Upset averted...CG hangs on in the 2nd to dominate the 3rd!

BW fails to convert multiple match points...CG wins 1-6,7-6(7-4),6-0!!!

Colby Park, Windsor Heights, by Steve England; ESVN (Fair and Balanced) - After a shocking 6-1 rout in the first set at the hands of BW, CG takes the early lead in the second!  BW ties it at 3-3, and 4-4 respectively, then takes the lead at 5-4, and 6-5.  Unable to convert four match-points...BW opens a window of opportunity for CG to jump back into the match!  CG ties it at 6-6, then leaps to a 3-0 lead in the breaker!  BW stages a comeback, and ties it at 3-3, but CG inches ahead on multiple unforced errors made by BW!  On set-point down, BW executes an impressive drop-shot, but CG's speed reaches it!  CG pops it up into the waiting arms of BW, where BW goes for the killer slam!  The slam is long, and now the match is a dead-heat!  This emotional roller-coaster triggers BW into an explosion of primal rage!  BW slams his racket to the ground, shattering it's once rigid frame!  The sound of  BW's racket cracking from the impact was as sickening as bones snapping from a horrid disaster!   Now demoralized, exhausted, and fighting with his backup racket...BW succumbs as CG's serve increasingly stabs wounds into BW's once fierce offence! CG survived four match-points down, to rise above and achieve absolute victory in the third 1-6,7-6(7-4),6-0!

DNR wins Southwest Championship!

AS departs tournament with good showing against Doug...DNR eliminates AS 6-3,6-1!

file photos

Dynasty Champ wins South Championship in near shutout...JT tops RM 6-1,6-0!

RM plays for a title in his first year...but has to face JT for the chance!

file photos

Waukee High school, by Jason Toelle; Fox-JT  -  RM shows he's got real potential!  Despite the 6-1, 6-0 rout by the four-time champion, RM showed hidden skill and true potential on the tennis court.  He confused JT with his inexplicable ability to return some of JT's best ground strokes, while often struggling with much easier returns.  JT and RM both surmised that Ryan makes better shots when he's forced to "react", rather than "think" about his shot.

RM also dished out some excellent serves and proved a real threat at the net!  This is where his "reaction" shots really came into play.  When Ryan charged the net, JT tried with futility to smash winners, only to have Ryan drop them down the sideline.  Frustrated, JT was forced to resort to his patented overhead lob.

Today's match was a fun one, despite the lopsided score... featuring numerous deuce games and some excellent rallies!  Both players performed quite well! 

JT advances to the playoffs where he hopes to avenge his earlier losses to TB and DR.

TJ wins Southeast Championship!

DS elevates considerably during match...But falls 6-1, 6-2!

Valley Southwoods, by Steve England; ESVN (Fair and Balanced) - As a former victim of heat stroke it was somewhat concerning when DS developed goosebumps with a heat index of 99°, and a court temperature of 142°!  Fortunately, play ended before medical attention was needed!  DS found himself playing in the title-match of the Southeast Region when BLL forfeited to him in the previous round.  Although a relative beginner---DS showed a competitive spirit, and the beginnings of strategic play!  Fighting off two set-points down before falling in the first, DS doubles his tally in the second by directing the ball away from TJ.  DS is even able to break TJ's serve on one occasion!

Meanwhile, TJ's confidence was evident!  As a former regional champion, and equipped with a new racket. TJ's strokes were strong, demonstrating speed and agility when needed!  TJ frequently pressured DS into misfiring, and easily extends his lead from 3-2 in the second to win the Southeast Title 6-1,6-2!

TJ will now face DH in the first round of the playoffs!  TJ defeated DH last year, but DH is a force to be reckoned with this time!  DH's only loss was to KN in double tie-breakers, and she battled through three match-points down to put BY in the hospital!  This first-round playoff match should be a classic!

KN avenges last year's defeat...KN eliminates Schewe in straight sets!

Schewe elevates his serve to an offensive threat...but falls to KN's relentlessness 6-4,6-1!

Harmon Park, by Steve England; ESVN (Fair and Balanced) - It was quite obvious that Schewe's serve has elevated to classic form!  His first serve can now be used as an offensive weapon to stagger his opponents, while giving him the opportunity to follow up with winning ground strokes. His second serve has a nice slicing spin for high percentage reliability, which also prevents him from becoming vulnerable to an aggressive service return by his opponent!

