Rockville Tournament on for 2008

Rockville will hold its popular September tournament this year, despite losing our court facilities for the summer. The Country Club of Harrisburg, Blue Ridge Country Club and Colonial Country Club have graciously agreed to serve as the sites for the 2008 event.

One change in this year's format: there will be no afternoon cook-out due to the change in venue. All other aspects of the tournament will be the same.

To sign up, just click the Competition link to the right and download and return the form. If you have questions or need more information, just call tournament director Pat Smith at 717-576-5639. Or you can send an email to patsmith61@verizon.net.

The entry deadline is Saturday, August 30 -- entries received after that date will be approved at the discretion of the tournament director. The draw will be finalized on Tuesday, September 2 and early-round players will notified of their match times that day.

Matches will be played at all three area country clubs, with the finals at Country Club of Harrisburg.

We'll also post match times and match results on this website, so check back frequently during the tournament.

Participants can choose among seven different events:

Men's Singles
Men's Over 50 singles
Men's Doubles
Men's Over 50 Doubles
Mixed Doubles
Women's Singles
Women's Doubles

The tournament is in memory of Mark J. Tatkovski, a long-time member of Rockville. Come out to play in the tournament, or if you're not an active player just to see some great tennis.

Rockville in Search of New Location

After more than 30 years of operation, Rockville Racquet Club is closed for 2008 as the existing courts have been removed for church construction.

The club is currently searching for suitable land to re-build. Several options are being examined, including one parcel of ground very close to the current location. Once land is secured, the club will be working with members and other interested parties to fund and build a new facility.

The closure was unexpected, as the church that bought the land signed a one-year lease and assured us that the court area would not be needed for construction of its new facility.

In October 2007 the church amended its construction plans and shifted the building 80 feet, meaning the loss of the courts area. Construction began in December 2007 and continues.

We'll be keeping all members and others interested in Rockville Racquet Club advised of progress toward the rebuild.

Tournament Champs Take Center Stage

2007 Event Winners
From top left, pictured with tournament official Jack Snavely
Click photo to enlarge

Ryan Mellinger, Men's Open Singles
Marianne Caplan (right, with finalist Gretchen Yarnall), Women's Singles
John Bahoric (left) and Kirby Beshore, Men's 50s Doubles
Ryan Mellinger and Greg Valentine, Men's Doubles
Maral Vartan (left) and Gretchen Yarnall, Women's Doubles
Nancy Opilo and Bill Spinner, Mixed Doubles

Not pictured: Kevin Quigley, Men's 50s Singles
Photos by Brian Gutschal

Boys to Square Off in Rockville Junior Classic

Top seeded Paul Kasal heads the field of eight players in Boy's 18 Singles for this weekend's Rockville Junior Classic at the Club. Play begins Friday night and continues through Sunday's final.

SCHEDULE OF MATCHES

Friday, September 14
Robert Schrader vs. Tyler Miller, 5 p.m.
Matthew Miller vs. Scott Bronder, 5 p.m.

Saturday, September 15
Paul Kasal (1) vs. Brent Dimming, 9 a.m.
Andy Garofalo (2) vs. David Giusti, 9 a.,.

Semi-Finals: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Final: Sunday, 10 a.m.

Mellinger Wins Third Straight Rockville Open Championship, Adds Doubles Title

Ryan Mellinger topped Tom Bixler 6-4, 6-1 to win his third straight Rockville Open title (both pictured above), then added the doubles crown in a tough three set win with partner Greg Valentine over James Smith and C. Green 6-4, 6-7 (20-18), 7-5.

Bixler, playing with an ailing left arm and newly-developed one-handed backhand, topped a strong Armen Vartan in the semis, 6-4, 7-5. Mellinger turned back Mic Wallace 6-3, 6-1 in the other semi.

