The Force IS with the Force!
(yes, we've been waiting all season to use that line ... apologies Obi Wan)
In an action packed 3.0 showdown in gorgeous Streetsboro, Ohio, the Flight leaders from both Northeastern, Ohio flights took the 3.0 courts to determine once and for all, who is the greatest low-level 3.0 rec-league tennis team in all the land! Or at least in all of ... Cleve-land.
WHICH IS THE SAME THING!
In the end, just as this amazing* blog/website/waste of digital time predicted, the Force team emerged victorious, proving that Rocky River, Ohio, is indeed Title Town, U.S.A.! How'd it happen? How did Force go wire-to-wire as the best 3.0 team in all the (Cleve) land? Let's find out ... TOGETHER!
Singles - Andrew Payerl d. Munir Ahmad 6-0, 3-6, 1-0 (7)
1st Doubles - Scott Mellino/John Prince d. Benjamin Young/Brian Harry 6-2, 6-1
2nd Doubles - Adnan Kazazic/Roger Godin d. Timothy Booher/Leon Crumpler 6-1, 6-2
Both squads started strength for strength as both Captain Jeremy and Captain Benjamin put in their top singles players to get the team match started. Force's Andrew, one of the winningest players in Flight #1 with seven total wins on the season (and up for several made-up DFO awards), took an immediate lead versus NCRC's Munir, one of the top singles players in Flight #2. But Munir bounced back to even the match, showing his 5-2 mark on the year in 3.0 singles was indeed no fluke, meaning this all important lead off match would go to the SUPER TIE-BREAK! Back and forth this one went, with Andrew's Canadian athleticism on display while Munir countered pack with precision all court play. In the end, Captain Jeremy was able to harness the mighty power of the Maple Leaf, injecting Andrew's play with pride (and possibly maple syrup, which, by the way, would be absolutely fantastic if true). In the end, thanks to the inspiration (or sugar rush), Andrew's dream rookie season continued it's dream run as he was able to hold on for the dream start that Force needed in this all-important round one match-up!
Up 1-0, Captain Jeremy turned to one of the most storied doubles tandems in 3.0 play, Scott and John. Undefeated on the year together and undefeated in previous playoff play together, this standout tag team tennis terror looked to continue their personal unbeaten run to clinch the Semi's for Force. NCRC's Captain Benjamin, however, like the true leader he is, took on the challenge of trying to take down the best doubles team around, teaming up with rookie Brian, in an attempt to keep NCRC's Cinderella season alive. Captain Benjamin, coming off a recent tournament doubles victory at the Green Open Championships, and 1-0 in playoff doubles play (against this very Force team a year ago!), played valiantly, utilizing his consistent serve and his strong forehand, but like so many before him, the double doubled goatee'd doubles power of Scott and John simply proved too much to overcome, and the potential DFO Doubles Team of the Year candidates enjoyed yet another team victory, this one more important than any on the season as it guaranteed their Force club a trip to the Finals! Tuning up for said Finals, Force's Adnan and Roger continued their run, taking down the fantastic rookie led team of Timothy and Leon, two NCRC players who were key to NCRC's success this season. In doing so, Adnan enjoyed his eighth team win of the season, showing once again, you can't spell "Force" without Adn ... um .. Kaz ... um ... well, we're sure there's a Canadian word for it.
And with that, Force - like we predicted months ago because we are so smart* - moved on to the Finals to defend Flight #1's honor (and, to be honest, we need a lot of defending). But that doesn't mean NCRC's fairy tale season is over ... NAY! ... for they lived to tennis another day, as they advanced to the ... CONSOLATION FINALS!
Singles: Jason Dzik d. Christian King 6-2, 6-3
1st Doubles: Craig Warner/John Consilio d. Brian King/Rick King 3-6, 6-4, 0-1
2nd Doubles: John King/Phil King d. Tim Trombetta/Curt Binder 6-3, 6-7 1-0
In a match of contrasts, the history laden and experience driven Towpath team faced the upstart rookie MVRC team/family as both looked to join Force in the Finals. Not surprisingly, Captain Rick King the Younger sent in MVRC singles specialist Christian while Captain Frank sent in one of the best singles players in both Flights, Jason. Christian, the youngest King teammate/family member, and possibly the youngest player in both Flights, put on a promising display, but Jason's experience in singles, where he now has over 10 career singles victories and seven this season alone, proved to be the difference, as Towpath got out to the fast start they needed if they were going to avoid an upset at the hands of one of the best new teams of 2020. This was an especially important win, too, considering that doubles, where the King Family Doubles DNA communication was second to none, was the MVRC specialty. Indeed, in both 1st and 2nd Doubles, the MVRC King's pushed the presumptive favorites to the limit, taking both matches to a SUPER TIE-BREAK! In 1st Doubles, Brian and Rick bounced back from a first set loss to push the match to a deciding SUPER TIE-BREAK, but the experience of Craig and John, two veteran players who have over 17,000 wins between them (give or take), proved to be the difference despite spirited and inspired King Family play. In 2nd Doubles, MVRC's John and Phil jumped out to early leads, and despite a second set tie-break comeback from Towpath's Tim and Curt, John and Phil continued their undefeated run together, going 3-0 on the season when paired up, giving the MVRC team a solid team finish in their first ever playoff outing.
