18+ and 40+ NCRC teams win District and State 3.0 titles while 18+ heads to Nationals!
In what was truly an historic 3.0 run, North Canton Racquet Club proved that in 2022, there was but one town - and one part of that town as it turns out - that was worthy of hoisting all the 3.0 trophies known to the 3.0 world!
Sadly there was no trophy, but there was this fun USTA safety device!
Which is still a trophy!
And as we at DFO wrote - and completely nailed (if by "nailed" you mean hit a success rate of 50%) - in our playoff previews, the playoffs were chock full of some amazing and some legendary 3.0 talent, so it's no surprise that some of that talent went all the way ... TO MAYFIELD!
So how'd they do it? Find out here!
18+ Districts
NCRC 1-1 (7-3 match record)
Towpath 1-1 (5-5)
MVRC 1-1 (3-7)
Northeast Ohio, an area rich in 3.0 talent and 3.0 history, sent several fantastic 3.0 teams to the local District championships, and after three hard fought 3.0 days, it was NCRC that emerged, thanks to a tie-breaker, victorious!
Making this victory all the sweeter is that NCRC started off with an opening loss to perennial 3.0 powerhouse Towpath, as Captain Frank, one of the winningest 3.0 captains in 3.0 history, stacked his #3 ranked underdog lineup expertly! In doing so, Captain Frank's Towpath took an early team victory by the narrowest of margins, as the legendary 3.0ers John, Craig, and Ron, earned important doubles victories while newbie Brian shocked the 3.0 fans with a three-set SUPER TIE-BREAK victory over one of the best 3.0 singles players 2022 had to offer! Towpath then looked to seal the District-deal the next day, but #1 seed MVRC used the strength of their singles tandem, Nicholas and George, to get off to a hot 3.0 start, but 3.0 all-stars Craig, John, and William slowed the Mayfield Tennis Train with record setting victories in 1st and 2nd doubles (more on Craig's record later ... that's called a tease to keep you reading!) to tie the team score at two team wins a piece. But in the all-important third doubles, the match was separated by but one game, as two-time DFO Player of the Year Ron got his team off to an opening set win before tournament tested Scott answered back to take the second! In the all-deciding third set SUPER TIE-BREAK, it was the #1 seeded MVRC that emerged with the all-important win, giving them a chance to take the District crown while throwing the entire event into chaos. 3.0 chaos!
Thus, the entire event came down to Sunday's results, as MVRC, the #1 seed, took on NCRC, the #2 seed. MVRC needed to win the match or win at least two courts while NCRC needed to win and win big - at least four courts! - if either were to take home the championship! And while MVRC had the better record and higher seed on their side, NCRC had history and experience on their side ... and on this day, history would prove to be the decider! No doubt inspired by Captain Timothy's tough three set SUPER TIE-BREAK win, the boys from NCRC not only won the match and the four courts they needed, but all five as well! Indeed, Jaime enjoyed a tough three setter SUPER TIE-BREAK win over Nicholas, the potential 2022 Player of the Year, Allan took home his third straight 3.0 playoff singles win, Douglas and Sunny bounced back from their opening match loss to the legendary Craig and John, and 3.0 veteran Benjamin put away any doubt that NCRC would be District champions with his 3rd court victory with Tim!
And with that, NCRC claimed it's first District championship since the 2018 dream season! Not that Towpath or MVRC had anything to be ashamed of! MVRV, enjoyed a fantastic season, all the more impressive in that most of their team was brand-spanking-3.0-new, highlighted by their singles specialist Nicholas' impressive 15-0 regular season mark! As for Towpath, the Akron squad enjoyed another fine season as Captain Frank moved to #2 in all-time Captain Wins, Craig took over the #1 all-time wins spot with 109 all-time victories (!), while Ron (#8) and John (#9) joined him in the all-time Top Ten! Congratulations, fellas!