Mellinger and Valentine earlier in men's doubles rolled over Bill Spinner and George Hoffman, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) while Smith and Green outlasted Mark Tyndale and Ken Myhre 7-5, 2-6, 6-3.

In the Men's 50s Singles, Kevin Quigley beat Alan Rishel 6-3, 6-2 to take the title. He topped defending champ Terry Farley in the semis, 6-3, 6-3. Rishel defeated Dave Kline 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 in the other semi-final match.

In the Women's Singles division, Marianne Caplan bested Vivian Jugan 6-0, 6-0 in the semis and met Gretchen Yarnall in the final, winning 6-0, 6-1. Yarnall earlier topped Nancy Opilo 6-4, 6-2.

Kirby Beshore and John Bahoric won the Men's 50s Doubles, defeating Terry Farley and Ed Jackson, 6-4, 6-4. Beshore/Bahoric topped Chahn Nguyen and J. Kritz in the semis, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, while Farley/Jackson rolled over Tony Cooper and Stump 6-2, 6-2.

In mixed doubles, Nancy Opilo and Bill Spinner took the title by defeating Chahn Nguyen and Jeannie Lantzy, 6-3, 6-2. Opilo/Spinner topped Ted Fridirici and Lisa Stokes to make the final, while Nguyen/Lantzy beat Bryant Siegfried and Melosky 6-1, 6-3.

Maral Vartan and Gretchen Yarnall earned the Women's Doubles Championship by besting Lisa Stokes and Sara Nichols, 7-5, 6-1.

TOURNAMENT SUMMARY
Men's Singles Champion: Ryan Mellinger
Men's Open Doubles Champions: Ryan Mellinger and Greg Valentine
Men's 50s Singles Champion: Kevin Quigley
Men's 50s Doubles Champions: Kirby Beshore and John Bahoric
Women's Singles Champion: Marianne Caplan
Mixed Doubles Champions: Nancy Opilo and Bill Spinner
Women's Doubles Champions: Maral Vartan and Gretchen Yarnall

Mellinger Wins Easily, Bixler Advances

Ryan Mellinger won his second round and quaterfinal matches, advancing to meet Mic Wallace (who topped Mark Reside, pictured above and then James Smith) in Sunday morning's semi-finals. On the bottom half of the draw, Tom Bixler won his two matches to meet Armen Vartan in the other semi. The winners will play the final at 1:30 p.m.

SATURDAY RESULTS

Men's Open Singles, Third Round
Ryan Mellinger (1) defeated Steve Aiken, 6-0, 6-0
James Smith defeated Mark DiSanto, default
Mic Wallace defeated Mark Reside, 6-3, 6-2
Bill Shambach defeated Taylor Harris, 6-2, 6-0
Mel Nelson defeated Jim Ketelsleger, 6-0, 6-1
Armen Vartan defeated Brett Siegfried, 6-3, 6-2
Nick May defeated Bryant Siegfried, 6-3, 6-0
Tom Bixler defeated Jim Carson, 6-1, 6-0

Quarter Finals
Ryan Mellinger defeated Bill Shambach, 6-1, 6-2
Mic Wallace defeated James Smith, 6-3, 5-0 (retired)
Armen Vartan defeated Mel Nelson, 6-1, 6-3
Tom Bixler defeated Nick May, 6-2, 6-3

Men's 50s Singles
Terry Farley (1) defeated Ian Cohen, 6-0, 6-2
Lloyd Nyce defeated Rich Noel, 6-0, 6-0
Kevin Quigley (4) defeated Frank Gray, 6-3, 6-3
Bob DeGomar defeated Harold Powell, 6-3, 6-3
Mike DiRenzo defeated Jack Henry, 7-5, 6-0
Dave Kline (2) defeated James Walker, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
Alan Rishel (3) defeated Tony Cooper, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)

