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The Colorado Springs Open
by Larry Rose
There have always been high level competitors at the Colorado Springs Open. This year was the strongest level in years. Joining two-time champion Francisco Mendez was 1993 European Top-12 champion Emilia Ciosu Gheorge, now living in Colorado Springs with her husband (USATT Executive Director Doru Gheorge) and son Patrick. Rounding out the top 4 seeds were two former Colorado Springs Open finalists: last year's runner-up Scott Preiss (also a runner-up in 2000), and Aili Elliot, who you better remember as Li Ai. Aili recently married and changed her name. 1986/1987 runner-up Dhiren Narotam made a brief appearance, but instead of carrying his racket to the table, he was carrying his one-year old daughter Mira along the sidelines. Along with the top 4 seeds came a surprise - Ying Peng, whose husband is a graduate student in Wyoming, brought a very polished game to Colorado Springs, and brought an early exit to 1916-rated Derek Stanley before meeting Francisco Mendez in the Eighths. Trouble started early for the top seeds - Scott Preiss took 8 games to get past Sanjiv Thakor, and Aili Elliot took 8 games to dispatch Tom Wintrich. Toni Gresham and Roger Kuseski took a game each from Gheorge and Mendez respectively. In the end, though, all four top seeds won their way to the semifinals. There, Mendez beat Preiss in 5: 9,6,7,7,9 and Gheorge beat Elliot in 6: 9,9,8,8,-7, and 9. Both matches showcased the varied styles of these players. The final showdown between Gheorge and Mendez was spectacular - Emilia's accuracy and backhand quickness and power ruled the day.
Open Singles: Emilia Ciosu Gheorge (CO) def. Francisco Mendez (CO) 5,-6,-8,6,13,9,-9,6; SF: Gheorge def. Aili Elliot (CO) 9,9,8,8,-7,9; Mendez def. Scott Preiss (CO) 9,6,7,7,9.
Open Doubles: Francisco Mendez (CO)/Scott Preiss (CO) def. Emilia Ciosu Gheoge (CO)/Bo Lianza (CO) -9,7,6,10;SF: Mendez/Preiss def. Scott Kressner (TX)/Roger Kuseski (CO) 5,6,5; Gheorge/Lianza def. Toni Gresham (NM)/Liz Gresham (NM) 2,5,4.
U-3200 Doubles: Ken Lewis (NM)/Marvin Sommers(NM) def. Chris Bridges(CO)/Tom Madigan(CO) 8,-8,7,8; SF: Lewis/Sommers def. Kamei/LaCerte 5,3,4.
U-1950 (A Singles): Toni Gresham (NM) def. Allen McDermott (CO) 7,10,2,10; SF: Gresham def. Tulio Woolford (CO) 11,11,13,-9,2; McDermott def. Greg Castillo (NM) -7,-4,6,10,7,-8,7.
U-1800 (B Singles): Final: David Huggins (CO) def. Max Hamilton (NM) 8,8,-7,7; SF: Huggins def. Mike Tarter (CO) 7,-9,8,6; Hamilton def. Dave Miescke (CO) -3,-7,8,4,5.
C Singles: Final: Marv Sommers (NM) def. Gokal Shah (CO) -4,-4,4,4,12; SF: Sommers def. Chris Salazar (CO) 9,2,-10,1; Shah def. Brad Jones (CO) 10,9,-5,4.
D Singles: Lance LaCerte (CO) def. Michael King (CO) 7,8,5; SF: LaCerte def. Tom Butt (CO) 5,-9,-9,5,9; King def. Jubran Khoury (CO) 12,-6,7,7.
E Singles: Jai Jagannathan (CO) def. Cameron Kruse (CO) 6,0,9; SF: Jagannathan def. Clay Fuchs (CO) 5,4,3; Kruse def. Jon Redman -4,12,7,-4,4.
U-1100 RR Singles: Jai Jagannathan (CO) def. Jaideep Chadha (CO) 2,9,5; SF: Jagannathan def. Brad Jones (CO) 5,-5,9,5; Chadha def. Jubran Khoury (CO) 9,-7,10,7.
U-18 Boys Jr. Regional Championships: 1. Alex Hureau (CO) 2-0; 2. Philipp Hannan (CO) 1-1; 3. Markus Hannan (CO) 0-2.
U-14 Boys Jr. Regional Championships: 1. Austin Preiss (CO) 2-0; 2. Ray Grossman (CO) 1-1; 3. David Beaubien (CO) 0-2.
U-18 Girls Jr. Regional Championships: Keli Lianza (CO) def. Kristi Lianza (CO) -5,7,4,14.
Over 30 Singles: Francisco Mendez (CO) def. Sanjiv Thakor (CO) 9,4,5; Mendez def. Akeem Seriki 4,7,4; Thakor def. Bo Lianza (CO) 10,7,-7,7.
Over 40 Singles: Rick Massoth (NM) def. Max Hamilton (NM) -8,6,5,-9,5; SF: Hamilton def. Scott Kressner (TX) 5,-13,1,-3,14; Massoth def. Allen McDermott (CO) 10,8,8.
Over 50 Singles: Alfred Adjei (CO) def. Allen McDermott (CO) -8,7,6,11; SF: Adjei def. Marv Sommers (NM) 8,-6,4,-8,9; McDermott def. Dave Miescke 6,6,5.
Women's RR Singles: 1. Keli Lianza (CO) 2-0; 2. Kristi Lianza (CO) 1-1; 3. Charleste King (CO) 0-2;
2003 Paul Cracraft Memorial Sportsmanship Award: Max Hamilton (NM)
Many thanks to the helpful staff of the Hillside Community Center, as well as to the officials and staff: Bob Tretheway, Roger Kuseski, Chris Salazar, Charleste King and Liz Gresham.
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