--- NEW NEWS ---
2020 - the Year of COVID-19:
League play for the Winter season was suspended mid-March, and resumed completing team matches for 2 of our 3 teams in June, July, and August. There was no Summer season nor progression for League Champions; no District, Section, or National Championships.
At the conclusion of play for the Winter 2020 season, each of our 3 teams finished in 1st place:
2020 NITA 18&O 3.5 M
2020 NITA 40&O 3.5 M
2020 CDTA 55&O 7.0 M
2019 Illinois State 40&O 3.5 M (CDTA Winter) Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center TennisLink
2019 CDTA 55&O 7.0 M Summer Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center
2019 CDTA 18&O 3.5 M Winter Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center
2019 NITA 40&O 3.5 M Winter Champions: Rush-Copley Healthplex
2019 CDTA 55&O 7.0 M ESL Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center
--- OLD NEWS ---
2018 Illinois State 55&O 7.0 M Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center TennisLink
2017 Midwest Section 55&O 7.0 M Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center TennisLink
Achieved with a 4-0 match record at the Midwest Section Championship in Carmel, IN the weekend of 9/22-24/2017.
At the National Championship, USTA National Campus, Orlando FL, 11/17-19/2017.
Section Results National Results
2017 Illinois State 40&O 3.5 M Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center TennisLink
2017 Northern Illinois District 18&O 3.5 M Champions: Rush-Copley Healthplex TennisLink
2016 Chicago District 18&O 3.5 M Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center TennisLink
2016 Chicago District 55&O 7.0 M Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center TennisLink
2015 Illinois State 18&O 3.5 M Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center TennisLink
2015 Illinois State 40&O 4.0 M Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center TennisLink
2014 Illinois State 18&O 3.5 M Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center TennisLink
2014 Illinois State 40&O 4.0 M Champions: Norris Center TennisLink
2013 Midwest Section Champions: CDTA 40&O 4.0 Men Oak Brook Tennis Center 8554875233
Achieved with a 4-0 match record at Fort Wayne Midwest Section the weekend of 8/24-8/26.
At Nationals in Indian Wells CA, second in Flight to the eventual National Champion.
Section Results Nationals Results
2012 Illinois State 18&O 3.5 M Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center TennisLink
2012 Illinois State Tri-Level M Champions: Vaughan Athletic Center TennisLink
2011 Illinois State 50&O 3.5 M Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center TennisLink
2005 Midwest Section 18&O 3.5 M Champions: Aurora/Washington JHS TennisLink
GREG FRANZO received the Shostrom Family Award for 2012 League Player of the Year
The award was presented at the Annual Evening of Champions fundraiser dinner sponsored by the Chicago Tennis Patrons on Saturday, February 23, 2013 at Rosewood Banquets in Rosemont. This award recognizes an active and talented male league player in USTA League Tennis or local club league. AWARDS PROGRAM
2011 USTA Midwest Section Championship
Senior 3.5 Men – Oak Brook Tennis Club - Captain: Greg Franzo
August 26-28, 2011 at the Wildwood Racquet Club, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Our Illinois State Champion team made a valiant effort at our first appearance at the Midwest Sectional Senior Championship. Enormous appreciation for making the commitment and trip to Fort Wayne and competing tough goes to John Yoshimura (2-2), Zim (Bounmy) Rattanavongkoth (2-2), Oudone Phethongsy (2-2), Rick Gordon (2-1), Lester Pawula (2-1), Eric Esancy (1-1), and Greg (3-1) [tournament match record in parentheses].
The competition was varied and skilled, and we had some wild matches. I played with John, Lester, and Rick with some notable outcomes:
In the 1st match playing with John, we received serve up 5-2 in the first set and the game went 18 (yes, that’s EIGHTEEN) deuces until we finally broke for the set. I was more amazed that the server kept immaculate track of the number of deuces than that we broke for the game and set. There was some friendly jocularity the next time that server stepped to the line; we started the game at deuce, just to save some time and energy [ : ) JK ]. BTW, we won the next set 6-3 for the match [Greg serving it out and John making a backhand volley crosscourt clean winner for the game, set, and match].
