And certainly no one was shedding a tear for Fernanda Rocha, Argentina’s gift to the University Club and the champion of three divisions in this year’s States, even though she had to spend several hours on the court to pull it off. Already the State 4.5 singles champion this year, she adds the prestigious doubles titles to her season’s list of accomplishments, not to mention her off court success in keeping fellow professionals Chris Spahr and Dan Roberts under control.
Her long afternoon/evening began with perhaps her stiffest test, the 39 team B draw. Losers in last year’s quarter finals with Max Montgelas, they were seeded third this year behind Harvard Club’s Nick Iselin & John Palfrey and Charlie Humber & Amrit Kanwal. The former, 2012 champions, were unseated in the round of 16 by the unlikely old-young team of Tom Poor & Jesse Lane, thriving on Jesse’s power and Tom’s shots. That combination continued to work against Errin Siagel & Bobby Harkins in the quarters before succumbing to Court Chilton & Jeff Rodman in a four game semi-final. The latter counted themselves fortunate to edge past Rob Dewees & Josh Horwitz in a five game tussle in the previous round. Rob won the first B event 36 years ago in 1977 and remains a force. Meanwhile, Max & Fernanda, following a five game near stumble against Sandy Tierney & Jim Bildner, cruised into the finals with four game victories over Greg Vernick & Bill Keravuori and Tyler Hill & Scott Beebe. The latter duo had provided the tournament’s biggest upset in eliminating Humber & Kanwal in three straight, capitalizing on Scott’s insistence that there was no ball he could not reach. The final was close for three games as Max’ mercurial coverage was offset by Court’s shots. In the fourth game, however, those shots found the tin more often and Fernanda withstood constant pressure on the forehand to end the match.
That was a good start. The next challenge was to defend her Mixed title with Doug Lifford. Of some assistance was the absence of 2011 champions Margot Kearney & Pat Malloy, Margot having moved to New York. Plenty of serious competition remained, particularly in the form of second seeded Breck Haynes and partner now foe, Max Montgelas. The early going provided one of the best highlights when Glynis Gozigian, mother of partner Graham and playing in only her second year, won a 17-16 fifth game over Elizabeth Hughes & Dan Latimore. It didn’t matter that they in turn were beaten by Chris & Timmy Brownell, another mother-son combination. Fernanda & Doug marched through them in three, struggled a bit against 2009 & 2010 champions Hope Crosier & Chris Spahr to arrive in the final. In the bottom half, Breck & Max had no trouble until a semi-final face off with Jeannie Blasberg & Dan Roberts, now one of the top players on the professional tour. Breck & Jeannie traded cross courts constantly with their partners looking for a loose ball or a poaching chance. Three overtime games to Breck & Max couldn’t have been closer. The final was also very close with Fernanda & Doug squeezing out the fourth and final game, 17-16. All was not totally lost, however, as Breck announced her engagement (some observers believed marriage was less important than winning the States!).
On to Fernanda’s third event, the Womens with partner Hope Crosier. They had won this division the last three years and were the clear favorites although Breck Haynes & Jeannie Blasberg were a potential problem. That potential did not materialize. A remarkable semi-final contest with Hope Prockop & Sue Greene began with a two game lead for Breck & Jeannie, then turned in three overtime games to Hope & Sue, the last at 18-17. Fernanda & Hope meanwhile slipped past Sharon Bradey, Harvard Club’s pro, & Chris Brownell in four games to reach the final. Fernanda’s last match was an easy three game victory, notching their fourth straight title and a stellar performance for the University Club’s assistant professional and member of the Argentine national team.
Max and Dan were also busy as both were in the formidable A draw of 22. This year’s edition featured a number of professionals, Harvard varsity members, juniors and several national champions. Sandy Tierney & Pat Malloy were seeded #1 by virtue of their finalist finish last year. They were OK until the semis where Chris & Carson Spahr, national Father-Son champions, excused them in four tight games. Chris won the last two years with Doug Lifford but had told Doug last year that he’d play with his son going forward. The Spahrs were formidable in earlier three game wins over David Tedeschi (T&R) & Gifford Sommerkamp (UBC) and Andrew Slater & Jon Hyett. Doug teamed this year with Scott Poirier as the #3 seed but ran into Andrew Matuch, the State 35+ champion, & John Nimick, several times national champion and US Squash Hall of Fame member. The result was a five game quarter-final victory for the latter, earning a meeting with the Roberts brothers, Dan & John, professionals at the University and Harvard Clubs respectively. The brothers have played on the professional circuit and encountered little trouble first with Harvard varsity’s Julian Kirby & Brandon McLaughlin, then Max Montgelas & Nick Sisodia who had stymied pros Simba Muhwati (Cross Courts) & Reggie Schonborn (Harvard) previously. The same shutout pattern continued over Andrew & John then into the final against the Spahrs where the Roberts’ speed afoot and hard strokes could not be matched.
