It's finally here, the biggest* tennis event in all of August! ALL OF IT! The 3.0 playoffs!
Except for you 55+ guys ... you already qualified to Regionals. Huzzah for only four 55+ teams in all of Ohio!
But for the 18+ kiddos and the 40+ manly men, it's nearing District playoff time, which means it's ... PLAYOFF PREVIEW TIME!
18+ Previews
#3 Seed: Towpath, 9-1 (1-0)
#2 Seed: NCRC, 9-1 (1-0)
#1 Seed: Mayfield, 9-1
Mayfield, thanks to winning one more match than NCRC, enjoyed the #1 seed and a Qualifying bye and is no doubt well-rested and ready to rock and roll (as we're sure that's why they call Mayfield Village the Rock 'n Roll City?!) and was able to send scouts far and wide to check on the action of their playoff playing opponents [Note: that would be fantastic if they did!].
NCRC, meanwhile, didn't rue their chances to be the #1 seed and despite the fact they had to take on legendary LaTuchie in the Qualifying round, a club who was runner-up in Flight 2 behind Mayfield, Captain Timothy's lads were ready to go, to the tune of a 5-0 sweep at home! Flight 1 Rookie of the Year nominee Jaime helped get a big win on the the #1 singles court while the nigh-unbeatable combo of Captain Timothy and Matthew got a close-fought win at numero uno dubs while 3.0 vet Benjamin helped seal the deal with a solid victory at #3 doubles! LaTuchie, though, had much to be proud of, including making the playoffs despite losing several key figures from last year's club, the rise of several standout rookies, and yet another impressive playoff qualifying year. As second year player Erik was heard to say, "NCRC is ... in northeast Ohio and they fact ... is ... Snoop Dog ... would've loved that hot box..." [Note: some quotes edited for space]. Opponent and tourney doubles partner Ben, a one-time NCRC captain, could only agree, stating "Last week we had ... running water." Well said!
Towpath, the runner-up in Flight 1 behind NCRC, had to travel across counties - maybe even across more than one! - as they had to play a resurgent Flight 3 title team, Paramount Westlake, on the road! And if the boys from P.W. were intimidated by the legendary figures on Team Towpath, they didn't show it, taking both singles courts and pushing two of the three dubs courts to third set SUPER TIE-BREAKERS! Alas, Towpath and Captain Frank are the class of the area for a reason, and their experience, as well as their star players, shined on like the superstars they are as Captain Frank and William Fox notched their 86th and 47th career 3.0 wins, respectively, to help seal the playoff win for their club! Making the excitement all the more exciting is that #1 doubles player Craig earned an all-3.0-time tying 107th career win, making the day all the more ... um ... exciting!
And with that, the 18+ District playoffs, taking place the first weekend of August, are set! So ... who's set to win? LET'S FIND OUT TOGETHER!!!
Towpath (10-1 overall, #3 Seed)
Strengths - Experience! This crew has more 3.0 wins than any other club in northeast Ohio, Ohio, and possibly the entire globe! Starting with Captain Frank, the second most winningest captain in 3.0 history, he's also the 5th most winningest player in 3.0 history! Add in Craig, Ron, and John and 40% of the all-3.0-time wins leaders are playing for this club alone! Add in William, with Craig and John, you have 55+ National Championship experience as well! Plus, Craig, Ron, and William were all, at some point, named D.F.O. Players of the Year! WHERE DOES IT STOP?!
Weaknesses - This club is absolutely loaded when it comes to experience on the court and experience winning, but ironically needs to find a pairing to cover the singles courts. That being said, Brian had a great 5-1 season o' singles while Frank and Ron are both ranked in the top five all-3.0-time when it comes to singles wins in league and tournament play, respectively. The question, then is this - who does Captain Frank pull from dubs to take on singles?!
NCRC (10-1 overall, #2 Seed)
Strengths - Flexibility! This club, one of the nicest and most posh clubs around according to some, has so many quality players that can play so many courts that Captain Timothy's biggest issue may be where to place his roster! In doubles, Matthew and Captain Timothy are one of the best pairs around, having double-digit wins on the year together, winning both in league and tournament play. Meanwhile, Mel and Benjamin have dominated the doubles courts during their careers as well. However, Matthew has made two deep tournament runs of late in singles events while Benjamin is a top 10 all-3.0-time performer in singles when it comes to tournament play. And Mel? His name is all over the Akron Open lists with both a Vice-Championship and a Consolation Title! Or does Captain Timothy rely on untested rookies Jaime and Allan, both of whom enjoyed winning singles records this season?! The point is, flexibility is the name of the game for NCRC!
Weaknesses - Playoff experience! This crew of wildly talented 3.0ers, many of which have been on the same NCRC team over the past three seasons, have but one team playoff victory over that time, so the question is, once they're there, will they stay there?! The ace-in-the-hole if you will (will you?!) is that Mel is back, and Mel was on the last NCRC team to make a deep playoff run, the 2018 National qualifying team! Will his experience be the difference this time around?!
Mayfield Village Racquet Club (9-1 Overall, #1 Seed)
Strengths - Exuberance! This not-so ragtag group is so new that they don't know what they're in for, which, in a lot of ways, is a benefit in more ways than one! One, rookie Captain Robert, has no pressure, and can just have fun with a group of 3.0 newbies who aren't just new to 3.0 tennis, but playoff tennis as well! Two, being under the 3.0 radar means their opponents won't have much to research when it comes to scouting, and everyone knows that prior preparation prevents poor tennis (or something like that). Three, with Towpath and NCRC, two historic programs no doubt gazing 78' away from one another like two tennis wolves in the night (how's that for a metaphor!), those two tennis powerhouses may be so focused on one another that they'll underestimate the MVRC fellas!