18+ State
NCRC 2-0 7-3
Dayton 1-1 6-4
NWO 0-2 2-8
Travelling to Toledo but one week removed from their District Championship, Captain Timothy's NCRC boys (and men) needed not just a good GPS system to navigate their way to the farthest (Northwest) reaches of Ohio, but good leadership as well, and who better to help lead the fellas from North Canton than a member of the 2018 championship team, Mel! That's right, the lone surviving 3.0er from the 2018 National Championship qualifying team and one-time Akron Open Vice Champion, made the trip to give expert advice to the young lads that were now trying to help NCRC reestablish it's 3.0 glory! AND GLORY THEY DID INDEED ESTABLISH!
On day two of the event, NCRC played the Dayton team from Quail Run, an historic team in their own right who had finished 3rd in this event the previous year, and who had defeated NWO 4-1 the day prior, putting themselves on a path to clinch the State title with a day two victory! And things initially looked to be heading that way as Dayton was able to sweep the #1 courts, defeating singles stalwart Jaime as well as doubles stalwarts Timothy and Matthew. WHOA!
Down 0-2, NCRC needed that extra 3.0 "oompf," and nobody "oompf's" better than the experienced Mel! With words of inspiration, he helped Allan take court #2 in singles while Benjamin and Timothy continued their undefeated-playoff-winning ways on their own court #2, meaning the entire fate of NCRC's season - AND THE FATE OF THE 3.0 WORLD?! - would rest upon Mel's manly tennis shoulders! Douglas, no doubt nervous, was calmed and soothed by the calm and soothing tennis strokes Mel provides, and with his guidance and experience, and calming and soothing manner, the duo was not only able to win their match, but more importantly the team match as well! Thus, once again, NCRC had a chance at a team trophy on the final day of the event!
And on that final day, knowing he had to win the team match to hoist the State trophy (which doesn't exist, which is a bummer), Captain Timothy didn't mess with success, putting out the same lineup as the day before, even sacrificing himself in the process at #1 doubles to ensure his lineup had the best chance for team success. What a captain! And thanks to his captaining skills, and Mel's veteran leadership, the other courts enjoyed solid victories as Jaime, Allan, Benjamin, Tim, Douglas, and Mel - Mel! - all brought home W's! And you can't spell STATE CHAMPION without "W"!
Wait... what... ?
Midwest 18+
NCRC 3-0 12-3
Illinois 2-1 7-8
Indiana 1-2 6-9
Michigan 0-3 5-10
Wisc. N/A (Didn't show up)
Playing against the best of the 3.0 best in all the Midwest, could NCRC repeat Northeast Ohio's performance from 2021 (#ShamelessPlug) and their very own National Championship qualifying performance from 2018? SO MANY QUESTIONS! Almost two of them!
On the all-important momentum-setting day one, Captain Timothy made one change to the starting lineup, as it was decided that Mel's guidance and experience, for the sake of the team, just could not be limited to one court. Instead, he would guide all the courts from the sidelines providing guidance, experience, leadership and a whole bunch of other synonyms that express how much of a veteran leader NCRC's Mel truly is!
And guidance NCRC would need as initially the club got off to a rough start on the Mayfield Valley Racquet Club courts as both Jaime and Allan fell in hard-fought singles matches versus a tough Michigan team. Captain Timothy, though, was able to get NCRC's winning streak going, as he and Matthew, who had won more than 20 matches together in league, tournament, and playoff play, proved to all that they were indeed one of the best doubles tag-teams of 2022! With Captain Timothy and Matthew leading the way to victory, Benjamin, Timothy, Douglas, and Sunny all followed, helping to turn the 3.0 tide and give Team O-H-I-O a super-important day one victory!
BUT DAY ONE WASN'T OVER!
Indeed, having to play not once but twice on day two, NCRC would face off versus last season's runner-up, Indiana, in a match that the Hoosier State fellas had to win if they were going to stay in the running for Midwest glory (which is usually just a tennis towel ... but it's a nice tennis towel though!). Indiana, though, perhaps exhausted by their early loss to Illinois, came out flat, much like one of Benjamin's amazingly flat - yet powerful! - serves, and NCRC took an early advantage, sweeping all five courts in dramatic fashion (well, singles was dramatic, but the doubles teams only lost a combined seven games, so ...)!
