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2006 U.S. Senior National Results (PDF File)
2006 U.S. Senior National Badminton Championships Report
2004 U.S. Senior National Rankings List
2004 U.S. Senior National Badminton Championships Report
2003 U.S. Senior National Rankings List
2003 U.S. Senior National Badminton Championships Report
2003 U.S. Senior National Badminton Championships Results
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2006 U.S. Senior National Badminton Championships Report - Westborough, Massachusetts
by USA Badminton
The 2006 USA Badminton Senior National Championships were held June 28 - July 2 in Westborough, Massachusetts. The tournament, for ages 35 and up, had 144 participants representing 23 states. The event was held at Westborough High School and had competition in men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles. Bracket categories were broken down in five year increments.
"Badminton is a spectacular sport," said Beth Sopka, Co-Tournament Director and President of the Massachusetts Badminton Association. "It is the kind of sport you can play across a lifetime. It develops many aspects including being good exercise and promoting good health. It is great fun playing at a competitive level and is also a great way to maintain social relationships."
Special awards were presented at a banquet held at the Doubletree Boston-Westborough, the host hotel. Recipients were as follows:
Charles and Ada Wurst Award for Service and Sportsmanship: Paul Knechtel (N.C.)
Ray Scott Memorial Trophy: David Carlton (Calif.)
Senior Hall of Fame: Anne Bullis (Mass.) and Bill Tom
Meritorious Service Award: Mary Ann Bowles (Mo.)
Gold Medal for 80+ Platinum Overall: Jack Harvey (Wash.)
During the banquet there was also a moment of silence out of respect for the passing of two longtime badminton devotees, Juanita Costello and John Obara.
The event was sponsored by the Massachusetts Badminton Association. The pro shop vendor was Winning Sports of Natick, Mass. (www.winningrackets.com).
Sopka expressed sincere gratitude and appreciation to her co-tournament director Dr. Batool Kazim as well as local organizer Yvonne Chern and tournament volunteers Chris Lawrence and Charlotte Ackerman who did the match scheduling and draw respectively.
2004 U.S. Senior National Badminton Championships Report - Seniors Wing South to Florida!
by Mary Ann Bowles
April 29-May 2, 2004, ninety-eight players from fifteen states winged their way to the southern peninsula of Florida for the 2004 Yonex U.S. Senior National Championships. Don Shula’s Athletic Club in Miami Lakes, Florida, the home of cool breezes, palm trees, and a tennis racket-shaped pool, was their destination for four days of hustle on court to vie for forty-two titles. Hosts were the Southern Florida Badminton Association, the Southern Badminton Association, and USA Badminton.
Players from Florida and California swelled the ranks of the entries, but there were new players on hand as well. Play opened on Thursday morning and ended with the last final on Sunday afternoon. Matches were hot and heavy, and players enjoyed “spectating” and playing tourist when they were off-court.
Top winner of the tournament was Curt Dommeyer of Hermosa Beach, CA, who won four gold medals and a silver in his court performances. Dommeyer won gold in the 55 Men’s Singles over Dave Anderson (CA) and gold in 50 Men’s Doubles with Anderson over Bruce Chmieleski/Chris Elliott (CA) in a hard-fought finals battle, 15-8, 13-15, 15-11. He also won the gold in 55 Men’s Doubles with Anderson over Tom Peterson/Bob Cook (GA/CA). And gold was his in the 50 Mixed Doubles with his wife Sue over Elliott/Liz Wilson (CT), again in a three-game final, 9-15, 15-9, 15-11. Dommeyer also took the silver in 55 Mixed Doubles with Charlotte Ackerman (CT), bowing to Anderson/Mary Ann Bowles (MO), 10-15, 15-9, 15-7, in the final match.
Six players trekked home with three gold medals for their efforts. A three-gold winner was Dave Anderson (CA) who won 50 and 55 Men’s Doubles and 55 Mixed Doubles. He also took the silver in 55 Men’s Singles. Another three-time gold winner was Imre Bereknyei (CA) who won 40 and 45 Men’s Singles and 40 Men’s Doubles. He also took the silver in 35 Men’s Singles and 45 Mixed Doubles. Cindy Briese (CA) was a gold medalist in 35 and 40 Women’s Singles, and 40 Women’s Doubles. Dudley Chen, a local player, won gold in 40 Men’s Doubles and 40 and 45 Mixed Doubles, both with Californian Terry Lira. Joyce Jones (WA) took gold in 65 and 70 Women’s Doubles and 70 Mixed Doubles, along with silvers in 65 Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles.
