Cloudy / 59° F
Pelham tennis teams compete in State tournament
Published 9:43am Wednesday, August 11, 2010By ACE FUTRELL / Staff Writer
The Pelham USTA Junior Tennis Team competed in the Alabama State Championship in Auburn July 24-25.
Pelham Racquet Club pro Rusty Wilkes took 4 teams to compete: The 18-and-under PRC Topspin Tornadoes, the 14-and-under PRC Heat, the 14-and-under Eagles, and the 12-and-under PRC Lobsters.
“We had plenty of success” Wilkes said. “ The Tornadoes won all three matches Saturday before falling to Mobile, the eventual champions,” and finished 3rd overall, he said.
The tournament fielded 320 players and about 45 teams according to Tournament Director Kevin Wilson.
“With (the Tornadoes) finishing 3rd overall, it’s still very good.”
The PRC Heat defeated Anniston, Selma and Trussville, losing only to Inverness.
The Heat finished 4th overall out of the 9 teams in their age group.
“We’ll have most of the (14-and-under) players back next year, so we have a great shot at winning in 2011,” Wilkes said.
Two of the teams Wilkes took to the tournament were novice-level, and attended to gain experience.
The Eagles 14-and-under did not win any matches, but earned the most respect from Wilkes.
“They had to toughest draw,” Wilkes said. “They had to play up to the intermediate level, and had a monumental task.”
The PRC Lobsters had the best results of Wilkes’ teams, qualifying as Alabama State finalists.
Justice Lichlyter, 7, earned the sportsmanship award for the division.
“I’m very proud of all my teams; we can’t win every year, but we’ve had results of the past 8 years that I don’t think can be matched by any program,” Wilkes said.
The Lobsters 12’s include Justice Lichlyter, Tyler Guerra, Nicole Nowak and Katelyn Bussey, Adhrik Chethan, Zach Moon, Captain Karen Cross, Hunter Bussey, Coach Rusty Wilkes, Brianna Dewilde, Madison Godwin and Keeton Cross.
The Heat 14’s include Madi Bria, Madison Mims, Whitney Hamner and Faith Nolen, Captain Steve Harrell, Jake Harrell, Chris Thomason, Ben Friedlander, Seth Lichlyter, Coach Rusty Wilkes, Wes Holley and Captain Jeff Friedlander.
The Eagles 14’s include Zach Atwell, Parker Hand, Zach Cole and Emily Sullivan, Coach Omar Alcaino, Kelsey Efferson, Captain Kim Cole, James Canady, Coach Rusty Wilkes, Natalie Lorimera and Emily Wood.
The Topspin Tornadoes 18’s include Ellen Scott, Morgan Friedlander, Caitlin Owsley and Laura Harwell, Coach Rusty Wilkes, Jacob Thole, Balark Chethan, Captain Ganesh Venkateshan, Paul Lichlyter, Jim Scott, Tyler Shaw and Captain Tim Scott. Not pictured is Mary Lichlyter.
-The Eagle’s 14’s list of players should have been placed under the bottom left picture.
-The Heat 14’s should have been placed under the bottom right.
-The Topspin Tornadoes 18’s should have been listed under the top left.
-The Lobsters 12’s should have been listed under the top right.
(Report comment)