NOW THE DAY WAS OVER!
And after day one, NCRC held a commanding 2-0 lead while Michigan (0-2) and Indiana (0-2) were playing for pride (which is more than Wisconsin was playing for considering they didn't make the drive). However, Illinois, last season's last place team, had shown tremendous growth over the course of 2022, and after two 3-2 team wins, also entered the final day an undefeated 2-0! Thus, the final day would be for all the marbles, and by marbles we mean a fancy tennis towel!
In singles, Allan started NCRC off on the winning side with a 7-5, 7-6 tough-as-tennis-nails victory, but Illinois bounced right back with a three set SUPER TIE-BREAK victory over one of the best singles players around, Jaime, meaning this one would come down to the Courts o' Doubles! And on the doubles courts, Captain Timothy didn't mess around, putting in the same lineup on the same courts as he had all event long, and boy howdy, did they deliver! Captain Timothy and Matthew continued their winning ways, going 3-0 during the event with a hard-fought 6-4, ,7-5 victory while veteran Benjamin, newbie Timothy, Douglas and Sunny all did the same, giving NCRC not just a 4-1 team victory but a 3-0 team sweep to claim the Midwest Championships!
AND THE VICTORY TOWELS!
And with that, NCRC had earned a no-expenses paid trip to Arizona for the National Championships! Congratulations to NCRC and their all-star crew as they enjoyed an amazing run! Allan and Benjamin, both 7-1 in the playoffs, would have been worthy nominees for team MVPs, but everyone knew who really deserved the accolades ... MEL!
40+ Districts
NCRC 2-0 (6-2)
N. Ridge 1-1 (4-4)
P. Westlake 0-2 (2-6)
In the elder division of the 3.0 playoffs, many of the same names that were playing in the kiddie division were going at it, proving once and for all that these warriors of the 78' concrete courts are young at heart! Or old at heart. Or ... middle-aged. Or something.
#1 seed North Ridge got the tennis party started on day one against up-and-comer Paramount Westlake, and while PW's Doug and Mark were able to enjoy their first ever playoff wins, it was the veteran group from North Ridge, led by veteran Captain Robert, who won the day by taking three of the four courts (and by playing four courts instead of five that totally didn't make things more confusing than it needed to be ... ahem). Captain Robert enjoyed his first ever playoff captaining victory by having some of the most well-known 3.0ers around take the court, including Abhi, who won a tough three set SUPER TIE-BREAK singles match versus Paramount's veteran John, before soon-to-be DFO 3.0 Hall of Famer Craig, joined by partner Kevin, not only won their match, but helped Craig claim the mountaintop as the most winningest 3.0 player in Ohio 3.0 history! Indeed, with Craig's 109th career 3.0 victory, Craig and Craig alone had a chance to entered even further unchartered territory ... 110 career wins?! Before that question could be answered, however, Captain Robert, with long time partner Ben, defeated his captaining counterpart to not only give North Ridge a 3-1 team victory, but also earn career 3.0 victory number 100! Congratulations Robert! Congratulations Craig! CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE!
On day two, Paramount Westlake hit the courts again, and once again enjoyed a great showing as Mark and Oscar earned playoff wins, Mark his second win in as many days! Unfortunately for Team Paramount, however, they ran into the 3.0 powerhouse that is NCRC and Captain Timothy! Captain Timothy, perhaps worried that his club was stretched thin due to many of the same players playing in both the 18+ and the 40+ division, called upon his deep roster to help win the day ... and win they did! Singles standout Allan won a close, close, close match versus hard-hitting David while Robert, Douglas, sunny and Matthew won convincingly on their doubles courts to set a showdown for the 3.0 ages ... NCRC versus North Ridge!