Quarter Finals
Terry Farley defeated Lloyd Nyce, 6-0, 6-1
Kevin Quigley defeated Bob DeGomar, 6-3, 6-2
Alan Rishel defeated Mike DiRenzo, 6-2, 6-4
Dave Kline defeated Joe Sakey, 6-4, 6-4

Men's Open Doubles
Mellinger/Valentine defeated Hunt/Byerly, 6-7, 6-4, 6-0
Ketelsleger/Landis defeated Siegfried/Shaikh, 6-3, 7-6
Spinner/Hoffman defeated May/Chiaco, 6-4, 6-3
Arosel/Zangle defeated Wickenheiser/Kelley, 6-3, 6-0
Seiverling/Nelson defeated Coles/Fortson, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
Tyndale/Myhre defeated Smith/Shambach, 6-3, 6-3
Snavely/Gutschal defeated Liddick/Liddick, 6-3, 6-4
Smith/Green defeated Perry/Trimble, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2

Quarter Finals
Spinner/Hoffman defeated Arosel/Zangle, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
Tyndale/Myhre defeated Sieverling/Nelson, 6-4, 6-1
Smith/Green defeated Snavely/Gutschal, 7-6, 6-4
Mellinger/Valentine defeated Ketelsleger/Landis, 6-1, 6-2

Women's Singles
Nancy Opilo defeated Kathryn Washington, 6-4, 6-4
Vivian Jugan defeated Tracy Markle, 6-2, 6-7, 6-2

Men's 50's Doubles, Quarter-Finals
Nguyen/Fritz defeated Eckhaus/Hench, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
Cooper/Stump defeated Lawson/West, 6-2, 6-1

TOMMOROW'S ACTION
Men's Open Singles, Semi-Finals
Ryan Mellinger vs. Mic Wallace, 9 a.m.
Tom Bixler vs. Armen Vartan, 9 a.m.

Men's 50s Singles, Semi-Finals\
Terry Farley vs. Kevin Quigley, 9 a.m.
Alan Rishel vs. Dave Kline, 9 a.m.

Men's Open Doubles, Semi-Finals
Mellinger/Valentine vs. Spinner/Hoffman, 10:30 a.m.
Tyndale/Myhre vs. Smith/Green, 10:30 a.m.

Men's 50s Doubles, Semi-Finals
Beshore/Bahoric vs. Nguyen/Fritz, 10:30 a.m.
Cooper/Stump vs. Farley/Jackson, 10:30 a.m.

Women's Singles, Semi-Finals
Marianne Caplan vs. Vivian Jugan, 9 a.m.
Nancy Opilo vs. Gretchen Yarnell, 9 a.m.

Mixed Doubles, Semi-Finals
Spinner/Opilo vs. Fridirici/Stokes, 1:30 p.m.
Siegfried/Melosky vs. Nguyen/Linsday, noon

Bixler, Nelson Roll to Easy Wins

Second seed Tom Bixler easily won his first round match, while Mel Nelson and Nick May advanced with straight set victories. Bixler (above) achieved the elusive "golden set, not dropping a single point in one of the sets in his match against Ethan Nelson. In the night's most hard-fought match, Brett Siefried outlasted Sean Montgomery in three sets.

FRIDAY'S RESULTS

Men's Open Singles
Mel Nelson (5) defeated Steve Lash, 6-1, 6-2
Jim Ketelsleger defeated Jeff Graby, 4-6, 1-5, ret.
Brett Siegfried defeated Sean Montgomery, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
Armen Vartan defeated Doug Caplan, 6-0, 6-1
Nick May (7) defeated Mark Tyndale, 7-6 (7-5), 6-0
Bryant Siegfried defeated Phil Liddick, 6-2, 6-1
Jim Carson defeated Craig Wickenheiser, 6-2, 6-2
Tom Bixler (2) defeated Ethan Nelson, 6-0, 6-0

Play continues tomorrow morning with men's 50s singles beginning at 8 a.m., followed by men's open singles at 9:30 and men's open doubles at 11 a.m.