0), out of Sportime Syosset, left) Dale Conway, Nancy appreciative when Bea Bielik, and the women, Mary Jo Cecil, Dale Conway, general manager of Sportime Johnson, Maureen Cornac- Nancy Johnson, Pat Molloy Sportime Lynbrook. chia, Nancy Rosenthal, Mary Lynbrook and Kings Park, (co-captain of 65+ 7.0) and financially supported Tina’s Men are: (l-r) Lane Jo Cecil, Leslie Wecksler, Pat Leslie Wecksler (co-captain of Molloy, Julia Berkowitz, Sue trip to Arizona. Now our team Lerner, Ian Shapiro D'Alessandro, Jane was complete! (captain), Tomas Kukla, Michael Casamassima, Muller, Cathy Kathy Mil- Frank Fattizzi, Paul Caldwell and Are- ler, Long Island Wickesser, Joseph thia Williams. USTA Adult Bullaro, Horst Steins- Molloy and Weck- League Coordina- sler shared their tor, was also in- thoughts about the strumental in our big win: success. She en- sured that we would compete “What a surreal against at least moment! On Sun- one other 65+ 7.0 day, January 21st, team. It took a lot (our team) re- of time and ceived Champion- phone calls but ship Medals for she was able to being the #1 team at the 65- 65+ 7.0). Last year, our find a captain and put togeth- and-over 7.0 National Invita- fourth time at Nationals, er another team. tionals Tournament. we had the honor of being the first 65+ team to represent Another person we have to Just 45 minutes earlier, we USTA Eastern and Long Is- thank is Mike Pavlides, past were cheering on our team- land at the National Invita- president of USTA Long Is- mates who had won Court 2 tionals Tournament. land and Scholastic Repre- but lost Court 3. Now it was sentative Chair/Nassau. Alt- doerfer and Vladimir up to Court 1 to determine the Many of us have played USTA hough we are not particularly Salomon. Championship or 2nd place. tennis together for years, but superstitious, we felt that we Our Court 1 players lost the we didn’t become a cohesive, had a little extra something Ladies are: (l-r) Mehves first set and were down in the winning team until Tina on our side when Mike gave Sucato, Yen So, Karen second 1-5. Our teammates Buschi, adult tennis director us pink USTA wristbands to McCabe, Jen Sussman, won the next 5 games and of Sportime Lynbrook, be- wear during our match- Kerri Weingard, Karen Southern won the following came our coach. After one es. Mike had given the same Adler, Jill Markowitz game to tie the set at 6-6. We year of (her) coaching, we wristbands to the 55+ 7.0 (captain), Shanon Blue, quickly won the second set earned a spot at Sectionals, Huntington Indoor team, and Ting Liang, Lisa Coletta tiebreak and now had to play and Lauren Harris. Not followed by Nationals. We they went on the win Nation- pictured are Adele the 3rd set super tiebreak! Our attribute our original and als a few weeks before we team steamrolled our oppo- Votta, Marsha Silver- continued success to Tina and man, Mary Ann Cluess nents and won 10-2! What did.” her extensive knowledge of and Dayna Coultier. incredible tennis ... and an On The Ball: News from LI

Page 4 Net Genera- tion at the INAUGURAL NY Open Takes Over Nassau Coliseum

LI's youngest tennis Long Island was the place to be in February, as the Inaugural New York Open ATP Tourna- players had an amazing week of Net Generation ment (formerly the ) brought tennis greats and legends, as well as amateurs Clinics at the Inaugural and fans, to NYCB Live, the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, for a week of competition New York Open (see and fun. The USTA Long Island Region, along with event sponsor USTA Eastern, was proud photos at right). to support the NY Open throughout the week. Highlights included: The Open provided “an opportunity for our <

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Expo Kicks INAUGURAL NEW YORK OPEN Off NY Open Takes Over Nassau Coliseum Close to 4,000 tennis USTA Long Island’s presidents (below, left) conducted the coin toss to start the men’s semi- fans converged on the Nassau Coliseum for the finals. Pictured are: (from left) Semi-finalist Adrian Mannarino, Daniel Burgess (Past Presi- NY Tennis Expo, dent), Mike Pavlides (Past President), Jonathan Klee (President), Scott Axler (Past Presi- produced by LI Tennis dent), Josh Ripple (Executive Vice President, GF Sports), and Sam Querrey, semi-finalist. Magazine, which kicked off the New York Open. A USTA League 8.0 tournament The free event included brought local league competitors to tennis activities and the black courts at the Coliseum for games, more than 65 exhibits and sponsors, a an exciting doubles challenge. Jen- fashion show, seminars, nifer Einhorn and Michelle Shain, and much more. Fans representing Christopher Morley had the unique ability to participate in the tourna- Tennis, defeated Tatyana Battaglia ment draw ceremony, & Lisa Goldberg to win the women’s title.>> watch ATP Tour pros on Mens’ winners were Daniel Burgess Jr. & Frank Fattizzi, representing the Stadium Court and Carefree Racquet Club. They defeated Paul Schnabel & Brian Con- meet stars including Genie Bouchard. nor.>> “The Expo could not <