With both clubs needing a win to advance to claim the District title, both clubs sent out their best, and NCRC's Allan was able to withstand the crafty Abhi in two tough overtime sets, 7-6,7-5. North Ridge, though, had record-setter Craig at #1 doubles, and Craig did what Craig had done over 100 times before ... WIN! With the team score tied at 1-1, Captain Timothy changed the lineup slightly ... by putting himself in the lineup! Teaming up with his long-time dubs partner Matthew, the two chalked up yet another win to add to their illustrious 3.0 resume, all the more impressive in that they were able to take down one of the best players of all-3.0-time in Captain Robert! Up 2-1, NCRC still needed a win to seal the deal, and who better to deal-seal than Dr. Munir, who, in a three set SUPER TIE-BREAKER, was able to take down one of the best doubles 3.0ers of all time, Robert, to give his NCRC the match - and the event - victory!
Congrats to all the locals for a great regular and playoff season! From Craig's record setting win to Captain Robert becoming only the third 3.0er of all-time to notch triple-digits in career 3.0 wins, to NCRC winning both the 18+ and 40+ titles, it was a season to remember!
40+ State
NCRC 2-0 (7-1)
NWO 1-1 (3-5)
Dayton 0-2 (2-6)
Heading to State, Captain Timothy and crew had only one thing to worry about - playing on day one. Because that was the only day the event was being held!
Speaking of day one, NCRC faced a tired Dayton team that had come off a tough emotional 2-2 loss to NWO earlier that day. Pouncing on their emotional exhaustion like a tiger pounces on a ... um ... emotionally distraught ... zebra (?), Captain Timothy's squad showed no mercy, sweeping all four courts en route to a 4-0 victory. TAKE THAT EMOTIONS!
On day one (part two!), it was NCRC versus NWO for State supremacy, and newbie Allan once again got his club off to a fast start with a convincing straight set victory on the one and only singles court while Captain Timothy and Matthew, in a tough three set SUPER TIE-BREAK, were able to emerge victorious in #1 doubles, giving the elderly gents from North Canton an all-important 2-0 team lead. But thanks to tie-breakers, the team result was still in doubt, and while Team NCRC held a 2-0, 25-18 game lead, NWO still had a chance to steal the victory if they could go 2-0 and win eight more games than their NEO counterparts.
AREN'T FOUR MATCH TEAM TIE-BREAK RULES FUN?!
Speaking of fun, NWO enjoyed some 3.0 tennis fun as they began the third match exactly how they needed, winning the first set 4-6 to cut down NCRC's seemingly insurmountable lead! NCRC's Robert and Douglas, though, with the season on the line, rallied to take the second set 6-2, and even though they lost the third set SUPER TIE-BREAK and the match, their second set comeback meant their team lead was not only reestablished, but extended!
TIE-BREAK MADNESS!!!
Which meant that for NWO to claim the State title, they'd have to defeat Sunny and Enrique by 10 games! Which meant - if you're following (and why would you be at this point, I mean, my gawd) - that if Sunny and Enrique could manage to win three games, they'd be carried off the courts for single-handedly (sorta) winning the biggest rec league title in all the land (or Midwest). OH THE DRAMA!
Which was over as soon as the first set started and the NCRC pair not just won three games, but won the first set ... and then the match ... to be proclaimed the greatest 40+ 3.0 team in all of O-H-I-O!
40+ Midwest
Indiana 2-0 (5-3 match wins, 11-8 sets, 78-61 games)
NCRC 1-1 (5-3 match wins, 11-9 sets, 78-72 games)
Michigan 0-2 (2-6 match wins, 7-12 sets, 60-83 games)
As it turns out, all dreams must come to an end, and for NCRC, that end came at the Midwest championships, but at least it came to an end in one of the most confusing ways possible. Huzzah!
Leading off against Team Indiana on day one (which was the only day allotted to play), Sunny, Douglas, and Robert all unfortunately fell (well, they may not have actually fallen, for they are superior athletes with amazing balance) on the #1 courts, the former in singles and the later in doubles. However, Captain Timothy and long-time partner Matthew, along with Munir and Allan, enjoyed wins in doubles. Tied at 2-2, the deciding tie-breaker would be games won, and thanks to Indiana winning one more game (36-35 when all the math was completed), it was the Hoosiers who were given the all important team victory! Captain Timothy tried to talk up the troops, and they delivered but an hour later to the tune of a 3-1 team victory with Allan taking his usual spot at singles while Captain Timothy, Matthew, Munir, and Sunny all did their part to put intense 3.0 pressure on Team Indiana to win and win big in their upcoming match.