Players taking home two gold medals included James Bosco (CA) [and two bronze medals], Mary Ann Bowles (MO) [and two bronze medals], JoAnn Cicrich (OR), Andy Chong (MA) [and a silver medal], Jack Harvey (WA) [and a silver medal], Terry Lira (CA) [and a silver and a bronze medal], Dave Murray (WI) [and a silver medal], Harry Orr (MI) [and a silver and a bronze medal], Tracey Thompson (MA) [and a bronze medal], Chan Vannarath (OR) [and a bronze medal], and Elsie Wilson (LA) [and two silver medals and a bronze].
Memorable matches included the 50 Men’s Singles match between Bruce Chmieleski (CA) and Bob Cook (CA), 15-9, 6-15, 15-6, an “over an hour” battle, Chmieleski prevailing; the 70 Men’s Singles semifinal between Harry Orr (MI) and Duane Enochs (CA), 8-15, 15-10, 15-5, Orr rising to the win; the 45 Men’s Doubles marathon match between Steve Kearney (CO)/ Tony Grice (LA) and Thuan (Larry) Yeoh (GA)/Thomas Panavelil (FL), the Colorado/Louisiana partners finally pulling it out, 15-11, 10-15, 15-13; the nerve-wracking 60 Women’s Singles final between Sandy Matthieu (LA) and Alice Mohr (MO), 11-1, 11-13, 11-1, Mohr bowing to Matthieu; the up-and-down 40 Women’s Doubles match between Mari Ikeda/Cindy Briese (CA) and Terry Lira (CA)/Rose Lee Fatt (FL), 13-15, 15-3, 17-16, Lira and Lee Fatt surprising the Californians; the exhausting 70 Women’s Doubles match between Jean Briggs/Alice Mohr (FL/MO) and Marion Harvey/Joyce Jones(WA), Briggs/Mohr winning, 15-8, 4-15, 15-13; the point-by-point 50 Mixed Doubles consolation final between Prakash Gavri/Wei Jian Wilson (MD) and Tony Grice (LA)/Mary Ann Bowles (MO), Grice/Bowles finally pulling out a win, 15-8, 11-15, 15-7; and the fingernail-biting 35 Mixed Doubles finals match between Andy Chong/Daphne Chang (MA) and Kirill Boyarin/Tracey Thompson (MA) on Sunday morning, 15-13, 9-15, 15-11, Boyarin/Thompson squeezing out the win in over an hour!
Players enjoyed an exquisite dinner on Saturday evening at Don Shula’s. In the awards ceremony following dinner, three new Seniors were inducted into the USAB Senior Hall of Fame—James Bosco, Terry Lira, and Paisan Rangsikitpho. Meritorious Service awards were presented to Terry Lira and Paisan Rangsikitpho. The Ray Scott award went to Don and Kim Chew, and the Charles and Ada Wurst Sportsmanship award was won by Bob Cook.
Thanks go to Monica Ortez, Senior Council chair, Dan Cloppas, Peggy Savosik, and Tracy Hart for all the work they did in preparation for the tournament. Thanks also to Bill Graham, Linda Harvey, Carol Webb, Dudley Chen, Phillip Ayoung-Chee, Andrew Williams, Rose Lee Fatt, Sidney Lushing, Dave Zarco, and all the volunteers who assisted with the tournament. Congratulations to the seniors who played so well and brought home the medals. Kudos to all who traveled to Miami Lakes for the tournament. Now we can set our sights on next year’s tournament!
2003 U.S. Senior National Badminton Championships Report
By Monica Ortez-Senior Council Chair
The 2003 U.S. Senior National Badminton Championships took place February 28, March 1-2, at the Balboa Park Activity Center gymnasium in San Diego, California. Tournament registration was the evening of Thursday, February 27th at the host hotel. An array of hors d’oeuvre and beverages were served as participants mingled, looked over draw sheets, and caught up with old friends. Play began at 9:00 a.m. sharp on Friday, February 28th in the beautiful 15-court Balboa Park Activity Center gymnasium with Cliff and Holly Peters at the helm making sure that the tournament desk ran smoothly, matches were called on time, and umpires were available. Bob Cook diligently work at his computer to input match data to produce draw results. At the end of the first day, a busload of players took an excursion to one of the local gambling casinos for dinner and gambling. I never did hear if anyone won any kind of substantial money gambling.
