... of the 17 National's qualifying finishers!
The tri-fecta of 3.0 in Ohio, Towpath Tennis Center, Mayfield Village Racquet Club, and Force Sports!
Oh what a wild Midwest 3.0 ride it all turned out to be! With not one, not two, BUT THREE 3.0 teams qualifying from NEO to Nationals, the lowest level of tennis around reached the highest levels of tournament play possible, which is both a true and an eyebrow-raising statement! So how did all three of the 3.0 teams do? Who finished as vice-champion? Who finished in the top ten? And how finished almost-top ten?!
Read on to find out!
(click the links below to be taken to the desired section!)
18+ - Rocky River Force
40+ - Mayfield Village Racquet Club
55+ - Towpath Tennis Center
18+ Force
Team Midwest opened up with the same team they were supposed to open up with way back in 2021 - Team Hawaii! However, back then, Team Hawaii for SOME REASON didn't want to go to beautiful Oklahoma City and the dream match of the two most tropical locations in the USA - Hawaii and Ohio - never took place. This time, however, Team Hawaii was there, loud and proud!
Virgilio and Feddie, loudly proclaiming their dominance over the heretofore undefeated Tyler!
And speaking of loud, Hawaii's septuagenarian super duo of Virgilio and Feddie, made their presence felt (and heard) by taking out the previously undefeated Tyler, as well as his bandmate Eric, with a series of consistently (loud) shots, forcing the youngsters to bow their heads (and ears) in praise. The win was so impressive(ly loud) that it even impacted Ado and Denis, who despite a strong first set, were defeated in three. Not only that, it impacted the entire tournament and Virgilio and Feddie would eventually go on to finish an undefeated 4-0!
AND EVERYONE COULD HEAR ABOUT IT!
Ado and Denis, going all the 3.0 way in yet another THIRD SET SUPER TIEBREAK!
Luckily for Team Midwest, the show court of Scott and Big Nate held on in the first set to take an early lead and Scott, the showman he is, and Big Nate, back from his team suspension for rolling his ankle (Captain Jeremy is a tough, but fair, taskmaster), were able to impress the Arizona crowd thanks to their dominate second set performance. Meanwhile, in singles, Nathan continued his winning ways versus the hard-hitting Aracadio, enjoying an impressive win that evened the team score. Sadly, at first singles, renowned pusher Travis was playing Semisi, who's blistering forehands were almost as intimidating as the fact his son plays in the NFL, and indeed, according to the scorecards, Hawaii was winning the court and thus the match!
Big Nate and Co-Captain Scott, putting on a 3.0 show on Arizona's Center Court (not to be confused with Ohio Center Court which is clearly easy to do)
We say "looked like" because Travis forgot that Ohio were the visitors and instead he kept score with the home scorecard meaning anyone who was watching was thinking he was losing.
Which it turned out he was not.
But no one could tell.
So as Travis walked off the court, his friends, family, and Captain Jeremy looked to console him for a tough individual - and team - loss, and when the Captain asked, "so what did you lose by" and Travis responded, "Um, I won...?" all anyone could think to do was celebrate the intelligence of Travis (rather than curse at him like some people might have done).
Travis and Semisi, forgetting the score because the tennis was so good*!
Thus, match one ended with a 3-2 win for the guys from Midwest and all that stood in their way was Team Intermountain ... the same team that had destroyed them - and went on to win the entire event - two short years ago.
Facing their foes from 2021 wasn't the only difficult task facing the guys from O-H-I-O. For one, they were clad in green (their USTA color) and pink (their good luck color) and looked like a giant Malley's advertisement. Indeed, they wore so much pink during the event that most everyone else confused them with the other teams that were supposed to wear pink, making them quite popular* the entire weekend.
Team Midwest, dealing with the ever-present paparazzi.
