Texas Men Look to Overcome Rangers’ Loss and Win Title
October 29, 2011 02:33 PM
|
|
Texas 3.0 Senior men watch Game 7 of the World Series.
|
By J. Fred Sidhu, Special to USTA.com
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. – Even though the Texas Rangers baseball club lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh game of the 2011 World Series, there is still one Texas men’s team that hopes to win a title this weekend.
The USTA Texas Section 3.0 Senior team from Tyler, Texas sits at the top of Flight 6 at the USTA League 3.0 Senior National Championships with a sparkling 3-0 record and looks to clinch a spot in Sunday’s semifinals later today.
On Friday, after the Texas men defeated the USTA Midwest Section 2-1 in a late afternoon match, they made their way over to the player lounge at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden to watch Game 7 of the World Series and cheer on their Texas Rangers.
After watching his Texas Rangers lose, Mike Wilcox, captain of the Texas Section men’s team, was disappointed, but he also gave credit to the winning team. "The World Series was awesome, very entertaining for everyone," Wilcox said. "Obviously we wanted Texas to win. St. Louis has a great franchise. They’re just a great team."
The 60-year-old Wilcox, the president and owner of an environmental business in Texas, has been a Rangers’ season ticket holder for 15 years. "I’m a big Texas Rangers fan…and have followed them for many years," he said. "I felt very sad for the Rangers and for everyone that was involved because they had come so close in Game 6. I really felt sadness for my Rangers."
Wilcox, who began playing tennis in 2005, said it would feel "awesome" if his team could capture the USTA League 3.0 Senior National Championship this weekend. "It would really be a great thing for us. It’s such a privilege to be here," he said. "I know many players that have played (tennis) all their lives and never had the opportunity to play in a National Championship."
The Texas Section 3.0 senior men’s team, which only brought the team minimum six players to Indian Wells, represents the Hollytree Country Club in Tyler Texas. In the past, the club has had teams advance to the USTA League Nationals, but they have never won a USTA National title.
Click here for more stories from the 2011 USTA League National Championships.