Schewe seems to have the momentum when he takes the lead at 4-3 in the first, but KN takes three unanswered to steal the set 6-4! KN was able to neutralize Schewe's advantages with enough service returns to get the ball in play, then win with hustle and ground-strokes!  With chess-game like anticipation---KN would work the point until he opened up the court, then fire the ball for the winner!  KN's ability to accelerate with explosive speed permitted him to chase down shots which otherwise would have been certain winners for Schewe!  Although Schewe was extremely consistent...KN was more so!

With a court temperature of 145°---Schewe starts to show that the heat is affecting him!  Schewe watches several shots fall good without making a play.  Meanwhile, Schewe's once intimidating serve starts to lose some of it's punch, and double-faults start to creep in!  If the heat affected KN, it didn't show!  KN jumps to a 4-0 lead, before Schewe gets on the board!  KN nails a drop-shot for match-point, then delivers a forehand winner to end the match!  KN advances to the quarterfinals by defeating KS 6-4,6-1!
  

PLAYOFFS BEGIN!!!

Despite unresolved Regional Championships...KN and KS begin the race for the BIG TROPHY!

Harmon Park, by Steve England; ESVN (Fair and Balanced) - Delayed by unresolved matches in the southern regions, the playoffs are beginning late!  KN and KS begin the first-round of playoff action in what looks to be a close battle!  If you have the opportunity to attend---you won't be disappointed!  Monday July 22, 12:45pm, Harmon Park, Des Moines.

CG wins Northeast Championship!

KI falls 6-0,6-1!

Unresolved matches delay playoffs!

Tournament schedule at risk!

Players are urged to complete their matches as soon as possible!  Delays snowball if matches go unresolved too long!

KB wins WQF title...6-4,6-0!

CA plays a competitive first set, but gets shut out in the second!

photo by the Champ!

Harmon Park, by Steve England; ESVN (Fair and Balanced) - My thanks to Matt Sopcic (The Champ); MSNTB, who provided coverage for this match!  The WQF & EQF are welcomed additions to the bracket!  Introduced early last year, they provide a much needed fix to a problem within the bracket system. They are essentially consolation matches for the East and West Semifinal losers.  These players would otherwise face elimination after as little as one loss. This title-position permits a chance to make the playoffs, and I'm very happy Kevin Broadway brought this to my attention, I hope to fix other inequities next year by re-feeding deserving players through other brackets.

With a Regional-Title and a playoff berth on the line...Both CA and KB played their hearts out in the first!  Players exchanged the lead, and tied at 3-3, and 4-4 respectively!  KB seemed to grow stronger toward the end, stretching to a 6-4 win of the first set.  KB's strength seems to have increased in the second by dominating with a 6-0 shut-out!  KB will face the winner of the Southwest Bracket in the playoffs, while CA goes home having played his best tournament to date!  CA had the chance to play for a title...Next year he just might win one!

SV wins North Championship...6-3, 6-0!

RB shatters spread,  and makes accusations of elitism!

photos by the Champ!

Harmon Park, by Steve England; ESVN (Fair and Balanced) - The spread on this match was set rather high, and RB shattered it right at the beginning!  Having lost this first challenge, SV decides to play power-tennis, but the power just wasn't there!  Tennis is a game of adapting to what works, so SV results to a DR style of play.  This started putting points on the board, and SV pulled ahead.  Accused of foot-faulting by the champ---SV works on his foot placement during his service motion.  This seems to have only improved SV's serve...SV owes the champ a debt of gratitude for helping to correct a chronic problem in SV's game!  Guilty as charged---SV violated protocol during RB's serve several times!  SV forfeited the point to RB for this violation on a blatant infraction!  Subsequent violations were overlooked by RB, but probably didn't impact the points.  SV claims disorientation from sleep deprivation for these offenses! 

RB had the North Championship won, when SV withdrew from tournament play!  RB went out of his way (as did several others, including legal threats from the champ's attorney) to change SV's mind.  These kind gestures from RB,DR,TB,KB,BW,KC,DNR,Jackie and others deserves both recognition, and a sincere "Thank you"!  I apologize for my rash decision! 

DR wins West Championship in near shutout...6-0, 6-1.

BW can't break Dean's defenses...Even on his birthday!

photo by Tad

Harmon Park, by Steve England; ESVN (Fair and Balanced) - BW had high expectations for his birthday! A victory over Dean, and a Cardinal-Championship! Dean may be twice BW's age, but he has four-times the experience, and only the best shots from the top players even stand a chance at getting past this human-ball-machine! A highlight of the match was when faced with triple-set-point down...BW fights off all three to tie it at deuce! Another, was BW's aggressive play to close out a game he found himself up 40-15! Even with this defeat BW gets a gift on his birthday...A spot in the playoffs as West Runner-up!