In the 3rd match playing with Lester, we won the first set, then battled hand and fist throughout the second set, getting ahead 6-5 with Lester serving for the match. During the first point, Lester scrambled for a wide return and blew out his calf muscle. Laying on his back, he said, “Greg, I’m done.” I said “NO, YOU’RE NOT!!!” The USTA official offered a medical time out, which of course we took. After the trainer worked on him, Lester said he felt ‘better’, got up and limped around a bit. I told him, “Ok, just get the ball in the box, and you only have to cover one step to either side and in front; I’ve got the rest of the court.” Playing two back, the game went to 0-40, then we fought back to deuce, survived several break points, earned and lost a game point, then finally were broken [Lester, though, was gaining steps with each point]. We then went into a set tiebreak, this too crazily intense to recall the point progression, finally holding for the set and the match [I do recall that it was a Greg first serve up-the-tee for a service winner on the first match point]. The opponents warmly congratulated Lester for his “big heart”. Lester, by the way, had no choice but to continue [at least in my mind] as we needed a 3-0 win in the match to have a chance in the Championship, which the team did get!
In the 4th and final match playing with Rick at third doubles, we were up against the Michigan team which was VERY strong on each court. We pretty much got our asses handed to us in the first set, getting pummeled 1-6. The shifts that happen so often after a set like that will never stop amazing me. Did they start playing not to lose? Perhaps think we were going away? Digging in and steeling our resolve, we immediately broke, held, and broke to go up 3-0. Their serves and returns, which were rock solid in the first set, became shaky and tentative. We were broken to go to 3-1, but then broke, held and were broken to get to 5-2. Finally, we broke them again for the set. We served to start the match tiebreak, won the first point with a Greg into-the-body first serve service winner, got a mini-break on their first set of serves, and powered and finessed our way to a 9-6 lead. Rick made a bunch of amazing reflex and stretch volleys to get us there. A Greg first serve up-the-tee for a service winner on the first match point [again, which somewhat validates hitting a thousand serves a week for the last 10 years], and one of the wildest comebacks I’ve been a part of was done. I was overwhelmed that we did it in such a situation (we needed a 3-0 win for a statistical chance, so if ever a match was important to me, this one was).
N E V E R GIVE UP
2005 3.5 Adult Men National Championships - Local tennis players help team to third-place finish
A men's tennis team from Aurora, representing the USTA Midwest Section, captured third place at the USA League Tennis 3.5 Adult National Championships held Sept. 30-0ct. 2 at the Randolph Tennis Center in Tucson, Ariz.
Team Aurora, which featured Batavia's Nathan Chaney, Michael Dailey, Rolland Lang, Geneva's Shaun Miller, Jim McDonald, Harold Edwards, and St. Charles' Fred Fey, defeated a team from Dallas 3-2 in the third-place match. Earlier in the day, Team Aurora lost a 4-1 semifinal decision to a team from Honolulu, Hawaii.
Team Illinois advanced to the final four by winning their round-robin flight contests held Sept. 30-0ct. 1.
The team, which was captained by Sam Valeo of Bristol, also included Aurora's Jack Hatfield and Kamal Elkhadiri, Naperville's Stan Chou, Elburn's Jonathon Baker, Plainfield's Jeremy Cerasoli, Riverside's Gregory Franzo, Lakemoor's Robert Downing, Oswego's Thomas Adkins and Hinckley's Martin Razo.
"This was the experience of a lifetime," said Valeo. "We lost to the eventual champions and felt very satisfied with that outcome."
The event drew the top 34 teams (17 women's and 17 men's) from throughout the United States. 2005 marks the 25th anniversary of the USA League Tennis Program. Established in 1980, it has grown from 13,000 participants in a few parts of the country in its first year, to more than 570,000 players across the nation today, making it the world's largest recreational tennis league.
Players participate on teams in a league format, which is administered by the USTA through its 17 sectional associations. The league groups players by ability, using six NTRP levels, from 2.5 (entry level) to 5.0 (advanced).
©2005 Liberty Suburban Chicago Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.
