WTT POC 2011 FINAL

News from World TeamTennis  

November 9, 2012   

2012 WTT REC LEAGUE NATIONALS

Nine Teams Win Championships at WTT Rec League Nationals 

  

 Conquistadores, of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, went undefeated at the
WTT Rec Nationals to win the 3.0 Division championship. (Photo:WTT)
 
Over the weekend of Nov. 2-4, the 2012 World TeamTennis Rec League Nationals were held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, Calif. Nine teams (including Spin Doctors in the 4.5 Division pictured above) took home championship hardware.  Teams from California, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico and Virginia topped their divisional opponents to score national championship titles.

 

With nearly 400 players from 15 states and Puerto Rico in town for the tournament, teams battled it out in matches on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for a chance to reign as the defending champ of their division.  On the last day of the tournament, competition peaked as all teams played their final match of the season, with two matchups being decided in Supertiebreakers. 

 

Titles were won by the following teams: 3.0 Division - Conquistadores, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico; 3.5 Division - True Lies, Orange, Calif.; 4.0 Division - Kumana, Honolulu; 4.5 Division - Spin Doctors, Aliso Viejo, Calif.; Senior 3.5 Division - Roadrunners, Indio, Calif.; Senior 4.0 Division - Old Strokes, La Mesa, Calif.; Senior 4.5 Division - Short Skirts Long Racquets - Virginia Beach, Va.; Super Senior 3.5 Division - Smashers, Lancaster, Pa.; and Super Senior 4.0 Division - Winning Shots, Lancaster, Pa.

 

To read the entire WTT Rec Nationals results, click HERE.  

 

 

Mylan Has Found a Match in WTT 

Pictured (l. to r.) WTT CEO/Commissioner Ilana Kloss, Mylan President Rajiv Malik, Mylan Executive Chairman Robert J. Coury, Mylan CEO Heather Bresch, WTT co-founder Billie Jean King and Sir Elton John. (Credit: Fred & Susan Mullane / Camerawork USA)

Mylan is proud to announce its three-year partnership with World TeamTennis (WTT), an organization that clearly shares the company's dedication to access. Whether it's WTT's lineup of star-studded events, or Mylan's commitment to setting new standards in health care, both organizations have a lot in common when it comes to creating access.

 

For more than 50 years, Mylan has been advocating values that align closely with those of WTT. Heather Bresch, the CEO of Mylan, recently remarked, "Mylan chose to partner with WTT due to our organizations' shared commitment to helping people around the world overcome barriers to access. For WTT, access means making sure everyone has the opportunity to participate on a team, preparing people-regardless of age, gender or race-to compete both in sports and in life. For Mylan, access is our purpose. We are working every day to set new standards in health care and provide the world's 7 billion people access to high quality medicine-and breaking down barriers to access along the way."

 

Mylan and WTT have already begun putting their partnership to work. At their first event together, the 20th anniversary of Smash Hits, Mylan and WTT delivered a top-notch tennis event, while also raising a record-setting  

$1 million dollars for a cause Mylan cares about passionately, with funds benefiting the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force.

 

Mylan has found a solid partner in WTT and hopes you will support the company's pledge to improve access to both tennis and high quality medicine around the world. If you would like to see more about Mylan, its mission or its products, please visit Mylan.com.

MYLAN WTT SMASH HITS RAISES A RECORD $1 MILLION


Team Billie Jean Beats Team Elton 19-17
 
   
An all-star lineup took the court at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh for the 20th anniversary celebration of Mylan WTT Smash Hits.  Pictured (l. to r.) Andre Agassi, Stefanie Graf, Christina McHale, Samantha Crawford, NFL legend Franco Harris, Billie Jean King, Sir Elton John, Martina Navratilova, Jan-Michael Gambill, Mark Knowles, Anna Kournikova, Taylor Townsend and Andy Roddick. (Credit: Fred & Susan Mullane /Camerawork USA)  

The 20th anniversary Mylan WTT Smash Hits presented by GEICO was one for the record books with the event posting a record $1 million for the Elton John AIDS Foundation with a portion of those proceeds benefiting the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force.  The event, hosted annually by Sir Elton John and Billie Jean King, has now raised more the $11.5 million to support HIV and AIDS prevention and awareness programs since the first Smash Hits was held in Los Angeles in 1993.  

