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.

It's been a long minute, SJO outlasts Unity for Week 2 road win

TOLONO - St. Joseph-Ogden defensive back Garrett Denhart holds up the pigskin after recovering a fumble halting a Unity march down the field in the fourth quarter. With less than two and half minutes left in the game, the Spartans, nursing a three-point lead, successfully managed the game clock to on to win the regular season Illini Prairie Conference game over state ranked Rockets, 35-38. The last time SJO left Hicks Field with a win was after a postseason matchup on November 8, 2014.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Champaign Park District fall tennis workout schedule released

O.J. Watkins focuses on hitting a server during his mixed-doubles match while playing outdoors at Atkins Tennis Center earlier this month. When the daily tempertures start to plummit as winter approaches, area tennis players can enjoy the sport indoors at the Champaign Park District's indoor facility located in the Interstate Research Park in north Champaign.

Photo: PhotoNews Media

CHAMPAIGN - Champaign-Urbana tennis players looking to stay in shape and hone their skills don't have to miss a point as the weather turns cooler this fall. The Champaign Park District offers affordable clinics and workouts throughout the week starting the second week of September. For more the more competitive spirit, four leagues available based on skill level.

Clinics and classes are held at park district's indoor facility at 2802 Farber Drive in Champaign.

Follow this link for a complete list of tennis programs available at Dodds Tennis Center.

Fall Workout dates are:

Ladies Day
Ages 18+ & All Levels
9:30-11am Wednesdays 9/13-12/27
Member Fee: $13/visit
Guest Fee: $16/visit

Saturday Morning Workout
Level: Players 3.0 & Up
9-11am Saturdays 9/16-12/30
Member Fee: $17/visit
Guest Fee: $20/visit

Sunday Morning Workout
Level: Players 3.0 & Up
9-11am Sundays 9/17-12/17
Member Fee: $17/visit
Guest Fee: $20/visit

Intermediate Workout
Level: Players 2.5 & Up
5:30-7pm Thursdays 10/26-12/28(no workout 11/23)
Member Fee: $13/visit
Guest Fee: $16/visit

Late Night Workout
Level: Players 3.5 & Up
7-9pm Thursdays 10/26-12/28(no workout 11/23)
Member Fee: $17/visit
Guest Fee: $20/visit

Lunch Club Workout
Level: Players 3.5 & Up
12-1:30pm Mondays 10/30-12/18
Member Fee: $13/visit
Guest Fee: $16/visit

Fall 1 Singles Leagues:

(consultation with the head pro is necessary before registration)

Adult 1:30-3pm Sunday Singles League
Generally Men’s 2.5-3.0/Women’s 3.0-3.5
9/17-10/29
Member Fee: $125
Guest Fee: $140

Bronze Flex Singles League
Generally Men’s 3.0-3.5/Women’s 3.5-4.0
9/17-10/29
Member Fee: $125
Guest Fee: $140

Shumaker Silver Flex Singles League
Generally Men’s 3.5-4.0/Women’s 4.0-4.5
9/17-10/29
Member Fee: $125
Guest Fee: $140

Gold Flex Singles League
Generally Men’s 4.0-4.5/Women’s 4.5-5.0
9/17-10/29
Member Fee: $125
Guest Fee: $140

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