Since 1980, USTA League play has grown from 13,000 players in a few parts of the country in its first year to more than 300,000 players across the nation today, making it the world’s largest recreational tennis league. Each year, over a two-month time span, leagues of varying NTRP levels from across the 17 USTA sections, compete for the national title at the The USTA League National Championships. This year, nearly 30 Southern California adult league teams qualified to represent #TeamSoCal at the USTA National Championships throughout October.
The 55 & Over 8.0 men’s team from Arcadia, California — dubbed the Seabiscuits — captured the title at the National Campus in Orlando on October 24. It was the first title at this event for a SoCal squad. The Seabiscuits defeated a team from Louisiana in the championship match after beating a team from Hawaii in the semis. Arcadia’s Seabiscuits are captained by Andy Chang, along with Fernando Hernandez, Kevin Frazier, John Capoccia, Brian Newhall, Kevin Paik, David Hansen, Allin Everman, Arthur Chen, James Hodge, Timothy Song, Leonard Loventhal, Victor Ho, James Min, Corey Brown, Joseph Caldito, Paul Moya, and Jung Kim. Way to go, boys!
Halloween weekend brought great success for the 55 & Over 9.0 men’s team from Laguna Hills, who secured #TeamSoCal’s second national title of the Championships. After defeating Middle States’ in the semifinals, Laguna Hills swept South Carolina to take home the gold! The team is led by captain Cory Fiene along with Douglas Mathews, Jeffrey Johnston, Michael Kovar, Fred Morris, Tom Duddy, John Hammargren, David Porte, Russell Brose, Glenn Petrovic, Bruce Beinlich, Marc Roest, and Kevin Kearney.
The women’s 55 & Over 6.0 team from Bakersfield captured the national title in Orlando, the first #TeamSoCal women’s crew to take home the top trophy at these Championships. Led by captain Laurie Haagsma, the Bakersfield team defeated Florida in the championship match after knocking out Maryland in the semis. The team features: Cindy Seibly, Agnes DeJong, Susan Frakes, Angela Echeverria, Rhonda McBride, Michele Buoni, Terry Echevveria, Linette Holliday, Laurie Haagsma, Marri Tillema, Michelle Pisano, and Dianne Benshoof.