Labor Day tennis tournament crowns champions

CHAMPAIGN - It was a hot holiday weekend of fun at Lindsey Courts for area tennis players. Five singles players and five doubles teams earned titles at the 2023 Labor Day Tennis Tournament sponsored by the Champaign Park District.

St. Joseph-Ogden head tennis coach Kevin Martlage talks to his players at his team's first practice last month. Martlage, a third-year head coach, won the Mens' 35s division consolation bracket title after defeating Travis Davis, 7-6(3), 3-6, 1-0(9), at the Labor Day Tournament.
PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Out of a field of 12 area recreational players, Alejandro Gomez, from Savoy, defeated Young Kim, Champaign in straight sets 6-4, 6-0, to take the Men's Open title.

The Junior Boys 16s title went to Hunter Madigan after squaring off with Mahomet's Nolan Kogut in the title match. Undefeated in United States Tennis Association play this year at 4-0, Kogut, was moved up from the 14-year-old division. He was unable to take a game from his older opponent from Champaign, losing, 6-0, 6-0. Entering the tournament with an impressive USTA record himself, Madigan is 16-3 playing singles.

In doubles competition, Jason Zumwalt & Shaun Peterson won the Men’s Open Doubles Final. Zumwalt, the head boys' tennis coach at Centennial High School, and Peterson, an Urbana native and former teaching pro at Atkins Tennis Center were a formidable pair, cruising past Hunter Antonisse & Alejandro Gomez, 6-2, 6-1.

Below are this weekend's championship results.

Men’s Open Singles Final:
Alejandro Gomez def. Young Kim 6-4, 6-0

Men’s Open Singles Consolation Final:
David Diep def. Tony Wang 6-0, 6-1

Men’s 35 Singles Final:
Bill Cawley def. Charles Sikora 6-3, 7-6(4)

Men’s 35 Singles Consolation Final:
Kevin Martlage def. Travis Davis 7-6(3), 3-6, 1-0(9)

Men’s 55 Singles Final:
Eric Peterson def. Daniel Morris 6-2, 0-6, 1-0(8)*

Men’s 55 Singles Consolation Final:
Nitin Bhosale def. Steve Friend by default

Boy’s 16 Singles Final:
Hunter Madigan def. Nolan Kogut 6-0, 6-0

Men’s Open Doubles Final:
Jason Zumwalt & Shaun Peterson def. Hunter Antonisse & Alejandro Gomez 6-2, 6-1

Men’s Open Doubles Consolation Final:
David Diep & Chris Sarol def. Andy Wilke & Charles Sikora 6-3, 6-3

Women’s Open Doubles Final:
Cindy Crist & Sarah Kim def. Beth Hoag & Mary Sandhal 6-4, 7-6(5)

Women’s Open Doubles Consolation Final:
Shiho Gimbel & Rhoda Lewis def. Eileen McGill & Shelley Siuts 6-3, 6-2

Men’s 35 Doubles Final:
Sendhil Kumaran & Kai Wang def. Nitin Bhosale & Angad Mehta 6-1, 6-1

Men’s 35 Doubles Consolation Final:
Clark Brooks & Charles Nerone def. Jacob Rundall & Trey Smith 6-3, 6-2

Mixed Open Doubles Round Robin:
1st place Sarah Benevento & Chris Kuehn
2nd place Diane Winder & Travis Davis
3rd place Rocio Valdebenito & Ivan Flores

* This score was updated after a correction to the offical results.


Stress-free Thanksgiving tips for those short on time this holiday season

While gathering for Thanksgiving is intended to be a joyous occasion, everyone who has hosted the feast knows it can also come with a lot of stress, and expenses.

The good news is that whether you’re a Gen Z-er hosting your first Friendsgiving on a budget or you’re a busy family preparing for guests, there is a lot to be thankful for this year.


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