Two, it turned out that key doubles player and Co-Captain Scott had injured himself early in his center court match versus Hawaii, meaning Captain Jeremy needed to rely on some others to step up. And few in the 3.0 world can step up as high as Big Joe, who tag-teamed with Denis, the only player in 3.0 history to qualify to Nationals in both 18+ and 40+ in the same year. WOW! No doubt their opponents were wow'd as well, and Denis and Big Joe ran out to a quick early set lead. However, the bright lights of center court proved to be too bright, and, blinded by their newfound celebrity 3.0 status, and the fact that opponents Ivan and Lance were really, really good, Denis and Big Joe unfortunately fell in a THIRD SET SUPER TIEBREAK!
Down 0-1, Captain Jeremy called upon his 2nd Doubles Dream Team of Anthony and Tyler and Anthony was able to single-handedly carry the auditorily damaged Tyler to a THIRD SET SUPER TIEBREAK victory! Nathan, meanwhile, doubled up his singles play and enjoyed the only bagel handed out by Team Midwest the entire tournament while Nick, who hadn't played since June (!) stepped in admirably to give Travis a break, but unfortunately ran into a buzz-saw that was one of the top singles players in the entire event.
Anthony and Tyler, majestic in both their play and their appearance, leading Team Midwest to yet another doubles court victory!
Speaking of Travis, this time he remembered which team he was on and, lucky enough to play with Big Nate and clad in as much green and pink as possible, the duo ran out to a quick 6-0 lead versus Sanje and David ... and then quickly found themselves in a dog fight that thankfully ended when Big Nate saved the day in the second set tiebreak with a series of blistering serves. Thus, not only did Big Green and Pink Big Nate save the set and the match, he also saved the team result for Team Midwest!
An undefeated 2-0 after day one gave Team Midwest a chance at a final four finish, but to do so they'd have to get by another undefeated team, Team Southwest ... who just so happened to be the home team! Travis and Big Nate looked to keep their winning ways going at 1st Doubles but their opposition, cheered on loudly by the home crowd (i.e., the loud drunk Scottish guy), helped Team Southwest get the early team lead. Ado, playing singles, ran into a human, sleeveless, wall on the number one singles court, and despite a valiant attempt, Team Midwest was down early to the home team, who was clearly enjoying home cooking and the home support (i.e., the loud drunk Scottish guy).
Thankfully for Captain Jeremy, Co-Captain Scott had scouted out the competition early and was prepared for what Arizona threw his way, and he and Denis were able to get Team Ohio on the board with a straight set victory. Meanwhile, Captain Jeremy's dream doubles team of Anthony and Tyler did what they always do - win! - albeit in agonizingly stressful style, as, well, they always, always do, in yet another THIRD SET SUPER TIEBREAKER!
Tied at 2-2 it would come down to the final court, but Team Southwest enjoyed the homecourt (literal) advantage, and were able to send out a mirror image twin of Team Force's single machine, Nathan. Southwest's Marcus, identical to Nathan in every single way, was able to out defend and out forehand Ohio's favorite second court singles player, and in a hard fought THIRD SET SUPER TIEBREAKER, Southwest was able to get the win to the delirious applause of their home support (i.e., the loud drunk Scottish guy).
Captain Jeremy's squad, after calculating every tiebreaker possible, realized the best they could hope for was to play spoiler, and thus sent out a surprise lineup to throw their opposition off! That being said, they wanted to improve upon their 2021 finish, and hoped to do so with said surprise lineup! Team Texas, though, a team that had thoroughly scouted them earlier in the morning and needed to sweep all five courts to have a chance to sneak past Team Caribbean and make it to the final four, was prepped and ready to counter the Force surprises!
IN SURPRISE, ARIZONA OF ALL PLACES!
Tyler, playing the 18 (or 33) year old competition.
At singles, Tyler and Nick hit the courts, and unfortunately both ran into 3.0 buzzsaws. Nick battled well versus former Turkish minor league soccer player Volkan while Tyler battled well versus 18 (or 33) year old James, but in the end, both fell despite spirited efforts in the hot, hot Arizona sun.