(publishers of Long <

“The Expo was the LI Tennis Magazine kicked off the NY Open with the New York Tennis perfect introduction to Expo (photos below). NYCB LIVE for people interested in the tournament. It was the best fan experience from an interactive standpoint. It served as the best way to present tennis on Long Island in a way that even I underestimated,” said Josh Ripple, New York Open Tournament Director. The New York Open will return to Long Island and the Nassau Coliseum from February 9-17, 2019. (see photos at left)

san’s sister, Judy Weiss. The 2017 out reports about some of these Around the Region… winners and finalists were (top pho- awardees in Newsday’s Winners col- to): Division A Winners (from left) umn (Newsday story 1 and Newsday Free Money!! Don’t miss out on Keith Mattes & Jon Bonnet and Final- story 2).and the Freeport Herald more than $12,000 in grant money ists Ben Marks & Mi- Leader. Several members of the USTA currently budgeted for your tennis chael Flaherty and Long Island Regional Board attended programs! This money is available to (bottom photo) Divi- the USTA Eastern Annual Conference fund programs under the guidelines of sion B Winners (from and Awards. Want to know more the USTA Eastern Section, which left) Brian Connor & about the Regional Board and its gives preference to non-profits or 501 Ian Zalansky and Final- (c)3 organizations. These are Regional ists Justin Skidmore & Grants; the application link and de- Jason Maciorowski… tails can be found on the Long Island Region's website at www.longisland. According to Newsday, usta.com. Questions? Email ustaon- Huntington’s Park Av- [email protected]… enue Tennis Club has been sold for $3.2 Carefree Racquet Club in Merrick million and will continue to be operat- hosted the 4th Annual Susan Alvy ed as a tennis facility. With four in- Memorial Tournament in Decem- door courts and 30,000 square feet, ber. Susan was the longtime manager the club was sold to Huntington resi- members? Click here… of Rockville Racquet Club and a mem- dents Karen and Phil Cadorette of ber of the Long Island USTA League Peyton Capital Partners LLC. The cou- Did you know that you can find a Committee. Susan lost her battle to ple told Newsday they plan to reno- complete history of USTA Long Island cancer in November 2014, not long vate the lobby, lighting system and Regional awards dating back to 1990 after Rockville Racquet closed its HVAC system…. on the Long Island web site? This his- doors for good. The tournament con- tory includes prestigious and excel- sists of Men’s Doubles with an “A” USTA Eastern honored several Long lence awardees and a division for 4.5-5.0 players and a “B” Islanders at its Annual Awards Dinner list of high school ten- division for 3.5-4.0 players. All play- in January. Recognized for their nis champions through ers competed in a final round on Mon- achievements were Herb Harris, Keith the years. Check it out day, January 2nd followed by a break- Kambourian, Daniel Burgess, Nancy here. fast and a trophy presentation by Su- McShea and Heather Corriel. Check

USTA Eastern Long Island USTA Long Island Region Executive Board

Jonathan Klee, President Sunny Fishkind, Vice President Like us on Facebook: Mike Pavlides, Past President USTA Long Island Craig Fligstein, Treasurer Follow us on Twitter: USTA_LI Terri Arnold-McKenzie, Secretary

We are committed to the promotion and growth of tennis, the "lifetime To subscribe to On the Ball: News from sport," for people of all ages and abilities to play and enjoy the game. LI, please send your email address to: Through the efforts of volunteers, USTA staff and strategic partners, we are dedicated to the highest standards of integrity, honesty and ethics in [email protected] developing tennis programs in local communities throughout Long Is- land. Our mission will be served by having our youth, our adults and corporate partners enjoy the "sport for a lifetime."

Visit us on the web at: www.longisland.usta.com On The Ball: News From LI is published quarterly by the USTA Eastern Long Island Region. Written and produced by Jacki Binder. Edited by Michael Pavlides. Founded by Daniel Burgess.