Most of the top news stories in the Arkansas tennis community are the reporting of stellar results by winning teams and individuals. However, the tennis teams that produce the worst results do not get any attention in the press. In honor to these individuals and teams, a Biggest Loser Category has been compiled of the teams/individuals who finished last in their divisions.
The 2010 Winners of the Biggest Loser Award for their division are listed below:
Men's 5.0 Record(0-8)
AR-B/Lyon /Conway captained by Jason Lyon
Team members include Jason Lyon, Kyle Garretson, Chris R. Dussourd, G Barry Brady, Robert Allen Cain, Adam R. Brown.
Women's 4.5 Record(1-8)
Cain/Cain/Little Rock(LRAC) captained by Robert Cain/Andrea Cain
Team members include Andrea Cain, Terri S. Simpson, Lauren Valecillos, Kelli Sanders, Jossie Elizabeth Smith, Stephanie Monet Forte, Tracy McClure, Karen A Henry, Debbie Morrison, Leslie King-Gillispie, Carol L. Mugerditchian, Shuree Shurell Pruitt.
Men's 4.5 Record(0-8)
Robinson/LR(LRRC) captained by Danny Robinson
Team members include Danny Robinson, Fred C. Lord, Robin F. Frazier, Evan Olsen, John Michael Christopher, Mark A. Brown, John Hurst, Tim Bichlmeier, James Richard Olson, Kyle M. Hatfield, Jeff Toliver, Bob Worthington, Duwayne Anderson.
Women's 4.0 Record(0-13)
Cross/Hazelwood/LR (Burns) captained by Irene Cross/Terri Hazelwood
Team members include Irene G. Cross, Brooke Hollis, Jill Madonia Frazier, Terri L. Hazelwood, Janet Ripling Moore, Michelle M. Hastings, Kara L. Ford, Kelly Thessing, Erica Eldridge, Mona Churchwell, Vonda J. Stokes, Cherie Annette Swain, Melanie A. Harder, Sherry M. Stokes, Marnie Dabroski.
Men's 4.0 Record(1-6)
Boland/N. Little Rock(Burns) captained by Dan Boland
Team members include Daniel D. Boland, John Bakalekos, Kyle A. Clem, Joe E. Keeling, Johnny E. Hibbs, Craig Knox, John W. Andrews, Byron D. Curtner, Charlie Kinser, Roger Zifer, Michael W. Loftis, James A. Harris, Alan L. Reese, Doug Lickert, Robert R. Bearden, Francis Lee Hartz.
Women's 3.5- Group 1 Record(1-7)
Mascuilli/N. Little Rock(burns) captained by Kathy Mascuilli
Team members include Kathy L. Mascuilli, Emily C. Andrews-Clark, Crystal Phelps, Mae Abrams, Peggy Healy, Barbara A. Barron, Fumiko Collins, Joy R. Blankenship, Saba Koja, Melissa Cole, Janice Helen Carter, Anna Jeter.
Women's 3.5- Group 2 Record(0-8)
Magee/little rock(LRAC) captained by Kim Magee
Team members include Joely Costello, Kimberly Moros, Samantha R. Crawford, Kirsten Dickins, Amanda Duch Moore, Wendy Y. Lynch, Anne Fulgham Gill, Meritt Harrison, Melissa Bridges, Wendy L. Angel, Robin Lee Frazier, Missy Tanner, Cindy A. Goodwin.
Men's 3.5 Record(0-6)
Baker/Little Rock/OC captained by Marty Baker
Team members include Marty Baker, Danny Needham, Jeffery L. Dunn, Guilford Marion Dudley, Jerald N. Todd, Richard Patrick Cole, Chuck Seel, Carl Brown, David W. Sterling, Sidney Wood, Mike Dodson, Derek K. Jennings.
Women's 3.0- Group 1 Record(1-6)
Winston/Hot Springs(HSHF) captained by Laura Winston
Team members include Laura Winston, Heather Denae Palczynski, Amy Allison Porter, Shanda Elizabeth Nation, Lynette Renee Howell, SHADDA TAPP, Patricia Lynn Young, Linda S. Parker, Lana Thompson Wann, Margaret Signorelli.