2020 - the Year of COVID-19:
League play for the Winter season was suspended mid-March, and resumed completing team matches for 2 of our 3 teams in June, July, and August. There was no Summer season nor progression for League Champions; no District, Section, or National Championships.
At the conclusion of play for the Winter 2020 season, each of our 3 teams finished in 1st place:
2020 NITA 18&O 3.5 M
2020 NITA 40&O 3.5 M
2020 CDTA 55&O 7.0 M
2019 Illinois State 40&O 3.5 M (CDTA Winter) Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center TennisLink
2019 CDTA 55&O 7.0 M Summer Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center
2019 CDTA 18&O 3.5 M Winter Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center
2019 NITA 40&O 3.5 M Winter Champions: Rush-Copley Healthplex
2019 CDTA 55&O 7.0 M ESL Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center
--- OLD NEWS ---
2018 Illinois State 55&O 7.0 M Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center TennisLink
2017 Midwest Section 55&O 7.0 M Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center TennisLink
Achieved with a 4-0 match record at the Midwest Section Championship in Carmel, IN the weekend of 9/22-24/2017.
At the National Championship, USTA National Campus, Orlando FL, 11/17-19/2017.
Section Results National Results
2017 Illinois State 40&O 3.5 M Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center TennisLink
2017 Northern Illinois District 18&O 3.5 M Champions: Rush-Copley Healthplex TennisLink
2016 Chicago District 18&O 3.5 M Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center TennisLink
2016 Chicago District 55&O 7.0 M Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center TennisLink
2015 Illinois State 18&O 3.5 M Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center TennisLink
2015 Illinois State 40&O 4.0 M Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center TennisLink
2014 Illinois State 18&O 3.5 M Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center TennisLink
2014 Illinois State 40&O 4.0 M Champions: Norris Center TennisLink
2013 Midwest Section Champions: CDTA 40&O 4.0 Men Oak Brook Tennis Center 8554875233
Achieved with a 4-0 match record at Fort Wayne Midwest Section the weekend of 8/24-8/26.
At Nationals in Indian Wells CA, second in Flight to the eventual National Champion.
Section Results Nationals Results
2012 Illinois State 18&O 3.5 M Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center TennisLink
2012 Illinois State Tri-Level M Champions: Vaughan Athletic Center TennisLink
2011 Illinois State 50&O 3.5 M Champions: Oak Brook Tennis Center TennisLink
2005 Midwest Section 18&O 3.5 M Champions: Aurora/Washington JHS TennisLink
GREG FRANZO received the Shostrom Family Award for 2012 League Player of the Year
The award was presented at the Annual Evening of Champions fundraiser dinner sponsored by the Chicago Tennis Patrons on Saturday, February 23, 2013 at Rosewood Banquets in Rosemont. This award recognizes an active and talented male league player in USTA League Tennis or local club league. AWARDS PROGRAM
2011 USTA Midwest Section Championship
Senior 3.5 Men – Oak Brook Tennis Club - Captain: Greg Franzo
August 26-28, 2011 at the Wildwood Racquet Club, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Our Illinois State Champion team made a valiant effort at our first appearance at the Midwest Sectional Senior Championship. Enormous appreciation for making the commitment and trip to Fort Wayne and competing tough goes to John Yoshimura (2-2), Zim (Bounmy) Rattanavongkoth (2-2), Oudone Phethongsy (2-2), Rick Gordon (2-1), Lester Pawula (2-1), Eric Esancy (1-1), and Greg (3-1) [tournament match record in parentheses].
The competition was varied and skilled, and we had some wild matches. I played with John, Lester, and Rick with some notable outcomes:
In the 1st match playing with John, we received serve up 5-2 in the first set and the game went 18 (yes, that’s EIGHTEEN) deuces until we finally broke for the set. I was more amazed that the server kept immaculate track of the number of deuces than that we broke for the game and set. There was some friendly jocularity the next time that server stepped to the line; we started the game at deuce, just to save some time and energy [ : ) JK ]. BTW, we won the next set 6-3 for the match [Greg serving it out and John making a backhand volley crosscourt clean winner for the game, set, and match].