But Carson was doing just fine elsewhere in the Siblings as he and sister Caroline (12) undertook the defense of their title in the second year of this event. They edged Ben & Jeremiah Daly in a four game semi-final while Becky (17) & Timmy Brownell in the bottom half were the beneficiaries of tennis elbow sidelining Morgan & Maddie Chai (14). Again it was a battle in the final of the girls on the forehand rail with only stray balls giving the boys a chance. The Spahrs emerged the victors in four, retaining the family name on at least one champions’ trophy.
Timmy Brownell has an endearing grin which masks a competitive intensity that was very clear after the Siblings result to dad Bob in the Parent/Child. This draw has grown in its eight years to nineteen teams and includes offspring of all ages and either father or mother. Carson & Chris Spahr held this title for the past three years – this year was Caroline’s turn with her dad. After dropping the first two games in the quarters against Cody & Joe Cortes, the Spahrs came back to win two and tie the fifth game at 13 all, whereupon Caroline took over to win in overtime. The Brownells, having defeated David & Ron Rubin, then delivered the same news to the Spahrs. In the upper half of the draw, Erik & Julian Kirby proved too strong for Charlie & Jeannie Blasberg, then hit top seeded Morgan & Tom Poor. They pounded away on dad Erik and eventually triumphed in four games. The Brownells in the final unceremoniously ushered them to the sidelines in three straight, ending a long night for the elder Poor.
Tom’s long afternoon into night began in the 60’s where he and Malcolm Davidson were the two time defending champions, both times at the expense of John Brazilian & Lenny Bernheimer. Ironically in national tournament play, the partners are reversed. Lenny & John had some trouble in the semis with Joe Duffey & Len Zide, pulling out the match with an 18-16 fourth game. Tom & Malcolm in the same round journeyed to the Harvard Club and had little trouble with Rob Dewees & Mat Sibble. They, however, had big trouble in the final as John could not miss and Lenny made very few errors. Too late, the defenders turned their pressure on Lenny who responded with more shots of his own, capping a three game destruction.
As if that destruction was not enough, the 50’s was even more emphatic. The presence of national champions Greg Zaff & Andrew Slater skewed the draw considerably, particularly when former champions Sandy Tierney & Jamie Fagan were excused in a five game semi-final by Tom Poor & Jeff Rodman, a team of Amherst graduates who had slipped by John Brazilian & Joe Duffey the round before. The Zaff-Slater duo demolished Malcolm Davidson & Court Chilton, earlier winners over John Nimick & Len Zide, in three single figure games in the semis, then almost as easily won the final, foreshadowing three losses in three finals for Poor.
Fortunately, for obvious reasons, Tom was not in the C draw. 39 teams were in that draw and seeding was a challenge as usual, turning out to be exactly that as only one seed made it beyond the round of 16. Dean Williams & Matt Gibbs, top seed and defending champions, did so, narrowly, defeating 2006 champions Mike McKee & Neil Paterson in four, then Roland Lemay & Mike Keating in three, and then perhaps the match of the tournament – Amrit Kanwal and his 12year old son, Deven in the semis. At 14-all in the fifth, desperate shots for Dean & Matt worked, ending a terrific performance by the youngster which is obviously only a presage of things to come. The Kanwals had beaten Nabil Uddin & Greg Jannetta who in turn had defeated Ian Walker & Taylor Milner from the Marblehead YMCA.
The path in the lower half was much smoother for Andrew Silipo & Tyler Hinckley, back for another try after having to default in last year’s quarters due to injury. Three game victories were recorded over Anurag & Neel Das, 3rd seed Mark Wolpow & Steve Laverty, and Krissy Rubin & Chip Russell. The gravy train stopped in the semis in the persons of James Chan & Thai Ha-Ngoc, excellent singles players out of the Boston Sports Club in Allston. They started slowly, winning the round of 64 over 12-year old juniors David Rubin & Cole Koeppel in five and improving as they went along, defeating 2nd seed Mac Caplan & Josh King in four, then Graham Gozigian & Sebastian Kim in three and Lori Stump & Matt Silver in four to arrive in the semis. In a battle, the teams split the first four games before Andrew asserted himself on the left wall in the fifth to carry his team to the finals. The final was a five game affair as well with Williams & Gibbs taking two close ones of the first three. Then, the Kanwal curse seemed to appear as fatigue was an obvious factor in the last two one sided games to Andrew & Tyler.