The GCTA Supports Tennis
The GCTA Supports TennisGREATER COLUMBUS TENNIS ASSOCIATION
OVTA ANNUAL REPORT 2004
At the GCTA Annual Meeting held on September 16, 2004 the following slate of officers and board members was approved:
Janet Craycraft, President
Rita Brown, Vice President
Jane McMeekin, Vice President
Geri Schlegel, Vice President
Jake Will, Jr., Treasurer
Doug Snapp, Secretary
Gary Alexander, Men's League
Rita Brown, Women's League
Harvey Beahm, OVTA Representative
Denica Bruce, Columbus Recreation and Parks Dept.
Steve Ryuse, Jr. Davis Cup Captain
Michelle Jarrett, Jr. Wightman Cup Captain
Terri Jones, USTA Summer League Coordinator
Rebecca Stanchin, USTA Jr. Team Coordinator
Board Members
Term up in 2006 Term up in 2007 Term up in 2005 Andy Alexander Harvey Beahm Carol Alexander Denica Bruce Jim Flower Gary Alexander Janet Craycraft Jim Hendrix Rita Brown Art Haus Jeff Johnston Dave King Brooks Naffziger Jane McMeekin Paul Kobelt Erin Ortman Chuck Merzbacher Doug Snapp Bud Petersen Shirley Neibauer Vince Solomon Bob Schafer Sharon Rusk Shawn Walton Geri Schlegel Jean Shaw Jake Will, Jr. Ty Tucker Deena Snapp Dan Witteman Jake Will, Sr. Les Varnado, Jr.
PURPOSE
The Greater Tennis Association is a non profit organization that supports tennis in the central Ohio area. The GCTA is an organization made up of volunteers. The GCTA is the USTA Community Tennis Association for Central Ohio. The progression is GCTA, Ohio Valley Tennis Association, USTA Midwest Section, and USTA.
GCTA Women's Leagues
With 1914 players representing 104 daytime teams and 35 career teams, the GCTA Women's Leagues enjoyed a terrific 2004. Levels of play included 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, and gold. The season began with two fun, well attended "kick-off" parties in March. The season concluded with a very successful Champs of Champions event held in August at New Albany Country Club, Worthington Hills Country Club, and The Lakes Country Club.
GCTA Men's Leagues
The 2004 Columbus Tennis Association Men's Leagues were held from the beginning of June to mid-September. Just over 1,000 men, ranging from 18 to 92, participated in eight different leagues. This past season, leagues were offered at the following levels: 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, open, gold (45's), silver (55's), platinum (65's), and diamond (70's). Twenty-four facilities in central Ohio sponsored teams this season.
The Champs of Champions Event, a season ending tournament was held September 18 and 19 at Northam Park. Selected representatives of each team participated in singles and doubles divisions. The finalists of this event, and all league finalists, were recognized at the GCTA awards reception held Sunday September 26.
USA Junior Team Tennis
The Columbus Area USA Junior Team Tennis had an exciting 2004 season! 2004 was a year of big changes for the league, but that never stopped our participants from having fun! The GCTA league had 79 teams participating with over 380 participants, all of which were USTA members! This league contained Novice, Intermediate and Advanced groups in both the 14 and Under and 18 and Under Divisions.
The 5 weeks of match play helped the participants become better tennis players and see the joys of playing tennis on a team. Out of 79 teams, the Columbus area league advanced 12 teams to the Ohio Valley District Championships. These teams enjoyed a great day of tennis at Wittenberg University and even continued their season at the Midwest Championships in Indianapolis. Congratulations to all participants and let's have a great 2005 season!
USA Adult League Tennis
The winter USA Tennis league, played at six Columbus area indoor tennis clubs, enjoyed a very competitive season. The 2003-2004 Sept. - Dec. league and the Jan. - April league, coordinated by Bob Hilborn, included a total of 20 leagues for the two seasons. There were 150 teams playing in those leagues, 2,036 players registered to play on those teams, and had one State Championship team, the 5.0 Men from Wickertree Tennis Club.
Summer USA Tennis Leagues
Summer USA Tennis Leagues began in May of 2000. Now in its 5th year, it has grown from 15 teams to over 40 teams with close to 500 participants in 2004. In most leagues, the competition was so close that the last match determined who advanced to the district competition in Charleston, West Virginia. This year the following teams advanced to the Districts:
3.0 Women: Wickertree Tennis Club
3.5 Women: Wickertree Tennis Club
4.0 Women: Hilliard Davidson High School
4.5 Women: Otterbein Tennis
4.0 Senior: Upper Arlington High School
4.0 Men: New Albany Country Club
4.0 Senior Men: Worthington Hills Country Club
4.5 Men: Scarborough Tennis Club
7.0 Mixed Doubles: Scarborough Tennis Club
8.0 Mixed Doubles: Scarborough Tennis Club
GCTA Area Qualifier
The GCTA Area Qualifier was played at various indoor tennis clubs during the month of May. Play began May 5th and continued through June 4th and played at five host clubs:
Olympic - B12 and G18
Tower Tennis - B14
Scarborough - B16 and B18
Player's Club - G12
Racquet Club - G14 and G16
Overall, there were 323 total entries including 154 boys (up 22 from 2003) and 169 girls (up 13 from 2003).
Playing indoors has worked out very well: it helps with scheduling and allows the event to proceed with certainty and without delays due to weather.
Columbus might still consider playing the boys 14, 16, and 18 events before March 15 start of the high school season. Too many boys are "scared off" by the OHSAA. Playing might increase the number of entries in these divisions…if the facilities and/or courts can be found.
Girls 16's District Qualifier
The Girls 16's District Qualifiers to the Midwest Closed was held in Columbus from June 2nd - 16th. The tournament had a full draw of 64 selected from a group of over 70 applicants. Trophies were awarded to the first 6 singles finishers and to the doubles finalists. Sixteen players qualified to the Midwest Closed, held in Indianapolis.
The winner of the tournament, held at Upper Arlington High School was Christine Johnston and the runner-up, Jessica Rhee.
Carol Alexander has been chairperson since 1978. Her able assistants were Doug and Deena Snapp, Nicole Monsul, and referee Bob Schafer.
Junior Davis Cup and Junior Wightman Cup
Both and the Junior Davis Cup team, captained by Steve Ryuse, and the Junior Wightman Cup team, captained by Michelle Jarrett, were runners-up in the OVTA Championships.
Awards Ceremony
On September 26, 2004, the GCTA held its annual Awards Ceremony at the Upper Arlington Municipal Building. The following awards were presented:
GCTA Media Award
Anthony Rothman
NewsCenter Sports Anchor and Reporter
ABC-6 and FOX-28
GCTA Special Recognition Award
Bob Herold
Brooks Naffziger
Neal Newman
Bob Rubery
Geri Schlegel
Jeremy Wurtzman
Outstanding Promotion of Tennis
Doug Snapp
Margo Mansfield Award
GCTA Female Player of the Year
Kirsten Flower
GCTA Male Player of the Year
Chase Buchanan
Lifetime Achievement Awards
Phil Landauer
Bill Warrens
Umpire's Awards
Bob Schafer
The GCTA could not operate without the hard work and dedication of its many members and volunteers. To all who give so unselfishly for the betterment of the game of tennis, thank you.
Sincerely yours,
Harvey Beahm
GCTA Past President and GCTA Area Chair