Heroic effort wins title, and probably saves a life!

Quick thinking by DH prevents tragedy at end of match!

photos by Schewe

Harmon Park, by Steve England; ESVN (Fair and Balanced) - After getting dominated 1-6 in the first---DH comes alive in the second!  DH pulls ahead from a 3-3 tie to take the second 6-3!  Although clearly suffering from a heat index of 103°, and court temperatures over 150°---BY looks like he's going to finish on top!  Leading 5-3 in the final-set, BY has 3-match points against DH, but he simply can't put her away!  DH is cranking the heat higher by increasing the ferocity of her strokes, and running BY side to side with fierce determination!  When DH fends off all three match points, and closes to 4-5 players change sides.  BY is so spent, he now has to lay down or fall down!  Soon he realizes that pushing himself further is dangerous---BY wisely decides that he simply cannot continue!  BY retires from a match that he was only one point away from winning!  DH never gave up---even on the edge of defeat!  Her perseverance won her a title, and made the playoffs!

Rather than celebrate---DH senses that things are more serious than just an overheated, tired opponent!  Insisting that BY not drive himself home, she pushes him into making the right decisions.  As the drive commenced, a cautionary trip home turns into a speed-limit-abiding change of destination to the hospital.  DH is picking up on subtle signs... and these signs are getting worse!  A slow drive now turns into a high speed dash to the emergency room!

It's quick medical attention which prevents a possible loss of life!  Alone, driving himself home---who knows what could have happened!  DH should be praised for her perceptiveness, quick thinking, and insistence... well done, Deanna!

KI advances to Northeast title game!

JI fights with strong returns, but KI too much!

Harmon Park, by Steve England; ESVN (Fair and Balanced) - In her rookie-year JI has impressed everyone who has seen her play!  Today was no different---JI brought some game to the court, but KI brought more!  KI smoked his serves, and showed consistency greater than ever witnessed before!  KI shuts JI out in the first, then takes six unanswered after going down 0-2 in the second!  KI eliminates JI 6-0,6-2!

Undefeated Champ wins East Title!

KN makes playoffs with single loss of 6-1,6-1 to the defending champion!

file photo

KS wins Northwest Championship!

ZAH leaves with 6-3,6-3 loss to KS!

photo by KC

BW advances to West title game... BW wins 6-0,6-2!

CA will play KB for chance to make playoffs!

photo by KB

Harmon Park, by Keith Belling; ESVN Contributor - Tower Tennis is about so much more than the headliners and the brightest and best tennis players amongst us. It's about each and every one of the matches, about relationships forged, about all of working together to make for the finest tower tennis championship in the FAA.
This was evident once again during the BW/CA match Monday morning. The match involved two players with a lot of upside. Their skills have been noticeably increasing with time. At the time of this post, BW's game is more advanced and he was able to apply pressure to CA and score fairly easily. BW also has a dependable serve and the ability to work an opponent from side to side. While mobility was no problem for CA, his strokes were inconsistent and contributed to unforced errors in perhaps 80% of the rallies CA lost. CA's first service percentage was also dismally low, allowing BW to take advantage of the lolly-pop second serves CA tossed up. From time to time through the match CA was able to string together some very good rallies and apply slight pressure to BW. Some of the rallies were quite extended, with one in particular going at least 30 strokes.
The banter between the contestants was the stuff of legend. It made the price of admission worth it. Some examples:
After CA dropped the first set both players were considering the overall match. BW tried to convince CA the jig was up while CA tried to tell BW that 'it looks like it'll have to be a 3-setter'.
In the second set, BW drops his first game to CA. CA turns to the gallery and idly wonders if there's been a shift in the wind. BW sets the record straight informing CA that isn't the case. Just a little passing of gas, that's all.
While serving in the second set, BW promises to bring the pain. CA reminds him that he has no idea how high CA's threshold for pain is.
CA serves hard and actually gets a first serve in. After the rally, CA expresses surprise that BW was able to return the serve. BW tries to recollect the serve and then lets CA know that he has a 9-month-old that could have returned 'that Sally serve'.
Later BW is serving and one of his serves passes CA waist-high. CA asks if BW has some other target in mind other than the service box. BW denies this.
After repeatedly mentioning the heat CA passes up 2 water breaks; claiming denial of water is a sign of manhood. BW disagrees, pointing out that CA sucking down beverages after even score of games isn't permissible. Point - BW.
After the game, CA reminds BW of the discomfort he had to play under, offering to swap certain surgically-altered body parts. BW informs CA he couldn't handle the trade.
Perhaps the best. BW grew weary of CA's low first-serve percentage. To prove his point, BW places his racquet on the ground and awaits CA's next serve. And it arrives, passing high enough over BW's head that it clears the fence on the fly!!
Congrats to both players on some fine sportsmanship and hard play. BW moves on to face DR for the Western Champ playoff spot while CA moves on to face KB in the Western Quarterfinals. Good luck!

