MAPTA Men's Charities 2008
KEITH STUDNIK
NOVEMBER 30, 2008
PHILADELPHIA, PA
The MAPTA Men's Charities took place on Saturday, November 15 and on an unexpected Sunday morning, November 16.
In what can only be described as an incredible weather day, where the temperatures during the afternoon topped over 70 degrees only to be followed by a cold snap which featured thunderstorm warnings, pelting rain and winds over 20 miles per hour, the MAPTA Charities event could only be considered a success. Last year’s experiment of having different dates for the men’s and ladies event was abandoned as both got to experience the less than ideal paddle conditions together. This is a non PCQ event for the men and therefore is a more laid back tournament that draws players from all abilities.
It was also a year in which the men’s finalists for the previous two years disbanded. Andrew Sorrentino (Aronimink) and Drew Friel (Aronimink) separated due to an injury, and Tim McAvoy (Waynesborough) traded in his partner Tom Burt (Overbrook) for a new one and fellow member Paul Ridder (Waynesborough).
True to form, the four top seeds all advanced rather unceremoniously to the semi-finals, which pitted the father and son duo of Pat Nowlan Sr. (Philly Country) and his son Pat Jr. (Philly Country), against the new tandem of McAvoy and Ridder. McAvoy and Ridder pulled out to a fast start to win the first set but the Nowlans battled back hard to earn the second set. Unfortunately Pat Jr.’s legs cramped up at the end of the second set and he was unable to compete in the third set.
In the other semi-final, another Waynesborough Country Club pair of Steve Beers and Vlatko Najdek teamed up for the first time and played Scott (current Region 3 champ of almost everything and teaching pro from Martin’s Dam) Falatek and his partner Joe Dianni (Vic Mead). This match featured some incredible points but in the end the Waynesborough duo won in straight sets, setting up an all Waynesborough final possibly for the first time in the tournament’s long history.
Fortunately or unfortunately for the players, just as the finals was about to start the rains came down in sheets and made the paddle courts all but unplayable. Both teams made it out for the early wake up call in which Team Najdek and Beers defeated fellow teammates McAvoy and Ridder by the score of 7-5, 6-2.
Click here for the full Men's Main Draw.
The A Consolation finalists were Jeff Rexford & Jono Frank & Bill Horne & Jeff Schrager.
In the AR Consolation, Greg Eger & Glenn Kenney defeated Steve Hendrickson & Rich Devine.
In the B Consolation, tournament Chair Steve Hall and Tom Burt defeated Tim Brooke & Brian Aguilar.
Special thanks to the first time director of the event Steven Hall, and to Overbrook Country Club for putting up quite a spread for the players and observers on Saturday. Also special thanks to Paul Ridder from TastyKake for supplying the pre and post match snacks.
