The 3.0er of the Year - James Schulte
(Towpath)
Singles Player of the Year - Matt Birkbeck
(Towpath)
Doubles Player of the Year - James Schulte
(Towpath)
Doubles Team of the Year - Christopher Hartman & Kyle Webb
(Quail Run)
Captain of the Year - Michael Dadaian
(Quail Run)
Special 3.0ers of the Year - Jesus Caldera & Ricardo Caldera
(Fox Creek)
Captain Michael's wins in league and playoff play earned the Dayton area Quail Run it's first ever postseason D.F.O. honor while his teammates Chris and Kyle took home the Doubles Team of the Year award honors thanks to their brilliant undefeated league and playoff play. Up in NEO, records were set a plenty, as Matt, thanks to enjoying the most overall wins, taking home his first ever tournament title, and winning in all three phases, became the first ever 3.0er to repeat his Singles Player of the Year status in an incredibly crowded field. Speaking of records, The 3.0er of the Year could go to none other than Towpath's James, a player whose 25 wins shattered the previous single-season record!
In singles, for the first time in D.F.O. history, history was made in the D.F.O. Singles Player of the Year award as Matt became the first ever 3.0er to win back-to-back Singles Player of the Year awards! Indeed, Matt, a veteran of the 3.0 tennis tour*, enjoyed the first Major* championship, the PWC, of his illustrious 3.0 career in 2016! Not stopping there, Matt also was a finalist in one more Major*, the Akron Open, all the while enjoying a fantastic, nigh-perfect league season, going 7-1 overall in 3.0 events, including 6-1 in singles. BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE! His run didn't stop there, for in the playoffs, which included a run to the National Championship, Matt went an amazing 3-1! Add it all up, and 2016 witnessed one of the best all around 3.0 seasons in memory, as Matt enjoyed an historic mark of 20-6 in all 3.0 matches! Congratulations Matt on not just a fantastic season, but a historic one as well!
In terms of leadership, leading his Quail Run team to a fantastic season, Michael chalked up an impressive 16 team wins on the year en route to one of the best 3.0 seasons Ohio saw in all of 2016!
The Brothers Caldera, thank to their heartfelt brotherly story, as well as their comeback from defeat in the finals the year prior, were the clearcut Hallmark movie choice for Special 3.0ers of the Year!
2016 DFO 3.0 Player of the Year Finalists
* = Years at 3.0; Nomination Criteria
Tournament Qualifiers
Joshua Bertolone*4
Tournament: Akron Open Consolation Title (3-1)
League:1-1 Singles, 0-3 Doubles
Matt Birkbeck*8
Tournament: Paramount Winter Champion (3-0), Akron Open Finalist (3-1)
League: 6-1 Singles, 1-0 Doubles, Flight Championship
Playoffs: 3-1 Singles, Midwest Championship, Advanced to Nationals
Charles Graise*3
Tournament: Paramount Winter Finalist (2-1), Paramount Fall Consolation Finalist (2-2)
Denny Huff*7
Tournament: Paramount Winter Quarter-Finalist (0-2)
League: 1-0 Singles, 5-6 Doubles
John Ragner*2
Tournament: Akron Open Round of 16 (0-2)
League: 7-2 Singles, 1-1 Doubles
John Tomic*5
Tournament: Akron Open Champion (5-0)
Roderick Yamat*12
Tournament: Paramount Winter Consolation Title (2-1), Paramount Fall Finalist (1-1)
League: 7-11 Singles, 1-0 Doubles
Givenson Piard*5 (QRC)
League: 8-1 Singles, 1-0 Doubles; Playoffs: 4-1 Singles
Arthur Pharmer*4 (QRC)
League: 8-1 Singles, 1-1 Doubles; Playoffs: 2-0 Singles, 3-0 Doubles
Daniel Chirayath*2 (Towpath)
League: 4-0 Singles, 4-3 Doubles; Playoffs: 3-1 Singles
Matt Birkbeck*8
Tournament: Paramount Winter Champion (3-0), Akron Open Finalist (3-1)
League: 6-1 Singles, 1-0 Doubles; Playoffs: 3-1 Singles, Advanced to Nationals
Doubles
Tournament Qualifiers
Jesus Caldera*2/Ricardo Caldera*3
Tournament: Akron Open Doubles Champions (3-0)
Rich Kipp*2/James Schulte*2
Tournament: Akron Open Doubles Finalists (2-1)
League: 1-0
John Ragner*2/Timothy Sziraky*2
Tournament: Akron Open Doubles Consolation Title (2-1)
Kyle Webb*6/Christopher Hartman*5 (QRC)
League: 5-0; Playoffs: 4-0
Shaun Johannes*3/Mike Madoffori*7 (QRC)
League: 1-0; Playoffs: 4-1
Joseph DiRocco*2/Brian Arnold*4 (Towpath)
League: 3-2; Playoffs: 4-1
James Schulte*2/Stephen Wilt*5 (Towpath)
League: 2-0; Playoffs: 3-2
Voting Notes
While Matt's award was duly earned, the voting panel had some difficult decisions to make before finally rewarding Matt's amazing 2016 season. Indeed, John Tomic's record-tying amount of wins in a single tournament (5), the biggest and most illustrious tournament of the season, mind you, was difficult to dismiss, but his one-and-done 3.0 status, combined with Matt's long-time 3.0 status, ultimately helped pave the way for the Singles Player of the Year path for Matt. And let's be honest, Matt's season, and his career, was as worthy as any 3.0 player we've seen over the past decade! Perhaps ... Hall of 3.0 Fame worthy?! (Hint: yes)
In doubles, everyone loves a comeback story, and the Brothers Caldera provided a rich one as they bounced back from last year's set back in both the Akron Open and the D.F.O. voting by crushing their competition a year later to earn what was rightfully theirs, the Akron Open 3.0 Doubles Championship! But Kyle and Christopher, with their combined 11 years of 3.0 service and their amazing Midwest Ohio State Championships Championship run, made an extremely strong case for themselves and for the most talked about doubles award the D.F.O. offers (which is probably technically true).
In a slightly controversial vote, Michael edged out Towpath's Michael Kramer as the two, hailing from two of the most historic 3.0 clubs in all of Ohio, had very similar seasons. Indeed, Towpath's Michael ended at Nationals, leading some to question Quail Run's Michael garnering D.F.O. votes. However, Michael had a great season and in fact enjoyed more team wins, and in the end, in a close vote, the friendly rivalry between these two great clubs and these two great Michael's would no doubt continue. You're welcome, rivalries!
Ineligible Nominees
Robert Horn*
Tournament: Perrysburg Open Champion (2-0)
League: 8-1 Singles; Playoffs: 4-0 Doubles
Notes: 12-1, a Midwest Ohio Championships Championship, and a tournament championship? Now that's a great season!
Spencer Wess*
Tournament: Paramount Fall Champion (2-0), Akron Open Consolation Finalist (2-2)
Notes: Two finals appearances in two tries is just toooooo good!
Michael Kramer*4/Hung Le* (Towpath)
League: 3-0; Playoffs: 4-1
Notes: A trip to Nationals showed just how good this doubles tandem turned out to be!
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