Thus, Towpath, despite a narrow victory, earned the victory nonetheless, and with it, a trip to the Finals! MVRC, though, had nothing to be ashamed of as, in their first season ever, on a team loaded with rookies, they not only qualified for the playoffs, but also qualified for the ... CONSOLATION FINALS!
Consolation Finals
MVRC v. NCRC, 1-2
Singles - Munir Ahmad d. Christian King 6-4, 6-2
1st Doubles - Brian King/Rick King d. Benjamin Young/Timothy Booher 6-3, 7-5
2nd Doubles - John King/Phil King d. Chester McClain/Leon Crumpler 6-2, 6-4
Is there anything more classically 3.0 than a team Consolation Final? NO WAY! And in this year's Consolation Final, two fantastic 3.0 teams represented the height of 3.0 play. MVRC, with seven players, all of them King's, and six of them rookies, had enjoyed a fantastic first ever season. Meanwhile, NCRC, under Captain Benjamin's stewardship, enjoyed back-to-back playoff seasons, showing they're becoming one of the more established clubs in the area.
In singles, both Captain's led off with their singles standouts, MVRC with Christian and NCRC with Munir. Christian, 3-3 on the season, played well under intense 3.0 pressure, but Munir, who earned his first ever playoff victory, ended his fantastic 2020 campaign in style, earning his eighth total victory on the year, and once again led his team to a much needed early team victory.
In doubles, though, where the King's seemingly have found their team and family strength, the match turned to the MVRC King's favor, as John and Phil, teamed up for the fourth time, enjoyed their fourth victory in as many attempts - four, if you're counting at home - this time over 3.0 doubles veteran Chester and Leon. Brian and Rick, joining forces for the fifth time, also enjoyed their fourth victory together, and an impressive victory it was, as they took on doubles aficionado Captain Benjamin and DFO Rookie of the Year candidate Timothy!
In the end, there were no losers between these two great clubs, as both enjoyed fantastic seasons en route to the playoffs! For NCRC, they enjoyed a second straight playoff run and developed several key rookies like Timothy, William, and Brian along the way. Combined with the veteran presence of Captain Benjamin, Munir, Leon, and Chester, there's little doubt that NCRC will be back in the thick of things next season!
For MVRC, they enjoyed an amazing first season, a season in which a full 85% of their roster was composed of rookie 3.0ers. But, if the second best team in Flight #1, the only team to actually defeat the eventual District Champions, by the way, had any rookie jitters, they didn't show it. Indeed, their genetic tennis bond proved to be the difference as the season progressed, as a full 100% of their roster was composed of King's and 200% of their roster was composed of ... RICK KINGS! With such leadership and such familial bond, it's no wonder that the King's of MVRC enjoyed such a fine inaugural campaign! And just think ... next year, they may double or triple the King family membership ... and perhaps quadruple the Rick King Factor! WHOA!
Championship Finals
Force v. Towpath, 3-0
Singles - Andrew Payerl d. Jason Dzik 6-3, 6-4
1st Doubles - Scott Mellino/John Prince d. Craig Warner/John Consilio 6-2, 6-3
2nd Doubles - Adnan Kazazic/Roger Godin d. Curt Binder/Bryan Dudiwka 6-0, 6-1
The finals, a match between that two clubs that this very website predicted would meet in the finals, BY THE WAY (because, well, we have waaaaaaaaay too much time on our hands and are waaaaaaaaaay too invested in this), was going to be a doozie of 3.0 tennis! Force, the #1 seed, not only enjoyed the best team record in the area, but also enjoyed some of the best individual records in the area as well. But, roughly 78' away from them, was Towpath, one of the most historic clubs in all of 3.0 tennis, who had some of the most famous 3.0 names in 3.0 tennis on their 3.0 roster. WHOA! What a show down!