Which, unfortunately yet again for NCRC, Team Indiana did indeed accomplish. With Bobby Knight's favorite team getting their 3-1 win over the Maize and Blue, tie-breakers were no longer needed, and thus NCRC's season came to an end in the fairest way possible - an impossible to figure tie-break that no one on this planet can possibly comprehend.
The New Numbers
That's not to say that NCRC, and, for that matter, the entire Northeast Ohio area didn't have something to celebrate. Indeed, there was a lot of celebrating to be had, such as:
New League Records!
Nicholas Fasola is now #8 all-time in league singles wins (20) while Frank Licari moved up to #3 (23)! In doubles, Craig Warner now holds the #2 spot (88) while NWO's Jim Montgomery - already a DFO Hall of 3.0 Famer - added to his illustrious numbers and is now #3 (73)! Joining them are Robert Rosenau (#5, 62), Frank Licari (#6, 61), Denny Huff (#7, 60), Lars Traner (#8, 59), William Fox (#9, 57), and Robert Corts (#10, 57)!
Congrats to Craig for his #2 all-time league wins mark (93), Frank for climbing up the leader board (#4, 84), Robert (#5, 83), Jim (#5, 76), Denny (#7, 67), Robert R. (#8, 62), Lars (#9, 59) and William (#9, 59)!
New Tournament Records!
Nicholas once again finds himself making history, this time moving up to #7 all-time in tournament singles wins (14) while tourney veteran Benjamin Young is moving further up the leader board with his 17th singles victory, good enough for #5 all-time!
In tourney doubles, Robert is almost at the top with his 10 victory (#2) while Benjamin is tied with 3.0 great William at #5 (8 wins).
Special shout out to two-time DFO Player of the Year Ron Novak for his #2 all-3.0-time standing in overall tournament wins (35) as well as Benjamin for his #3 ranking (25)!
New Playoff Records!
In just one season NCRC's Allan Lynch rates #2 (12) in playoff singles wins while 3.0 legend Craig Warner is #3 in doubles playoff wins (17)! Timothy, though, is close behind (#8, 12) while Towpath's William and John are tied at #10 with 10!
Overall Records!
In singles, Nicholas' season was one to remember, and in terms of records, it has moved him to #6 all-3.0-time in terms of singles wins (35!). Multi-court talented Robert enjoyed another great season, and now resides within the top 10 (#9, 31!).
In doubles, Craig Warner not only set some amazing records this season, but basically wrote them as well, and his 107 doubles wins not only rate #1 all-3.0-time, but are also good enough to tie for the all-3.0-time wins record all by themselves! DFO Hall of 3.0 Famer Clem Kissling added to his career records (#3, 93), while Jim (#4, 81), Robert Corts (#5, 69), Robert Rosenau (#6, 67), John (#8, 66), Frank (#9, 65), and Denny (#10, 61) all moved up the 3.0 doubles leaderboard!
Overall, Roderick Yamat (#9, 70), Ron (#8, 70), Jim (#6, 87), Frank (#5, 88), and Clem (#4, 98) are all 3.0 greats, but special shout out to Robert, who with his 100th career 3.0 victory not only became only the third 3.0er in 3.0 history to earn a triple-digit victory, but is ranked #3 all-3.0-time in the wins category!
And if a special special shout out is in order, it has to go to Towpath's very own Craig, who's 112 career victories shattered the previous mark of 107 and now stands alone as the top of the 3.0 mountaintop when it comes to 3.0 glory!
The Numbers
Want to know the all-3.0-time great numbers? OF COURSE YOU DO!
Good luck!
Good luck to NCRC at Nationals! And good luck to all the players who played this season ... we'll be back in a few weeks with our Player of the Year selections and Hall of 3.0 Fame nominees!
I love that anyone who wears purple is automatically assumed to be Captain Tim!