USTA National Men's 55 Indoor Championship

Media Report

Dear Players, spouses and coaches, BRSC Club Members and all other dignitaries, Thank you to all the players and their families and coaches for coming. It wouldn’t happen without you and so I’m glad our numbers are increasing. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped run another successful tournament. Jackie Zarr, Lead Volunteer and Jim Elliot for helping at the desk. Vivian Klein and Chris Gray for leading the social activities. The ball boys and girls were a real touch. Thanks, Dave Oddonetto. To all the ball kids for taking time out of their Spring Break to help with the tournament. To Pam Massey and Dian Di Maggio for organizing the social activities for the players. I hope the players were happy with their service. All I can say is you two rock and even better for next year. To Bill Jung and Curtis Egge for officiating the matches. They said it was a real “easy one”. Jake Putnam for using up one of his favors with the governor to proclaim the week as USTA National Men’s 55 Week. Plus Jake’s time spent taking photos and putting them onto the website. Thank you Mayor Dave Bieter for welcoming our players to Boise. You’ve inspired me to achieve things I never dreamed of. Thank you Barbara Chandler for being such an inspiration to me and giving me the strength to give back to this wonderful game. Thank you BRSC club members for allowing us to use your courts. I realize that as this tournament grows we’ll have to work even closer together. Thank you Mel Pederson, BRSC staff and members at BRSC for providing all the food breakfast and brunch. Baja Fresh, Theresa and Scott Hatter for sponsoring the player party. Grocery Outlet, Jason and Amanda Steele, Dave Wagers at Idaho Candy Company for the player packet. He’s bringing his costume next year so we can take pictures with dignitaries. Thank you Residence Inn, Rod Hyatt, for lodging the players. Lastly, thank you Bill McGrath for allowing me to take the fun part of the tournament while you take on all the concerns. It's not an easy job. Congratulations to all the players who placed in the tournament including (gold singles), Geoff Martinez (silver singles), Philip Dubsky (bronze singles), Geoff Cykman (gold doubles), Chris Bennett and Paul Moss (silver doubles), Geoff Martinez and Geoff Cykman (bronze doubles). Kenny House and Jeff Winkler Also congratulations to the fourth, fifth and sixth place (consolation winners - fifth and consolation finalists - sixth) winners: fourth singles – Andrew Stanley, fifth singles – Mark Sullivan, sixth singles – Gary Grandolph, fourth doubles – Rollin Rhone and Andrew Stanley and, fifth doubles – Tom Monahan Scott Shepherd and, sixth doubles – John Brittan and Mark Sullivan Players - I hope you will all come back again next year and bring a few friends. On a personal note I would like to say that I really appreciate all of you for helping me out. I learned a lot during this tournament and I am looking forward to next year. Have a great year and good luck in the rest of the national tournaments. Tennis - It's What I Do. Sincerely, Robert Sterk, Tournament Director (cross your fingers on the bidding) P.S. Please check your scores to make sure I recorded them correctly. If you would like to comment about the tournament please email me at robert@robertsterk.com or Bill McGrath at bmcgrath@boisetennis.com. Again thanks for playing and I'll see you in 2012. Tournament photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jack9999p/sets/72157626369266622/ Blogsite: http://jakeputnam.typepad.com/us_mens_55_national_indoo/ more info

Photos are located at the folowing link "more info" and the blog site is at: http//jakeputnam.typepad.com/us_mens_55_national_indoo/ more info

Please check draw times for change of times in matches. All players are informed. The main draw singles stays at 10:00 am but the main draw doubles has been moved up to 1:00 pm. Additional final day matches have also been changed. Players will be reminded to be available for the entire period of the tournament. I apologize for any inconvenience. Robert Sterk - Tournament Director 208-602-1493 Please visit flickr.com via jakeputnam.typepad.com/us_mens_55_national_indoo/ for articles and photos of the tournament. more info

The Official Tournament Hotel is Residence Inn by Marriott. The property is located 3 blocks from the Boise Racquet & Swim Club. Players receive a special rate of $79.00 per night. Phone: 208-385-9000 Included are: 1. Complimentary Hot Breakfast Buffet Daily. 2. Complimentary Manager's Reception with food & beverage(Mon.-Thur.) 3. Complimentary Shuttle van service. 4. Onsite Laundry Facilities. 5. Hot tub, exercise room & indoor pool. more info

Practice courts will be available Sunday prior to the event & every day of the week. Please sign up at the Tournament Desk to reserve time.

Continental Breakfast Daily 7:00-11:30am. Monday Player Welcome Party 5:00-7:00pm. Tuesday Brunch 11:00am-2:00pm.

I'm extending the deadline a couple more days but you won't be able to register on-line through TennisLink. You will need to call me at 208-602-1493 or email robert@robertsterk.com. I'll have the preliminary singles seeds posted by the end of the week. Please comment if you think it should be different. We'll be starting singles on Monday 3/28. If you're seeded and receive a bye maybe you won't play until Tuesday but be prepared to play Monday anyway. I'm making the doubles draw at the player party Monday night so we'll start the doubles on Tuesday. I would like all the seeded doubles teams to attend a brief meeting on Monday night so that I get the seeds right, then I'll make the draw. If you want to play doubles you can still get in until Monday night. There are a few of you who are not yet paired up which is fine but by Monday night it is what it is.

I have 48 players and 16 seeds so we're set. I'm making the draw today and will post by tonight or tomorrow. Thanks for eveyones input on seeding. At this point it's done.

I seeded sixteen in singles with the hopes of recruiting two more players to make a 48 player draw. If anyone who is only playing doubles is interested in singles we can sure use them. Also due to the number of doubles teams, the finals is scheduled for Saturday rather than Friday. The singles final is also scheduled for Saturday. If you have questions about the seeding please contact me. 208-602-1493 robert@robertsterk.com

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