Women's 3.0- Group 2 Record(0-7)
Sterka/Conway captained by Sheila Sterka
Team members include Sheila Sterka, Hope Guidry, Marilynn Nabholz, Betsy McClendon, Elizabeth B Spivey, Gloria D. Ward, Alysanne Crymes, Jamie P. Pollard, Danielle Warren, Brandie Martin, Lisa Renee Lollar, Penny Vaught.
Men's 3.0 Record(1-5)
McWilliams/Little Rock(OC) captained by Matthew Jordan McWilliams
Team members include Tim Jernigan, Chuck E. Brown, Jason Reddick Jones, Matthew Jordan McWilliams, Barry Williams, Troy A Stephens, Tim W. Vaughan, Drew Baltzley, Bob Butler, Valeriy Lyzogubov, Paul D. Kroger, Chadley Dean Uekman.
Women's 2.5 Record(0-8)
Battisto/Little Rock(Burns) captained by Cindy Battisto
Team members include Susan Kay Goff, Laura E McKinney, Michelle Lee Crafton, Casey S Moseley, Angela Carole Johnson-Grimmett , Laura Arrington Shafer, Kimble Latrice Talley, Cindy L Battisto.
21 comments:
With the exception of a few listed this is proof of the extreme disarray USTA has created with their sudden major NTRP adjustments!
USTA first should have always abide by their own guidelines and rules. They secondly should have made needed adjustments for skill levels over time rather than through one big bang fixer year. Doing the above would've prevented the current havoc players are trying to muddle through while USTA "sorts things out." Many people are now not rated according to USTA's NTRP guidelines and this is reflected here. Shame on USTA! Tennis is "supposed" to be a game of honesty and those in top positions should undoubtedly be setting examples. Whether a line call or a correct USTA rating honesty should prevail. Many players are being greatly hurt by the dishonesty USTA has shown over the years.
The skill levels are set for a reason. The major changes made last year should have been small adjustments over time rather than putting players through such a traumatic year. To go from being at the top of a level one year to being at the bottom the next isn't right and is no reflection on any player(s.)
Exception to the above are those who didn't get moved up a level or play at a higher level than they are rated. Those people knew what they were in for.
I wonder if any of these players should be bumped down to a level in which they would be more competitive. I can't wait for the new NTRP ratings to come out in December and see the movement up or down in the ratings after the massive movement of players last year by the USTA.
How does a team such as the 5.0 Men's Team go 0-4 during the season and go to sectionals? Someone said they finished last in the state and went 0-4 at sectionals,too.
there were only two teams in the men's 5.0 and the state got the wildcard to send an extra team ( which was jason lyon's )to sectionals. that is how a last place team can go to sectionals.
Robinson used to have some great teams in the past. What is the deal about his present team going 0-8 during the regular season in the Men 4.5?
Of these 12 worst teams, I noticed 4 teams played at Burns Park, 2 teams from Little Rock Athletic Club(LRAC), 2 teams from Otter Creek, etc. Where is the best facility for developing a team? I noticed Pleasant Valley Country Club(PVCC)had zero teams on the worst team list. Is PVCC the best tennis facility?
After checking out these teams it appears the majority are playing up a level. Captains have a hard time fitting in all their matches and working around the many schedules of their players plus the travel involved, etc.Why have to work in unnecessary matches?
Before playing up master your current rating level. If you're winning the majority of matches then by all means play up though. We all know in our hearts where we should be. Some people's lives revolve around tennis and they don't think about those whose don't. That's selfish.
That's the only reason I can see for pointing out the losers anyway. Hopefully that's right. If not then I don't get it.
Time for some qualifications /rules. Limit the # of teams a player can be on. (USTA/ATA would prefer every player on 10 teams. More $ for them.) Minimum 75% of a team must consist of players at teams rating. How a player did last year at their rating should be taken into consideration. (Remember in college when you weren't allowed in a class until you'd taken the prerequisite? Same principle.) Players should be from the team's area/state and not from out of state. Many other things but a few starters.
Lack of boundaries and rules leads only to chaos. That applies to a daycare and league tennis alike.
Too much skirting around rules or lack of clear rules has gone on far too long.Tennis should be on the up and up. Up to us players to ensure.