Anthony, Denis, Eric, and Big Nate, giving their 3.0 all for their 3.0 team!
Meanwhile, on the doubles courts, Big Nate and Ado, Denis and Anthony, and Eric and Big Joe joined 3.0 forces for Team Force (see what we did there?!) to try and throw Team Texas off their 2-0 run, but thanks to the advanced scouting of Team Texas, the southerners were ready for each and every turn Team Midwest threw their way. Thus, despite strong play, Team Midwest "enjoyed" their first clean-sweep of the season, and Co-Captain Scott could be heard to loudly congratulate* the opposition on a well-played final match.
And with that, Team Midwest's tournament run came to an end! And what a tournament it turned out to be as their 2-2 record was, thanks to all the tie-breakers (which they lost alllllllllll tournament long) gave the fellas from Ohio an 11th place finish, good for a tie for the 4th best Ohio 18+ finish of all-3.0-time!
Even though they lost, they still won, and even though they won, Tyler looked the same no matter what. Huzzah for being forced to play low-level tennis!
40+ Mayfield Village Racquet Club
Undefeated on the year, Team Midwest from MVRC hosted some of the best singles and doubles players this side of 40+, and headed to San Diego looking to add to their amazing season! Unfortunately for Captain Robert, doubles stalwart John was unable to attend, but fortunately for Captain Robert, star singles player Sangyoon, who had missed the Sectional event, was in attendance!
What a mix of 3.0 emotions!
Team MVRC started off against an open-aired team from the same latitude (or is it longitude?) of the host site, meaning Team Florida clearly had the geographic and geologic advantage (despite the 4,000 mile trip). This advantage clearly showed up early as Florida ran off to early leads in three of the four courts, putting Captain Robert's winning results in jeopardy! However, led by 3.0 stars like the hard-hitting Brandon, the all-court Scott, the veteran Roy, and the multi-National skill of Denis, each court stormed back, and all three doubles courts went to THIRD SET SUPER TIEBREAKS!
Unfortunately, Florida's outdoor advantage proved to be too much, and despite three valiant attempts, the indoor play of Team Midwest fell in three THIRD SET SUPER TIEBREAKERS. Still, the boys (ahem, men) from Midwest still had three more matches to go to right their 3.0 ship, and if anyone knows the Men of Mayfield (or Team M&M as they like to be called), they know how to sail 3.0 ships!
Making two substitutions, putting in Sangyoon for Ryan and Tim and Hyundong for Bob and Roy, Captain Robert looked to get Ohio's favorite (or at least third favorite!) club on the winning path! And indeed, both changes paid off, as both courts got off to first set winning ways! Sangyoon, unfortunately ran into another THIRD SET SUPER TIEBREAK that didn't go MVRC's way, while Captain Robert and Brandon, despite a fantastic second set comeback, ran into yet another THIRD SET SUPER TIEBREAK heart ache as well. STUPID OUTDOOR TENNIS ADVANTAGES!
Thus, Team Midwest had unfortunately fell in their second San Diego match, only the second time they'd fallen all season long.
However, that's not to say all was lost, for breaking the court streak were none other than third court heros Tim and Hyundong, who held on to a big first set lead to take their court in two, giving Mayfield's favorite team (and there are about 100 Mayfield teams, so this is kind of a big deal) their first court win of the event. Which meant it was time to start a new streak!
Fired up and motivated by Tim and Hyundong, the eastside crew were raring to go heading into Saturday's third match of the event. Facing them was none other than Team Southwest, the very team that had knocked their 18+ brothers out of the 18+ event!
THE VERY SAME TEAM!
Other than every single player on said team.