Weaknesses - Attendance! As almost the entire crew is new to playoff tennis, do they even know that there's more tennis to be played?! With the help of veterans John and Brandon, hopefully they will, but who among the MVRC guys knew that tennis can go all the way into ... AUGUST?!
40+ Previews and Predictions
#3 Seed: Paramount Westlake, 8-2
#2 Seed: North Ridge, 9-1
#1 Seed: NCRC, 9-1
The adult section of 3.0 tennis looks to have the three top clubs from the one and only 40+ Flight go at the exact same weekend as the 18+ kiddos which will no doubt lead to 3.0 excitement but also some tough 3.0 roster decisions as well!
NCRC, thanks to a great final run, narrowly won the Flight, winning one set more than runner-up North Ridge. Paramount Westlake, thanks to a late surge, enters their first playoff in years!
Paramount Westlake (8-2 overall, #3 Seed)
Strengths - Playoff mentality! Despite the fact that this is the first run for P.W. in recent - or distant! - memory, the fact is that Captain Schultz has had his crew playing with a playoff mentality since late June! Needing to win each and every match the rest of the way, they did just that, rolling off four straight victories, starting with an impressive win over North Ridge and then none more important than their 4-1 win on the final matchday versus Towpath! Thanks to their hardened 3.0 mental state, veterans Mark, Ryan, and John can no doubt be counted on to continue the hard-charging play. Add in Robert, a member of the 2021 Force 18+ National qualifying team, and that's even more playoff mentality!
Weaknesses - Actual playoff play! While P.W. dominated the month of July, the fact is, that was still regular season play, and everyone knows that things pick up in intensity once August rolls around (I mean ... sorta). However, with Captain Sean, John, Mark, and Ryan enjoying career 3.0 years, perhaps they're, ahem, mental enough to make it happen?!
North Ridge (9-1, #2 Seed)
Strengths - Leadership! This roster is loaded with it! Captain Robert, making back-to-back trips to the playoffs with his North Ridge club (now actually physically at North Ridge!), isn't the only leader on a team packed with veteran experience. Sure, he's the #3 all-3.0-time captain in terms of wins and the #3 all-3.0-time in term of individual wins, but he's not alone in greatness! James, Michael, Robert, Kevin, Ben, Craig, and Lars are all have 30 or 40 or 50 or in the case of Craig 100 (!!!) career wins, meaning they've seen it all (when it comes to 3.0 tennis ... which is something, eh?). That kind of leadership, experience, and depth you simply cannot buy (unless you're playing playoffs at NCRC where you are charged $19 to play)!
Weaknesses - The Bullseye! Absolutely loaded with physical talent in singles (Abhi or Matthew rock the solo courts) and in doubles (Craig, Robert, Captain Robert, Ben, Michael, or Kevin are all all-star caliber 3.0ers), the only thing that can slow this crew down is if they become the bullseye team of the event. That is, if both P.W. and NCRC focus solely on North Ridge, can this absolutely loaded team handle taking on every team's best?!
NCRC (9-1, #1 Seed)
Strengths - All-Stars! NCRC's Captain Timothy and Matthew are simply two of the superstars of the sport, and as such, superstars are often able to lift up their teammates to heights previously impossible to believe! 9-1 on the season with an Akron Open title to their names, these two are having an amazing 3.0 season, and look for them to help carry veteran star players like Munir and rising star players like Sunny right alone with them!
Weaknesses - Exhaustion! Much of the NCRC 40+ roster is also much of the NCRC 18+ roster, and since both District playoffs take place the exact same weekend, Captain Timothy's squad is going to be pushed to their physical limit! Will they enter Sensei Benjamin's workout dojo to get the added juice they need for this double-dipper of a weekend?!
Predictions
In 18+, Towpath looks to rebound from their 2021 District 3rd place showing while in 40+, North Ridge looks to rebound from their 2nd place District showing the same weekend. So ... will they?!
In 18+, it seems to be a case of Towpath's veteran experience versus NCRC's young talent with Mayfield looking to play spoiler. Indeed, as both Towpath and NCRC split the season series at 1-1, both clubs head into the playoffs with positive momentum from previous matchups. Thus, the big question for NCRC is whether NCRC rookies Jaime and Allan can earn wins on the singles courts while hoping that the dream team of Captain Timothy and Matthew continue their winning ways in dubs and that vets Mel and Benjamin can eek out another court just to be safe. Meanwhile, Towpath's Captain Frank has his own doubles dream team, Craig and John, but where does he put Ron, William, and himself? And does Brian continue his fine season in singles? That's not to say that Mayfield doesn't stand a chance, for in singles, no one has beaten their singles stalwart Nicholas all season long! But does MVRC have the all-around depth needed to hang with two battle tested 3.0 teams like Towpath and NCRC? In the end, if NCRC focuses on 18+, they'll be tough for any team to best come match day!
In 40+, Paramount Westlake enjoys the same benefits - and concerns - that MVRC have. They are on an outstanding run, have some outstanding players, but do they have the outstanding depth necessary to take out two heralded clubs in the same weekend? Meanwhile, top seen NCRC may be held back by an ironic twist that eventually hurts every 3.0ers career - being too good (and then getting bumped to 3.5 and never winning another match ever again)! As much of the NCRC roster is playing for both the 18+ and 40+ teams, do they have the depth to handle essentially two District playoff runs in a row? Which is where Captain Robert's North Ridge looks to take advantage (which is always a good thing to have on the tennis courts!). Loaded with depth, experience, leadership, and a relatively rested roster, North Ridge looks to avenge it's runner-up 2021 finish!
Good luck to all those participating the weekend of August 5th!
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