 

The October 16 match at the Petersen Event Center on the University of Pittsburgh campus featured one of the first tennis appearances of Andy Roddick since announcing his retirement from the sport, and hall of famer Andre Agassi in men's singles.  Team Elton's Roddick won the final set of men's singles over Agassi, 5-3, to push the match into Overtime.  Agassi then captured the first game of Overtime to give Team Billie Jean a 19-17 win over Team Elton, tying the 20-year series at 10-10.

To read the entire Smash Hits press release, click HERE

   

   

 
 
 
(Image: Wilson)   

WTT REC NATIONALS WILSON CLINIC 

 

To kick off the WTT Rec Nationals weekend in Indian Wells, Calif., Wilson hosted a clinic on site at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, Friday, Nov. 2.  WTT co-founder Billie Jean King stopped by the clinic to welcome the participants and wish them luck in the tournament.  Wilson US Promotions Coordinator Cy Dofitas and several local pros coordinated drills and games for more than 300 players to participate in that night.     



     
 
(Photos: WTT)  

2012 DELAINE MAST AWARD WINNERS    

Claudette Sealy, of Virginia Beach, Va., accepts her award from Delaine Mast at the WTT Rec Nationals in Indian Wells, Calif., accompanied by WTT co-founder Billie Jean King. 
The Delaine Mast Award was established to recognize a male and female League director who contributes to the growth of tennis and WTT, as well as being a leader and role model in his/her local tennis community.  The two 2012 recipients went above and beyond in their efforts to grow the game.

"I am honored to recognized Claudette Sealy and David Bell for all they do in their communities to keep people having fun and playing TENNIS! They are truly shining examples of what the Delaine Mast Award for outstanding male and female League Directors is all about. Their countless hours and undying energy and passion for the sport of tennis and their willingness to provide programs for
any ages and abilities makes them true 'pied pipers' of TENNIS!"


-Delaine Mast, National Director of the WTT Recreational Leagues

Claudette Sealy - Virginia Beach, Va.  
Claudette Sealy is currently a USTA League Coordinator who organizes players for various local leagues in Virginia Beach, Va.  She is a Board member of the Virginia Beach Tennis Patrons Association and also coordinates WTT Rec League play in her community.  In 2009, she was instrumental in bringing junior TeamTennis to her area, and she also coordinates the Banana Open Tennis Tournaments, which have been running for 33 years.  The website vbtennislife.com was started by Sealy to keep people informed of community tennis news.  She plays on several teams in the Adult 4.0 leagues and captains a few of them.  Sealy has been a WTT League Director since 2000 and has more than 2300 players from the Virginia Beach area.  In 2012, she made her second trip to WTT Rec Nationals with her team, WTT Senior Crew, after finishing as runner-up in the Senior 4.0 Division in 2011.

David Bell - Raleigh, N.C.

David Bell is the Tennis Director for Raleigh Parks and Recreation and runs the Millbrook Exchange Tennis Center, which has hosted a WTT National Qualifier for the past six years.  He started in May of 2004 and began running WTT leagues the same year for more than 3200 players of all levels.  Bell has been a USPTA (P1) Certified Teaching Professional since 1990 as well as a Cardio Tennis Authorized Provider and a US Racquet Stringers Association member. He works closely with the Raleigh Tennis Association, which is a very active Community Tennis Association in Raleigh. Millbrook Exchange is a designated Tennis Welcome Center and more recently named a USTA 10  & Under High Performance Center.  Bell and his staff provide thousands of players of all ages and abilities opportunities to play WTT and USTA Leagues, Junior Team Tennis, Cardio Tennis, Adult and Junior Ladders, drills and clinics, 10 & Under Tennis, USTA Southern Sanctioned tournaments and many more programs that keep people in Raleigh having fun on the tennis courts.

