The 3.0er of the Year - Robert McGriff
(Towpath)
Singles Player of the Year - Keith Moeller
(North Olmsted Rec)
Doubles Player of the Year - Robert McGriff
(Towpath)
Doubles Team of the Year - Robert McGriff & John Turley
(Towpath)
Captain of the Year - Brian Parks
(Towpath)
Special 3.0er of the Year - Keith Moeller
(North Olmsted Rec)
Towpath's Robert McGriff wrapped up three D.F.O. awards thanks to his stellar play in in all three phases of 3.0 play! With partner John Turley, the pair won Doubles Team of the Year and with his 15 total wins, Robert was named Doubles Player of the Year as well as The 3.0er of the Year ... as well! WIth so much talent on Towpath, it's no wonder that their leader Brian, who won three team titles, was named Captain of the Year, as well ... as well! That's not to say that other clubs weren't recognized (as well), and for the second year in a row, a member of North Olmsted Rec, this time Keith, who became the first 3.0er to win both a singles and a doubles tournament in the same year, was named Singles Player of the Year!
In an extremely close vote, the tag-team-tandem of Robert and John took home the most coveted Doubles Team award the DFO has to offer (which is technically a completely accurate statement), thanks to their tournament run, their league titles, and their playoff success, showing that they were the total 3.0 team. A legendary 3.0 player, John went out in style before his well-deserved promotion to 3.5, and now in South Carolina, John continues to play at a high level. Robert, the overall wins leader for 2009, was also promoted the next season, continued to play until 2018, and play at a high level as well. Congratulations Robert and John!
In singles, Keith, a 3.0 trail blazing, history making, record-setter unlike any other, made 3.0 record setting history during the '09 campaign with a stellar record setting season, both on the tour and during league play! Indeed, Keith became the first ever - first ever! - 3.0er on record to notch a tournament championship in both singles and doubles ... ever! Not only that, but he did it in the same calendar year, yet another 3.0 first! In the end, Keith's five year career showed he had the skill-set to cover the entire 3.0 court, which showed the 3.0 world that he was truly deserving of his well-earned D.F.O. award! And not just one award, but two, as he also took home the Special 3.0er of the Year thanks to being the first to show all-court tournament acumen! Congratulations on making 3.0 history, Keith!
In terms of leadership, leading Team Towpath to only the second Nationals finish in all of 3.0 history highlighted a highlight reel of a season for Captain Brian, as he won three team titles en route to what heretofore had been the second best 3.0 finish in O-H-I-O 3.0 history!
2009 D.F.O Player of the Year Nominees
* = Years at 3.0; Nomination Criteria
Singles
Tournament Qualifiers
Thomas Green*5
Tournament: Paramount Winter Finalist (2-1), Akron Open Finalist (3-1)
League: 5-4 Singles, 1-2 Doubles
Atahan Koymen*2
Tournament: BTC Champion (2-0)
Keith Moeller*5
Tournament: Paramount Spring Classic Champion (3-0), PWC Consolation Finalist (1-2), Akron Open Quarterfinalist (2-1)
League: 3-3 Singles, 0-2 Doubles
David Tobar*2
Tournament: Kings Island Open Champion (2-0)
League: 5-1 Singles, 3-0 Doubles
Lloyd Yeh*3
Tournament: Paramount Winter Champion (3-0)
League: 2-1 Singles, 1-3 Doubles
Kevin Fink*6 (St. James Club)
League: 4-1 Singles, 3-1 Doubles; Playoffs: 0-1 Singles, 2-3 Doubles
Joseph R. Garrido*3 (St. James Club)
League: 3-2 Singles; Playoffs: 2-3 Singles, 0-1 Doubles
Doubles Team of the Year Nominees
Tournament Qualifiers
Christopher Balson*2/Keith Moeller*5
Tournament: Akron Open Doubles Champions (3-0)
League: 0-2 Doubles
William Baxter*3/Tony Galieti*4
Tournament: Paramount Winter Doubles Finalists (1-1)
League: 1-1 Doubles
Robert McGriff*7/John Turley*8
Tournament: Akron Open Doubles Finalist (2-1)
League: 3-1 Doubles; Playoffs: 5-2 Doubles
Robert McGriff*7/John Turley*8 (Towpath)
Tournament: Akron Open Doubles Finalist (2-1)
League: 3-1 Doubles; Playoffs: 5-2 Doubles
Voting Notes
In an historic vote, the voting panel was left with a number of decisions. That is, while Brian won the biggest event of the year, his one-and-done season and the fact he jumped to 3.5 the very next year left some 3.0 legitimacy questions. At the same time, Lloyd, who won the other Major* of the year, looked promising as well. Thomas, a long-time 3.0 star who danced on the 3.0 tour finals courts more than once and had the most singles wins of all nominees and who bested, head-to-head, Keith, had a strong case as well. Ultimately, though, the Voting Panel was in awe of Keith's history making run, becoming the first 3.0 player to win both a singles AND a doubles championship in the same season, which was just too compelling a case to dismiss!
In the doubles voting, the Voting Panel once again was faced with a dilemma - reward tournament play or league play? In what looks to be a trend, the Voting Panel ultimately decided to reward league and playoff play over tournament play, even though Christopher and Keith actually ended up besting the eventual DFO 3.0 Doubles Team of the Year award winners Robert and John in a head-to-head match at the Akron Open. Alas, such is the fickle mind of the 3.0 Voting Panel. However, Robert and John's impressive tournament run, combined with their impressive league play, couldn't be denied, as their Flight, State, and Midwest team titles couldn't be denied as well. Add in the historic nature of the name "John Turley," and well, like Michael Jordan and the Bulls, if you want to be the champ, you got to beat the champ.
Which ... um ... well ... Christopher and Keith actually did. Hmmmm ...
Oh well! Congrats to John and Robert on their deserved accolades!
As for the Captain of the Year, it was between Brian and Terry Netterfield, who enjoyed a fine season in his own right. But Brian's Nationals finish, only the second Nationals finish to that point, was enough to secure his standing in the annals of D.F.O. history!
Ineligible Nominees
Murphy Dickason*
Tournament: Forest City Open (2-0)
League: 3-1 Singles, 2-0 Doubles
Notes: Singles, doubles ... league, playoffs ... win, win ... Murphy could do it all!
Brian Lucas*
Tournament: Akron Open Champion (4-0)
Notes: Winning the Akron Open, the granddaddy of all 3.0 events, is an impressive way to end your one-and-done status!
Michael Schmenk*
Tournament: Perrysburg Open Champion (2-0)
League: 0-3 Singles (DQ)
Notes: So good that he was immediately bumped to 3.5, Michael will always have the POC as a memory of his 3.0 greatness!
Fred Hirsch*/Michael Ludick*
Tournament: Paramount Winter Doubles Champions (2-0)
Notes: Starting the year with a title is a great way to end your 3.0 career!
Terry Netterfield*9/Jason Rolak* (St. James Club)
League: 5-1 Doubles; Playoffs: None
Notes: Helping to lead their team to the playoffs, Terry and Jason were key components of a Midwest Ohio Championship Championship!
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