I have been hearing the same complaints about a lower-ntrp group forming a team at the next skill level above them. Captains complain about the extra trouble in scheduling the matches against these weak teams. Groups should not be allowed to form a team at a higher level unless a certain number of the players are already at the next skill level. I am glad you guys are pointing these things out that needs attention by the usta. The article about Leslie Pfeiffer being overpaid $185,000 over a five-year period was a masterpiece to say the least! Your readers and comments from them are a vast source of information to us all!!!
These are great comments about lower level ntrp players wanting to play up a level. I agree about the waste of time for teams to play weaker teams that should be at the lower level. Rules should be set on qualifications for teams with appropriate skill ratings. If people want to work on there game and play better players, then they should use only tournaments as an avenue to compete at the next level above them.
Looking over this list, I see problems with senior and super-senior players wanting to compete with the younger crowd. If you CAN'T compete with THE FIT, then DON'T COMMIT to play with them! You're wasting everyone's time and should stick to your age group! Tournaments would be the place for them if they want to find out what it's like to play better/younger players .
Chenal Valley Country Club(CVCC) has done an excellent job in developing beginner-level teams. They had a team go to nationals recently. PVCC is not necessarily the top tennis club since most of their teams are intermediate or advanced level players.
The Women's 4.5 Team had maybe 3 or so 4.5 players on a roster of maybe 13. One of the Women's 3.0 Teams had a roster of half 2.5 players and half 3.0 players. The Men's 4.0 Team had a lot of super-senior and senior players. The Women's 4.0 Team had mainly 3.5 players. So, I agree with a criteria being met to form a team as other posters have commented. We should poll the players/captains on this problem.
Some weaker players were overheard that they were going to form a team above their ntrp skill level in order to make the better players play against them. I think that is sort of childish of them.
I vote for qualifications for a team, but out-of-state players should be allowed. I know some players in Southern Illinois that don't have enough players to form a team and play on a team in Kentucky just a few miles away. I also agree that the article dated July 8, 2010 about the overpayment of Leslie Pfeiffer by $185,000 over a 5-year period was a precise dissection of her taking over 12% of the Arkansas Tennis Association budget for herself not including her benefits, thereby limiting the growth and promotion of this exciting game of tennis!!!
As a captain also I totally relate to the problems with the teams playing out of their league.
There are too many people on too many teams already. It's hard enough to find a time where everyone can come play. Worse to show up to a bunch of forfeited courts.
This type of behavior is unacceptable and there must be new laws enforced to stop the nonsense.
Childish is putting it mildly. People should stop talking behind backs and work towards rules on to stop the mess.
I vote for standards or qualifications to form a team. (1) Captain must be rated at the same level as team being formed (2)70% of team members must be rated at the team level being formed or cancelled before season starts. I have also overheard weaker players whining that players rated higher won't play with them. The weaker players form a team to force the higher rated players to play them. Childish to say the least !
Greetings everyone,
I have some students that play tennis against some 2A conference high school players. After checking out some of the coaching records in that conference, I noticed a Penny Vaught , tennis coach of Conway Christian, shows up on your list of biggest losers in team tennis at the 3.0 skill level. If she can't win at 3.0, then she really must be at the beginner skill level of 2.5. Wow!!! She must not have much knowledge of the game of tennis if she is classified as a beginner.
LOSE all the time? That's stupid.
People play league tennis for fun and exercise. It's hard enough to schedule regular matches much less others for a "sacrifice team".
I can only think some players are very desperate to get bumped, have plenty of time on their hands and not mind inconveniencing others if they'd do that.
Why does everyone whine about ntrp rating? If you think you are rated too high then if you don't win the next year you will be moved down. There is no national conspiracy, or hidden agenda, or anything like that. The national USTA, is simply doing there best to grow tennis.
I'm very concerned after reading this article. My child attends Conway Christian and has mentioned participating on the tennis team. Are there no qualifications in order to be a coach? The current coach at Conway Christian is Mrs. Penny Vaught. I looked up her personal record for 2010 and her record was 1-5 at the 3.0 level which is one level above a player who has touched a racquet for the first time. Mrs. Vaughts only win was a doubles match and with all other matches being lost obviously her partner carried her lone win.
This is troublesome as a parent. I am going to either encourage my child to play another sport or to not participate on the school team but rather with a reputable and qualified group. Too much athleticism to let it go to waste with Mrs. Vaught.
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