HOT SHOT

Left: Kumana poses with Billie Jean King in uniform.
Right: Chris Evert and Andre Agassi look-alikes.
(Credit : Tom Brewster Photography)

At the WTT Rec League Nationals player party, Billie Jean King nominated a few of her favorite team uniforms. Out of the 49 teams in attendance, Hawaii's Kumana, who mimicked King's style in black-and-white warm-up suits, caught the tennis legend's eye. Pictured here with their inspiration are team members   Raimi Reisen, Rob Jaeckel, Jeffrey Grimmer, Janelle Ng, Devin  Kutara, 
Gammon Miura, Jodi Tanabe-Hanzawa and captain Pom Luxton.

Players also had the opportunity to participate in a lookalike contest. The winners were the Chris Evert and Andre Agassi doubles, who
displayed the legends' looks from head-to-toe.

 

 

     

 

Kastles 2011 logo

 

GEICO header 2011 jpg

 

 

After two undefeated seasons and back-to-back WTT titles, the 2012 WTT champs were awarded "Washington Kastles Day" by the D.C. Mayor and City Council. Mayor Vincent Gray and City Council Chairman Phil Mendelson proclaimed October 22, 2012 to be Washington Kastles Day in recognition of the team's second consecutive championship season, unprecedented winning streak and many contributions to the city.  

      

 

     

 

 

 

 

In 2013, the Boston Lobsters will have a new venue. Next summer when the WTT Pro League season commences, the Lobsters will play at the Manchester Athletic Club (MAC) in Manchester, Mass. The Joan Norton Tennis Center will host the newly constructed home court during the 38th WTT season next July. For more information on the venue change, click HERE   




Caps logo 2011       

The Sacramento Capitals have announced that Kolleen McNamee has been named as the team's general manager for the 2013 season. McNamee was the former athletic director at Saint Francis High School and has been involved in sports as an athlete, a coach and an administrator for more than 35 years. To read more about the Caps new GM, click HERE.  

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In This Issue
WTT Rec Nationals
Mylan-WTT Partnership
Mylan WTT Smash Hits
WILSON
Delaine Mast Award Winners
GEICO: Around the League

2013 WTT REC  

LEAGUE CALENDAR

 

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REC LEAGUE

NATIONAL QUALIFIERS

 

     

March 1-3   

Florida Tennis Center

Daytona Beach, Fla.   

 

 

April 26-28 

Darling Tennis Center

Las Vegas, Nev.

 

 

July 12-14

Plaza Tennis Center

Kansas City, Mo.

 

 

August TBD

Raleigh, N.C. 

 

  

September TBD 

Heritage Park

Irvine, Calif.  

 

 

October TBD

Lancaster, Pa. 

 

 

Rec League Nationals  

November TBD 

Indian Wells Tennis Garden

Indian Wells, Calif.   

 

Dates and locations will be updated as they are confirmed. Six qualifiers will be offered in 2013. 

WTT

MEMBER BENEFITS

 

What are the benefits of playing in a WTT Rec League?   

In addition to the competitive and fun on court experience, there's even more off the court for WTT members -- ticket discounts to WTT Pro League matches and major professional tennis tournaments; along with discounts for Hyatt hotels, National Car Rental and AMC Theatres.  

 

See a full list of WTT member benefits HERE.

PRO TOUR RESULTS 

2011 Player Results

 

Official Sponsors

Geico logo





DecoTurf  



USTA


Wilson 2011 



 

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If there was ever a time and a place to meet Billie Jean King, the 2013
US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Training Center is it.

Next August, one Grand Prize winner will have the chance of a lifetime to attend Opening Day of the US Open in King's own personal suite.  The lucky winner and their guest will be rewarded with a meet-and-greet with the tennis legend, a two-night stay in a New York area hotel and cash spending money for the trip.

Read more about the sweepstakes, the runners-up prizes and the
Official Rules HERE.