VERO BEACH — Talk about net gains!
The Boulevard – a Vero Beach-based 40 & Over 9.0 (Flight) Mixed Tennis Team – had a weekend to remember competing in the sectional tournament in Daytona Beach.
Playing two matches a day Friday-Sunday against competition from all over Florida, the locals smashed, lobbed and backhanded their way to a perfect 5-0 record in their flight before falling to the defending-champion Pinellas County team, 2-1. The lone loss ended the Boulevard’s dream bid to reach the USTA National Championships in Sunrise, Ariz., in November.
Still, the gutsy squad, carrying the banner of Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie counties, excelled in the 11-team event. As captain Nick Liguori said, “for little small Vero Beach, we represented our area well.”
The team consists of: Liguori, Walt Zanon, Troy Lamm, Jennifer Lane, Deanne Decker, Kathy Zanon, Ted MacBeth, Michael Phelipa (who won the “Sportsmanship Award” at the sectionals), Sharon Runk, Julie Gravlee, Alison Mays and Allan Bentley.
The Boulevard – which boasts four players over the age of 60 – compiled a 5-1 regular-season record against local competition to advance to the sectionals, and Liguori was quick to point out how everyone contributed to the team’s success.
Can the Boulevard take it one step further next season? Liguori expects the same group to be intact, so look out!