Still, fired up, motivated, and looking to avenge their fallen Force comrades (sorta), Captain Robert's guys took to the 3.0 courts! Ryan, who had lost his opening match, finally got the THIRD SET SUPER TIEBREAK schneid off of MVRC's strapping shoulders with a THIRD SET SUPER TIEBREAK win of his own at singles! No doubt inspired, veterans Roy and Bob cruised while Tim and Hyundong did the same, winning their second event match in a row!
Meanwhile, Denis and Scott, playing second doubles, had a tough match, but Denis, inspired to bring victory to his Force (and Mayfield) tennis dojo, would not be denied, and not only helped Mayfield to a clean 4-0 sweep, but helped purge the 3.0 Southwest demons from the minds of his Force friends as well!
TAKE THAT (entirely different) TEAM SOUTHWEST! FORCE HAS BEEN AVENGED!
Facing Team Midwest would be another team that took on the 18+ Midwest group ... Team Texas!
THE COMPLETELY (not) SAME TEAM!
Playing spoiler, and looking to avenge the memory of his westside brothers (that's a lot of avenging Force left MVRC to avenge, by the way), Captain Robert led off one of the best doubles tandems in Ohio, himself and tag-team partner Brandon, while 2-0 Tim and Hyundong played took to the second court. Veterans Bob and Roy, meanwhile, took to court three, and all looked to end their San Diego run in winning style!
Giving as good as they got, all three doubles courts went at it, highlighted by a first set win by - you guessed it - Tim and Hyundong! Unfortunately, the THIRD SET SUPER TIEBREAK mojo just wasn't on Team Midwest's side, and they fell victim to a THIRD SET SUPER TIEBREAK loss once again, in which but one game separated them from Team Texas! Veterans Bob and Roy did their darndest to keep their winning streak going, but alas, Texas' scouting was just to darn good (to use a Texan phrase). However, with one of the best singles players in O-H-I-O, defending their honor, Team Midwest still had a shot at spoiler-glory, and Sangyoon didn't disappoint, earning the court win that gave ALL OF MIDWEST some satisfying 3.0 glory!
Thus, after four hard-fought matches, Team Midwest not only avenged their 18+ comrades, but also improved upon their performance, taking a top ten 10th place finish all the way back to one of the top 10 states in the Midwest!
55+ Towpath
Towpath got of to a rough start even with 70+ winner John leading the way at first doubles as Northern came out on fire to start this three court match! But Captain Ronald's Towpath, the wiley playoff veterans that they are, got back on the winning side thanks to hard hitting Patrick at third doubles and veteran Mike at second doubles, who both won straight-set victories to get Towpath the early team win!
(Note: Sadly there weren't many pics of these 55+ 3.0/6.0 warriors, so you'll have to use your imagination to imagine their 3.0 dominance!)
But things took a turn in match two, as the always powerful NorCal came out strong at court one and three, looking to put a dent in Midwest's back-to-back title hopes! And dent they did, as NorCal were able to handle spirited efforts by James, Mark, and Jeff, possibly because it was three against four! (Or because there were two Towpath James' making everything all the more confusing ... for everyone!) But thanks the 3.0 vets Mike and Vince Team Midwest was able to get a court win, which, considering all the tiebreakers involved could prove vitally important when it came to the overall standings!
Heading into day two, Ohio needed a win to get back in the event, and Captain Ronald decided to lead the way, calling his own number to inspire his Towpath troops! And inspire he did, helping to motivate the blistering play of Patrick to a THIRD SET SUPER TIEBREAK win at one doubles! Meanwhile, the undefeated Mike joined with Tom to stay undefeated, getting a straight sets victory to put Akron's favorite club (sorry Springside!) back in the running for a final four finish!
To earn that finish, though, Midwest would need a 3-0 sweep over Team Texas, a team that all three groups - 18+, 40+, and now 55+ - had to deal with.
OF EXACTLY THE SAME PLAYERS?!
MAYBE?!
