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| Monica 2 |
Day two of the 2003 USA League Tennis Adult 3.5 National Championships was full of drama as teams battled for Sunday's semifinal spots in the draw. Bright sunshine and cooler temperatures were once again prevalent.
Tournament Director Monica Haller-Bradley says "things are running smooth." Shown here, she wears floral lai which the Hawaii Pacific team brought from Hawaii to present as gifts to staff.
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| Florida captain, whose team has an international cast of lplayers, proudly displays flag of her birthplace, Peru. |
Tennis…the International Sport
The sport of tennis is a universal sport played all around the world. Every day, people from all walks of life, backgrounds, and nationalities participate in the great sport of tennis.
This year’s 3.5 women’s team from the USA Tennis Florida Section is a great example of this as they have players of Korean, Russian, French, Dominican, Peruvian, Paraguayan, Brazilian and American nationalities.
Engagement on the Line for Hawaii Captain
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| Captian Gaye Fujimoto from Hawaii-Pacific awaits her fate |
Number one captain Gaye Fujimoto from Hawaii-Pacific, awaiting her fate as she watches her teams matches, made a bet with Trisha Inafuku that if they won she would get married.
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| Tisha Inafuku from Hawaii-Pacific makes a big bet! |
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| "The" Proposal |
Is it Just That Time of the Year?
Mike Miller, team member of the USTA Southern California Section 3.5 men’s team from
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| Players and supporters anxiously await their 8:00AM matches |
Friday, October 3, 2003
The 2003 USA League Tennis 3.5 Adult National Championships began play today under gorgeous skies in Tucson, Ariz. This year’s event is being held at Randolph Park Tennis Center, on of the nations premiere public tennis facilities and recipient of the 1993 USTA Outstanding Tennis Facility award. With some 34 teams in competition representing each of the 17 USTA Sections, a diverse and delightful group of competitors and friends have come to Tucson for an event full of fun, competition, camaraderie and more.
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| Lou Giglio is happy to be here in more ways than one |
Tennis Helps Heart Attack Recovery
Lou Giglio of the 3.5 men’s team from the USA Tennis New England Section is very proud to be at this year’s National Championships for more reasons than one. After suffering a heart attack approximately 1 ½ years ago, Lou questioned if he may ever live a healthy and normal life again, let alone play tennis again. A long 1 ½ years later, Lou is fired up to be a part of this years New England sectional 3.5 men’s champions now contending for the national title. "Both physically and mentally, tennis has helped me to recover. This is my passion and what I look forward to every day."
Lou has been playing tennis with this same group of gentlemen for over nine years now. He has come to love and cherish their time on the court together. As a recent retiree as Director of Sales for Delta Airlines, Lou made the choice to move to Hudson, Fla. He will sorely miss playing weekly tennis with his teammates, but looks forward to continuing tennis and his involvement in USA League Tennis.
Tattooed "Winning Whites" Ready for Battle
Dubbed back home as the "Winning Whites", the 3.5 Middle States women have their sights
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| Winning Whites |
set on a national championship and a weekend of fun! Possibly looking to intimidate their opponents, the "Winning Whites" woke up this morning to the tune of "Eye of the Tiger", they’re team song, and decided to put tattoos around their biceps. But instead of going for the fierce and common Pamela Anderson barbed-wire design, they opted for a row of tennis rackets instead. Although temporary and maybe not so fierce, the tattoos are certainly fun!
As much fun as they are already having, these ladies are also here to win. They are armed with experience as players Mona Jaffe (three times) and Theresa Greed (two times) have been to nationals before, teammates Linda Raftery and Fran Lieb are on an 8-match win streak and coach Mike Kremeans has their strategy in line.
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| Ted Watrous with documentation of his USTA membership #806 |
USTA Membership for $2.12 Per Year?
It’s true. Ted Watrous, team member of the USTA Florida Section 3.5 men’s team has been a lifetime member of the USTA for a good 47 years! In fact, his membership number is #806. (Take a look at your number and you’re bound to have a few more digits than that!) At the age of 17, Ted’s father, Win Watrous who was on the board of directors for the Florida Lawn Tennis Association at the time, bought him a lifetime USTA membership for $100. Ted would play for years before putting the game aside to focus on work. After a 20 year break from the game, Ted’s back, better than ever and ready for this year’s national championships. "My four goals in returning to tennis are simple. 1) to keep in shape physically 2) to meet people and make new friends 3) I love the competitive spirit and 4) to have fun!," stated Mr. Watrous.
As two more very interesting points, Ted is the proud owner of a 40-acre coconut palm plantation in Florida. His father, Win, invented the first rotary lawnmower and would eventually sell out to Toro.