Both captain's led off their singles matches with their #1 singles players, Towpath's Captain Frank giving Jason, who was 7-2 in singles on the season, the ball while Force's Captain Jeremy handed the ball to rookie sensation Andrew, 6-1 in singles on the season (unfortunately, as there are three tennis balls on the court at any given time, we're not sure where the third ball went, but we'll assume these two great players shared it equally). Jason, coming off a big win in the Semi's, came out strong, hoping to put Andrew, who had a hard-fought three-setter the day before, on his heels. But Andrew, a master of the ice, was used to being on his heels (which is how we think people ice skate ... as the DFO editorial team is from California, we're used to fires, floods, and earthquakes, not so much that cold hard watery stuff), and bounced back in fine fashion to take the first set. Jason, though, continued to push, but Andrew's serve, forehand, and overall Canadian politeness, won the day, and won Force an all-important 1-0 lead for the team.
In doubles, the rabid 3.0 tennis fans of the greater Streetsboro area were in for a treat as Captain Jeremy put in the undefeated doubles team Scott and John, two players who at this point basically played as one bodily unit ("one," by the way, is also one more loss than this amazing pairing have ever experienced together, as their league and playoff record, combined, is a perfect 10-0 all-time coming into this final!). Towpath, though, wouldn't be intimidated, as Captain Frank countered with Craig and John, both with six doubles wins a piece on the season, who not only had over 60 combined 3.0 doubles wins on their resumes, but were also 6-1 together on the year in all 3.0 level matches! WHOA! Thus, this highly anticipated match wasn't just for the District Championship, but also one for the 3.0 history books (curious as to how thick that book might actually be?), as two of the best doubles tandems in O-H-I-O were going at it!
Scott and John, as if inspired by destiny, brought their pinpoint shots and fantastic net play to the Streetsboro courts in an effort to bring their beloved Force club their first ever Championship. Craig and John, though, knew they had to get the win to keep their beloved Towpath back in the match, and as such, both teams, full of love and full of fantastic doubles players and full of fantastic doubles play, went back and forth. But destiny and fate seemed to be on the Force squad's side, and like the two most important Cleveland
Cavaliers players from the 2016 championship run - obviously we are speaking of Matthew Dellavedova and Timothy Mozgov - Scott brought amazing Delly-like-defense to the back court while John defended the net with Moz-like ball-crushing play. With that kind of approach, and that kind of inspired play, Scott and John were able to match two of the best doubles players around, and take an early first set lead. Thus, with but one set separating Force from the greatest rec-league tennis season ever, Scott and John doubled down, and despite a spirited comeback from their opponents, Scott and John played even better,
harnessing the ability of the other most important Cavs player from the 2016 Cavs championship run - yes, that's right, Dahntay Jones! - and simply would not be denied en route to their 11th straight side-by-side victory!
At the same time, on a near court, and unbeknownst to them that the team title had been wrapped up (probably because Roger is still learning the intricacies between the English American language and his native Canadian English language), Force doubles stalwarts Roger and Adnan, 2-0 on the year together and 1-0 in the playoffs, faced off against Towpath's Bryan, 5-2 on the year, and the playoff tested Curt, with two playoff wins on his 3.0 record. Adnan, enjoying a DFO MVP type season, and Roger, adjusting admirably to American style tennis after years of Canadian style tennis, continued their fantastic run together, and despite the fine play of their opponents, not only wrapped up their match, but secured the team championship for their Force team as well!
HUZZAH! Towpath, the historic and classy club that they are, enjoyed a fantastic Vice-Championship season and will no doubt be back next year to continue to etch their names upon the history that is local 3.0 tennis. Force, meanwhile, was able to celebrate what we assume was a fantastic confetti and champagne filled
finale, as their international squad of tennis hero's brought the title (or the giant poster board paper thingy) to their club as
they won their first ever 3.0 Championship in historic fashion! From Captain Jeremy's leadership to the Canadian flavor of Andrew and Roger to Adnan's tag-team flexibility to the tennis tandem twins that are Scott and John to super-subs Joe, Chris, Anthony, and James, congratulations to the entire Force team on a fantastic season!
And congratulations to all the Flight #1 and #2 players and teams this summer on a great 3.0 season! In what has proven to be one of the oddest seasons in memory, congratulations to all involved on helping to bring a little sense of normalcy - even if it was rec league 3.0 tennis normalcy, which, and let's face it, we all know that there's absolutely nothing normal about how we play! - back to the courts this summer. From first place to last, from double bagels to three-set nail-biters, from making fun of Canadians and all of the King Family (love you guys!), from blowing overhead smashes to the occasionally legitimate "WOW!" forehands, the tennis camaraderie was a lot of fun this summer, and hopefully we'll see you all back on the courts (shanking shots and double-faulting serves) in 2021!
*Oh, and yes, we'll probably put out out a post-season award post, because, why not...
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