On the second day of competition many events were being played as Pool Play competition. This style of event was a first for the Senior National Championships. In Pool Play, there are two pools, A and B. Two teams, first and second place teams from each pool advance into a main draw. In the main draw winners of Pool A play second place team of Pool B and winners of Pool B play second place team of Pool A. The winners of these matches move on and play each other in the finals. The losing teams of these matches play for third place. In most cases pool play works just fine, but in some instances such as the 35+ and 40+ women’s doubles it became a continuous marathon of the players playing each other in both events non stop. I recall being on the court for about five hours straight! There is an advantage to pool play in that a team can lose a match and place as the second team in their pool and still win the event should that team not lose again.
Day two ended with the banquet. A lovely buffet dinner was served, but as after dinner coffee was being served there was a big question to be answered… Where’s the dessert? It’s still a big mystery as to why dessert was not included with the meal, not even a cookie to enjoy with coffee! The Senior Hall of Fame, Meritorious Service, and the Ray Scott Memorial Trophy Awards were handed out. Two players were inducted into this year’s Senior Hall of Fame, Dale Miller and Vernon “Tiger” Muhr. The Meritorious Service Award went to Vicki Toutz, and the Ray Scott Memorial Trophy went to Waldo Foy. Entertainment for the evening was Dick Witte’s stand up comedy act and dancing.
On day three of the tournament final matches were played with only one player taking the hat trick by winning singles, doubles, and mixed doubles in the same event. A special congratulations to Betty Thompson for winning triple crown in the 75+ events. Many great matches were played and many champions crowned, so hard to name everyone in this article, but congratulations to you all. Highlights in 35+ to 50+ events were Andy Chong winning the 35+ MS and taking the 35+ MXD title with partner Mari Ikeda in three games over Rusli/Fujinami. Elke Nijsse-Drew defended her 35+ WS title again this year, and also took the 35+ WD title with partner Mai-Quyen Bui over Mahmens/Ortez. Gena Fite captured her first senior title in the 40+ WS. In the 40+ mixed a hard fought three game match was witnessed when Walker/Mahmens took the title over. Bereknyei/Ikeda. Solaiman Jonatan dominated all four of his events by taking titles in the 35+ 40+, 45+ MD with three different partners and 45+ mixed doubles with partner Marty Fagnan. Imre Bereknyei dominated the 40+ and 45+ MS taking both titles as he has the past several years. Cicrich/Vannarath took the 45+ WD title for the third straight year. Dave Anderson was crowned champion in the 50+ MS and MXD with partner Mary Ann Bowles. In the 50+ WD a former national player, Traci Britton and new to the senior scene after a decade off from competition, teamed up with Nancy Acuna to take the 50+ WD title.
Highlights of the 55+ to 80+ events were Dave Carton who found time to win the 55+ MS when not being busy as this year’s Senior National Tournament Director. Elsie Wilson took two titles in the 55+ WD and 55+ MXD with teammates Helen Weyant in the ladies doubles, and Jeff Fishback in the mixed doubles. Stan Hales successfully defended his 60+ MS title for the second year. Betty Obara took two titles winning the 60+WS and 65+ WD with partner Joyce Jones. The team of Ogata/Carmichael took the 60+ MD title, and Manuel Armendariz dominated the 65+ MS. James Bosco came out a champion dominating two singles events the 70+ MS over Duane Enochs and the 75+ MS over Jack Harvey. In the 70+ MD, a grueling the-game match proclaimed Carmody/Enochs the champions over Witte/Harvey. Again, Joyce Jones took to the courts and grabbed two more titles in the 70+ WD with partner Marion Harvey and in the 70+ MXD with Marion’s husband Jack. Then Jack Harvey proceeded to capture two titles in the 75+ MD and MXD events. The only platinum event this year was the 80+ WS and that title went to Virginia Smith over Glafyra Ennis in three games.
I would like to thank the San Diego Badminton Club, the City of San Diego Recreation Department, Gosen America, SCBA, and USAB for their part in this event. My personal thanks go to, Region 5: Dave Carton Tournament Director, Cliff and Holly Peters tournament organization/desk, Bob Cook draws and scheduling, Elaine Kong Referee, and tournament umpires. In addition, a special thanks goes to Waldo and Ann Foy for their many hours in helping with the tournament, and for being kind enough to let their home be the tournament post office for the perpetual trophies and other countless items needed for the tournament. Also, thank you to Ann Gonzalves, Amy Sanders, and the Balboa Park Activity Center workers for their time on this event. It was the effort of everyone involved that helped make the 2003 U.S. Senior Nationals a success. Hope to see you all at the 2004 U.S. Senior National Championships…No bids for the 2004 event, any takers?