Veteran 3.0er Vince and former veteran 3.0er John led the way for Captain Ronald, taking the lead at first and second doubles. At first, Vince and Tom fell early in a tough first set, but rallied to cruise in the second. With momentum on their side they won the THIRD SET SUPER TIEBREAK to give Team Towpath the early lead they needed! Meanwhile, veteran 3.0 John used his inner Craig Warner Hall of 3.0 Fame skills to lead the way at second doubles, and lead he did, to the tune of a straight set victory!
All Team Midwest needed now was a third doubles win and they'd return to the final four for the second 3.0 year in a row! Texas, though, had other plans, and no doubt aided by the advanced scouting from 18+ and 40+ (and by "no doubt" we mean "very much in doubt") Texas was able to steal the third court despite the valiant O-H-I-O efforts of Mark and James.
SAD PANDA TIME! Thanks to the third 3.0 tiebreaker, sets lost, Midwest missed out on advancing to the final four by ... one set!
BUT WAIT! Despite finishing 5th, Captain Ronald's crew were handed a 3.0 reprieve when SoCal, who had advanced thanks to the aforementioned tiebreaker, didn't play.
WHAT?!
No doubt impressed by Team Midwest's legendary status, they clearly bowed out (or their flights were already scheduled), and as such, Team Midwest had the opportunity to defend their 2022 55+ title!
WOW!
To quote MVRC and Force's Denis, the only player in Ohio history to play for two 18+ and 40+ National teams in the same year, "Sometimes my best ability is my availability." Indeed!
Semi-Finals
Midwest's gift soon turned into a daunting task as they were to face off versus undefeated #1 seed Eastern. Captain Ronald thus went with the hot hands, undefeated winners Mike and Patrick, one on the first court and the other on the second. And what a move it proved to be! Mike and Patrick, alongside tag team partners Tom and Jeff, scored straight set victories while James and Rick enjoyed a solid second set comeback over Eastern's very own Captain! Thus, thanks to fantastic leadership, amazing play, and a never say 3.5 attitude, Team Midwest advanced to their second 55+ final in as many years!
Finals
The finals would be a rematch of the group stage in which Team Midwest had defeated Team Northern 2-1! With two great Captains going at it, the 6.0 chess match would begin! Captain Ronald moved undefeated Patrick to third court and undefeated Mike to first court, looking to take on one of the best pairings in the entire event, Northern's Matt and Dan! At third doubles, Patrick did what the entire state of Florida now knows Patrick for - win! - to get Ohio off to the early lead!
Northern's Captain, though, moved Matt and Dan to second doubles, and while James and Rick put up quite the effort, it was Team Northern that came out victorious, meaning it would all come down to court one!
(We think ... we weren't there but for the sake of drama let's say it did!)
On court one, Mike and Tom jumped out to an early lead, but Team Northern countered, and in the hot and humid Florida sun, so much tennis finally took its toll upon Team Towpath, and in a heart-breaking but amazing THIRD SET SUPER TIEBREAK, Team Northern was able to eek out the win, thus breakin the hearts of all of Ohio.
And probably the world.
But that's not to say that Towpath didn't enjoy an amazing run, a run that, over the course of two years brought back much silverware to the legendary Towpath Tennis Center! Congratulations Towpath on an amazing Vice-Championship run!
Final Thoughts
Congratulations to all on a great 2023 season! From Force's 18+ kids who defied expectations and, despite losing every tiebreaker known to 3.0, were able to advance all the way to Nationals! And from MVRC's 40+ adults who did what no other MVRC team had ever accomplished - winning 18+ and 40+ and enjoying a top 10 Nationals finish! And, finally, from the 55+ men who repeated what they always do - win! Congratulations to all and good luck in the upcoming D.F.O. end of 3.0 season awards ... the D.F.O. Player's of the Year and the D.F.O. Hall of 3.0 Fame! Maybe one or more of these illustrious winners above will enter the ultimate in made-up 3.0 glory?! Tune back in after the Fusion season is over (early November) when the nominees will be announced! WOW!
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