New England

Tri-Level Nationals Unite New England Players

James Maimonis, Manager, Media & Communications | March 10, 2021

SURPRISE, AZ - USTA Adult League Nationals are back. After nearly a year of canceled championships, New England League teams returned to the national stage for the first time since before COVID-19 hit the United States. 

 

Men’s and women’s 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 Tri-Level teams joined forces and competed as Team New England from March 5-7 at the USTA League Tri-Level National Invitational in Surprise, AZ. 

 

This year’s invitational looked a little different with extreme safety measures and protocols put in place. Teams were only permitted in the facility when playing a match, temperatures were taken upon entrance, masks were always required except while playing, and social distancing was stressed. 

 

That didn’t stop the New Englanders however, who came ready to play and to enjoy their experience to the fullest. 

 

“USTA did an amazing job making us feel safe. We had a great time at Nationals where our team really bonded. The experience was thrilling and once in a lifetime, said Beth Brause,” New England women’s captain. 

 

Brause, who plays out of Guilford Racquet Club in Guilford, CT, was joined in Arizona by co-captain Sharon Marczewski and six other Guilford teammates as well as new teammates, Lana Arau and Kerry McCormick, from Maine.

“We all shared our great love of the game and our excitement for playing with such tough competitors. Getting to know our own Maine 3.5 girls was one of the best parts. The two girls played all four matches and they were so nice and enthusiastic off the court but so tough and competitive on the court,” Brause said. 

 

On the men’s side, Connecticut and Maine shared a similar bond. Nils Boenicke, who plays out of Kings Highway in Darien, CT, captained the team composed of his 4.5 partner, Neal Collins, two other Connecticut pairs and a duo from Maine, Alan Toothaker and Ben Beverly.

 

“We all wanted to do well together and represent New England. We had most meals as a team and became pretty tight by the end. This was a great bonding experience for us,” Boenicke said.

While both the men and women played tight matches all weekend long, including the men taking eventual champion, Texas, to two super tiebreaks, both teams finished 0-4. Adjusting to the elements was one factor the captains agreed contributed to their results. 

 

“We knew that the competition was going to be challenging. We knew that many teams play outdoors all year round and this was going to be an easier transition,” Brause said. “We really just wanted to get the experience of Nationals, which was a bucket list for many of us and have a great time enjoying each other’s company and getting to absorb the tournament atmosphere.”

 

“We had no real expectations of reaching the semifinals. Coming in the middle of winter, only playing once a week then going outdoors and competing against teams from warm weather is always tough,” Boenicke added. “We noticed other teams coming from the north and northeast shared similar struggles while the warm-weather teams generally played better.”

 

The women fell to teams from Florida, Eastern, SoCal and Southwest, while the men lost to opponents from Mid-Atlantic, Middle States, Texas and Northern. 

 

While everyone came from different regions, climates and preparations, one thing linked all teams: the ability to play tennis. 

 

“We were all serious, but no one took it too seriously out there. No officials were called, no one was yelling or screaming or getting carried away. Everyone echoed the same sentiment that they were just happy to be out there,” Boenicke said. 

 

“We are thrilled that the worst of COVID-19 is behind us and our own wonderful sport is moving forward unscathed. Tennis is an important part of our lives and really therapeutic for us, which is why we named our team, 'Net Therapy,'" Brause said. 

 

“Going to Arizona was really the culmination of a terribly sad, scary year and a celebration that we made it through the tough challenges. Our entire team was proud and privileged to represent USTA New England and appreciate all the hard work that our section devoted to make it happen.”

 

The majority of New England players selected for Nationals were able to compete, however  teams were missing a few players due to COVID-19 positive tests or restrictions. The men’s team was notably without original captain, Doug Presley, who was unable to attend due to travel restrictions. 

 

The full men’s Nationals roster was: Nils Boenicke & Neil Collins (4.5), Alan Toothaker & Ben Beverly (4.0), Henric Babtist & Walid Bouzouita (4.0), Albert Kim & Anthony Milio (3.5)

 

The full women’s Nationals roster was: Beth Brause, Elisa Milano, Melissa Page and Kerry Shay (4.5), Sharon Marczewski, Theresa Panico, Signe Breeden and Sarah Sandora (4.0), Lana Arau & Kerry McCormick (3.5). 

 

Complete Tri-Level Invitational results can be found here. 

Skip Advertisement

Advertisement

Related Articles

  • Visit the Sharon Murphy Spotlight page
    Sharon Murphy Spotlight
    August 18, 2026
    "This is stupid." That was the verdict from a group of kids at a summer club in Glastonbury, CT, the first time Sharon Murphy laid caution tape across the length of the court, creating six 36-foot courts on one full-size tennis court. The kids wanted to know why. Why couldn't they just play with the yellow ball? Read More
  • Visit the Gravity is Undefeated page
    Gravity is Undefeated
    August 18, 2026
    When I was 34, I heard Stan Smith give a lecture on the role of the head in posture and balance. Being a young, all-knowing coach at the time, I thought it was obvious. Of course posture and balance matter. Seven years later, I had an epiphany. I finally saw what true posture and balance actually look like. It is not obvious. Not even close. I had to pay attention. Close attention. And in my experience, it is the root cause of most technical errors coaches are trying to solve. But once you see it, posture and balance become an essential part of your technical lens. Read More
  • Visit the Bronze at Maccabiah Games page
    Bronze at Maccabiah Games
    August 06, 2026
    Trailing by a set and down 1-5 in the second of a brutal, three-and-a-half-hour bronze medal match at July’s Maccabiah Games, Wellesley, MA’s Janet Pearl was just one game away from losing the medal of her dreams. But Pearl was no stranger to uphill battles. Fighting through a painful elbow injury on top of a multi-year recovery from a knee injury, the 61-year-old refused to give up. Relying on the grit honed over years of rehabilitation, she battled back point after point to win the match and secure the bronze for Maccabi USA, a non-profit sponsoring the American delegation at the Games. For Pearl, the bronze was more than a win; it was the ultimate symbol of perseverance and the official end of her journey to recovery. Read More