Tennis: Severn Valley serves up celebration

The Severn Valley Tennis & Fitness Club will celebrate its 30th anniversary this week from Nov. 6-9. General Manager Randy Stevens is planning special events including tennis clinics from QuickStart to cardio tennis, a showdown tennis tournament, and a fast serve contest.

There will be introductory sessions with the personal trainers and Kindercise classes. The original building at Severn Valley was an old warehouse that Frank and Warren Drake moved from Crofton. It opened with three courts as the second indoor club in Maryland. In 1979 it was renamed Severn Valley and Lee Hagenstad and Ralph Crosby added three outdoor courts.

During the last decade the club has made substantial improvements including the addition of the Sport Hall and the Air Structure over the Har-Tru courts and the installation of the fitness center. Recent renovations have upgraded the locker rooms, lobby, child care and indoor courts. To prepare for the future, Severn Valley is forming a reciprocal agreement with the Severna Park Racquetball and Fitness Club to serve the members of both clubs. For information call Severn Valley at 410-923-2100 or visit their Web site at SevernValleyClub.com.

USTA Maryland Luncheon: The Maryland District of the United States Tennis Association celebrated the annual awards luncheon and meeting at the Chartwell Golf and Country Club in Severna Park on Oct. 24.

Gary Avischious, the featured speaker, spoke about coaching children and inspiring a love of the game and the desire to strive to succeed. He emphasized the importance of beginning with fun and movement and power of positive leadership.

During the awards ceremony, several county players were recognized as Maryland State Champions including Doug Neagle (Men's 35 Indoors) and Bill Moldoch (Men's 55 Clay). Krista Filiopoulis (Millersville) was named to the Team Maryland in the Girls 14s.

In addition, the Maryland District noted the five county teams that were USTA League Champions under captains Jamie Peterson (5.0 Men's Adults), Bennett Sweren (4.5 Men's Seniors), Frederica Anderson (3.0 Women's Super Seniors), Richard Gong (Men's 3.5 Super Seniors) and Ginny Zifchak (7.0 Super Senior Mixed).

AACTA News: Michele Archibald, the club president, announced that the traditional party at end of the year will be held at the Navy Brigade Sports Complex on Dec. 5 from 6:30-11 p.m. There will be food and awards first and tennis later. The USTA Mixed Doubles League will run this winter from January through March for adults, seniors and super seniors. There will be a captain's meeting on Nov. 24. For information contact Archibald at marchibald@L1id.com.

Pam Shriver's Tennis Challenge: This year's contest will feature some of the brightest hopes in American tennis, Melanie Oudin, who defeated Maria Sharapova at the U.S. Open, and John Isner, who beat Andy Roddick. They will join the Bryan Brothers, the world's No. 1 doubles team, at the Baltimore 1st Mariner Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. Shriver's tournament will benefit the Baltimore Community Foundation.

Over the years Shriver's event has donated more than $4 million to charity.

Tickets are on sale from Ticketmaster at 410-547-7328. For information call the tournament office at 410-296-2929 or visit www.tennischallenge.org.

Tournament News: Isabel Aldunate (Bowie) advanced to the quarterfinals of the Girls 18 Singles and the finals of the consolation draw at the USTA MAS Championship No. 4 L1 in Alexandria on Oct. 19. Along the way she overcame Roxanne Alban (Sherwood Forest) and Christina Harrington (Millersville).

Damian Wright (Annapolis) advanced to the semifinals of the Boys' 18 Singles at the Chestnut Ridge Fall Junior Open No. 2 L5 in Lutherville on Oct. 25 where he fell to the No. 2 seed, John Blue.

Andrew Harrington (Millersville) advanced to the quarterfinals of the Boys' 14 Singles at the USTA/MAS Championship No. 4 L1 in Newport News on Oct. 19 where he fell to the number three seed, Aries Wong.

Russell Fink (Annapolis), the president of the Annapolis Area Tennis School, is in Austin, Texas this weekend competing in the World of Tennis Category II Championship (SS). He got off to a good start in the Men's 80 Singles by defeating Glenn Martin, 7-6.

Send tennis news to Doug Lamartin at his email address at Dlamartin@aol.com.