In the 3rd match playing with Lester, we won the first set, then battled hand and fist throughout the second set, getting ahead 6-5 with Lester serving for the match. During the first point, Lester scrambled for a wide return and blew out his calf muscle. Laying on his back, he said, “Greg, I’m done.” I said “NO, YOU’RE NOT!!!” The USTA official offered a medical time out, which of course we took. After the trainer worked on him, Lester said he felt ‘better’, got up and limped around a bit. I told him, “Ok, just get the ball in the box, and you only have to cover one step to either side and in front; I’ve got the rest of the court.” Playing two back, the game went to 0-40, then we fought back to deuce, survived several break points, earned and lost a game point, then finally were broken [Lester, though, was gaining steps with each point]. We then went into a set tiebreak, this too crazily intense to recall the point progression, finally holding for the set and the match [I do recall that it was a Greg first serve up-the-tee for a service winner on the first match point]. The opponents warmly congratulated Lester for his “big heart”. Lester, by the way, had no choice but to continue [at least in my mind] as we needed a 3-0 win in the match to have a chance in the Championship, which the team did get!
In the 4th and final match playing with Rick at third doubles, we were up against the Michigan team which was VERY strong on each court. We pretty much got our asses handed to us in the first set, getting pummeled 1-6. The shifts that happen so often after a set like that will never stop amazing me. Did they start playing not to lose? Perhaps think we were going away? Digging in and steeling our resolve, we immediately broke, held, and broke to go up 3-0. Their serves and returns, which were rock solid in the first set, became shaky and tentative. We were broken to go to 3-1, but then broke, held and were broken to get to 5-2. Finally, we broke them again for the set. We served to start the match tiebreak, won the first point with a Greg into-the-body first serve service winner, got a mini-break on their first set of serves, and powered and finessed our way to a 9-6 lead. Rick made a bunch of amazing reflex and stretch volleys to get us there. A Greg first serve up-the-tee for a service winner on the first match point [again, which somewhat validates hitting a thousand serves a week for the last 10 years], and one of the wildest comebacks I’ve been a part of was done. I was overwhelmed that we did it in such a situation (we needed a 3-0 win for a statistical chance, so if ever a match was important to me, this one was).
N E V E R GIVE UP
2005 3.5 Adult Men National Championships - Local tennis players help team to third-place finish
A men's tennis team from Aurora, representing the USTA Midwest Section, captured third place at the USA League Tennis 3.5 Adult National Championships held Sept. 30-0ct. 2 at the Randolph Tennis Center in Tucson, Ariz.
Team Aurora, which featured Batavia's Nathan Chaney, Michael Dailey, Rolland Lang, Geneva's Shaun Miller, Jim McDonald, Harold Edwards, and St. Charles' Fred Fey, defeated a team from Dallas 3-2 in the third-place match. Earlier in the day, Team Aurora lost a 4-1 semifinal decision to a team from Honolulu, Hawaii.
Team Illinois advanced to the final four by winning their round-robin flight contests held Sept. 30-0ct. 1.
The team, which was captained by Sam Valeo of Bristol, also included Aurora's Jack Hatfield and Kamal Elkhadiri, Naperville's Stan Chou, Elburn's Jonathon Baker, Plainfield's Jeremy Cerasoli, Riverside's Gregory Franzo, Lakemoor's Robert Downing, Oswego's Thomas Adkins and Hinckley's Martin Razo.
"This was the experience of a lifetime," said Valeo. "We lost to the eventual champions and felt very satisfied with that outcome."
The event drew the top 34 teams (17 women's and 17 men's) from throughout the United States. 2005 marks the 25th anniversary of the USA League Tennis Program. Established in 1980, it has grown from 13,000 participants in a few parts of the country in its first year, to more than 570,000 players across the nation today, making it the world's largest recreational tennis league.
Players participate on teams in a league format, which is administered by the USTA through its 17 sectional associations. The league groups players by ability, using six NTRP levels, from 2.5 (entry level) to 5.0 (advanced).
©2005 Liberty Suburban Chicago Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.