Tri-Level Event

It’s time for Tri-Level!
 Date: Jan. 29-30, 2011
 Location: Lost Forest Racquet Club
 Men and Women form separate teams. Select from two levels of play: 4.5/4.0/3.5 or 4.0/3.5/3.0. Players may only play on one team. Players must be 18 years or older by December 31, 2011. Players must play one match to be eligible to advance to sectionals.
 Format: Three lines of doubles. Max 12 players per team. At the 4.5/4.0/3.5 level, line 1, 2 and 3 will consist of two 4.5s, two 4.0s and two 3.5s, respectively. At the 4.0/3.5/3.0 level, line 1, 2 and 3 will consist of two 4.0s, two 3.5s and two 3.0s, respectively.
 Regular scoring will be used with a 3rd set Coman match tiebreak
 Cost: $26 per person
 Important Note: The 4.5/4.0/3.5 level teams cannot have self rated players. All players must have 2010 Year End computer ratings. The 4.0/3.5/3.0 teams can have self rated players.
 Deadline to request a team number and have a majority of your team signed up is January 15th.
 Sectionals: February 18th-20th at Kingwood Country Club.
 Nationals for the 4.5/4.0/3.5 level will be at Indian Wells, Ca during the BNP Paribas Open Tournament March 17th-20th. There is no National event for the 4.0/3.5/3.0 level.
 All players must be an HTA member.
Contact Catherine Blevins at htaleauges@houstontennis.org for more information and to attain a team number.

HTA Fall Results

Yeah, I know, the season was played just for practice, and the results didn't count for ratings, but I'm sure the competitive juices were flowing when the Fall playoffs took place recently.

In 4.5+ doubles, Allen Teague's Old School team took the title by beating Katy 3-1. Katy won at line one, with Phong Regent and newcomer (4.5 rated) Juan Muhala beating Ben Whitsett and Neil Carpenter. Muhala may be one to watch.

The 4.0 doubles finals are scheduled for tonight. Copperfield's Shock and Awe, which features some pretty good 4.5 players in Letan and Rawls, will take on JCC in the finals. As you may know, a couple of 4.5 players are permitted to play, but must play at lines 1 and 2. (assuming my memory of HTA league rules is correct)

Katy Mason Creek won the 4.5 singles league behind Neil Carpenter, Monty Lindloff and Ky Kim. Margarito Arias will lead Sienna against Excalibur in the 4.0 singles finals.

HTA Christmas Party

I made my first-ever trip to the HTA Christmas Party last night, which was held at Cheryl's lovely home and was a lot of fun.

I ran into league veteran (and now 5.0) Allen Teague as he elbowed me away from the buffet table. Anyway, he told me about a new league he is trying to put together which may be of interest to many of you. As you may know, there is a senior (50+) league which is held late in the summer and consists of three lines of doubles. Last year Jimmy Kilshaw's 4.5 team and Mike Spoor's 4.0 team both qualified for Nationals.

Allen has proposed a similar league for 40+ year old players and has been working out the details with the higher-ups in Austin. While there is currently no national championship held in this event, the hope is that it will take hold in Texas and perhaps eventually grow to that level. Right now the plan is for this to be a pilot program, and will probably initially start at the men's 4.5 and perhaps 4.0 levels.

Allen would like to know how much interest there is and would love for potential captains to contact him. I may have had a few too many egg nogs last night, so some of the details may have eluded me. Please contact Allen if you're interested in captaining. Unfortunately I neglected to get his phone number and/or email address, so hopefully he or someone else will provide it, or you can consult the membership directory at http://www.houstontennis.org