AS advances to Southwest title game!

ASH completes her tournament with a 6-2,6-0 loss!

photo by BW

HD advances to South Semifinal… topping BLL 6-1,6-3!

BLL moves to the Southeast!

RB advances to North title game!

JG forfeits to RB.

Champ advances to East-Finals!

BY's dropshot does some damage!

Jackie congratulates TB!

TB and BY 

Harmon Park, by Steve England; ESVN (Fair and Balanced) - The Champ was concerned about his pulled hamstring at the beginning of this match.  Going up against a competitor like BY less than 100% could prove detrimental!  Fortunately, the Champ seems fully recovered!  That's fortunate for the Champ---not necessarily anyone hoping for a win again him!  The Champ is not only undefeated, but hasn't lost more than 4-games a set for the past two seasons!  The Champ's serve also seems to be improving!  BY reported that he actually had a hard time seeing the champ's serve streaking toward him at lightning speed! When faced with such obstacles to overcome... it's the small victories which are meaningful!  Small victories like BY's dropshot taking 3-games off the Champ!  BY can hold his head high... few people have won more from the Croatian Sensation!

Wow what a match... KN inches pass DH in double tiebreakers!

DH on the edge of victory... slips on it's slippery slope!

Harmon Park, by Steve England; ESVN (Fair and Balanced) - Down 5-2 in the first---DH works each point to reach 5-4 down!  KN tries to finish her off, but DH is persistent! DH fights to survive three set-points down---then closes for a tie at 5-5!  Now on the attack; DH takes the next game at love, and is poised to take the set!  KN counter-attacks with a love-game himself!  KN now ties it up at 6-6, then proceeds to dominate the breaker!  KN wins the tiebreaker 7-6(7-1)!  In the second; DH takes the early lead!  Although close, KN plays catch-up throughout the set!  DH leads 5-4, and 6-5 respectively, but KN catches her again!  In the second breaker; DH jumps to an early lead, but flubs a backhand to give KN a 5-4 edge!  KN wins the next point as well,then holds a match-point against DH!  KN rips a forehand winner down the line, and it's all over!  DH fought incredibly hard with well executed strokes, footwork, and placement!  KN was consistent throughout, and powerful when needed!  KN defeats DH 7-6(7-1),7-6(7-4)!

CG's serve returns when he needed it most!

photo by DH

Darkness forces the lights on, as the sun sets on MM!

Waukee, IA. By Steve England; ESVN (Fair and Balanced) - CG's fortunes seemed to be linked to his serve! With a dominating service-game CG takes the first 6-2.  This gave CG a false sense of security---perhaps contributing to a service lapse in the second!  Without CG's big serve putting MM on the defense---MM reverses the tide, dominating the second!  Leading 5-1, MM goes on to take the second 6-3, then wins the first game of the third!  Thinking he's finished...CG reaches for his sleeping weapon!  CG's serve awakens, and with it an edge which lead him to victory!  As the darkness affected MM's ability to see the speeding bullets fired his way, an increase in unforced errors sealed the deal!  CG advances to the Northeast-Finals, while MM rides into the sunset until next year!  CG wins in three: 6-2,3-6,6-1.

Dynasty-Champ catapults into the South Finals!

photo by the Champ

TJ falls in a near shutout, but benefits from loss!

Crossroads Park, by Steve England; ESVN (Fair and Balanced) - On a windy, noisy court the four-time champion has little difficulty dispatching his young opponent!  Although TJ held big leads at times...He just wasn't able to close out a game in the first!  In the 2nd-set TJ gets on the board, and even ties it up at 2-2, but the experience, and talent of the Dynasty-Champ chipped away at TJ's chances! 

TJ's loss propels him into the Southeast Region---where a bye moves him into the final match there!  Another win for either player will make them Regional Champions! This accomplishment will not only give them a title, but move them into the playoffs where a much bigger trophy awaits!