43rd national tennis championships held at Soyuzivka (09/27/98)

43rd national tennis championships held at Soyuzivka

KERHONKSON, N.Y. - For the first time in the 43-year history of the national tennis championships of the Ukrainian Sports Federation of the U.S.A. and Canada, the tournament ended without champions in two divisions: men and men age 45 and over. Torrential rain on Monday, September 7, interrupted final matches between 1997 champion Bill Ritter and Chris Angell, who were dueling for the men's title, and Dr. Yaroslav Sydorak and George Petrykewycz, playing for the championship among men age 45 and up.

Due to previously scheduled airline flights, the competitors were not able to complete their matches in an indoor tennis facility; as a result, tournament organizers decided to name co-champions in both divisions.

The national tournament, held annually over the Labor Day weekend at the Soyuzivka resort, also saw action in other men's divisions, as well as among women, girls and boys. Fifty-four tennis players competed in the championships conducted by the Carpathian Ski Club (KLK) for trophies funded by the Ukrainian National Association and several memorial awards, as well as stipends donated by John Hynansky, president of Winner Ford.

In the men's division, Mr. Ritter reached the finals by eliminating Ihor Ferencevych 6-1, 6-3, while Mr. Angell, a third-generation Ukrainian competing for the first time at Soyuzivka, defeated Steve Sosiak 6-0, 6-1. Missing from the competition this year were past men's champions Roman Sydorak, George Oryshkevych and Dennis Czornij.

There were only two entrants in the women's division: Lesia Bilak, originally of Uzhhorod, Ukraine, who has lived for the past six years in the U.S. with the family of George and Vera Popel of New Jersey, and Anna Marie Shumsky. Ms. Bilak won convincingly over Ms. Shumsky by twin scores of 6-0, demonstrating the high-caliber play of a university team member.

Ms. Bilak had graduated earlier this year from the University of Richmond in Virginia, where she was the top tennis player. At the Soyuzivka tourney, in addition to winning the UNA trophy as women's champion, Ms. Bilak earned the Constantine Ben award.

Among men age 35 and over, Bernhardt Vecerek won first place and the Jaroslaw Rubel Memorial Trophy, having defeated Oles Kuchma of Ternopil, Ukraine.

The largest division at the 1998 tournament was men over age 45, which attracted 13 players. Dr. Sydorak and Mr. Petrykewycz, who ultimately shared the champion's title, eliminated George Walchuk and Roman Shumsky, respectively, in the semifinals.

The champion among seniors over age 55 was George Hrabec, who emerged victorious over Alexander Olynec 6-4, 6-1. Last year's champion in this group, George Sawchak, was unable to compete due to injury.

Barbara Shumsky was the winner among six players in the junior girls' division. In the final match she defeated Nina Popel 6-0, 6-0. In the semis Miss Shumsky eliminated Tanya Kachala 6-0, 6-0, while Miss Popel defeated Tamara Harasewych 6-0, 6-3.

Alia Kachala was the victor in the girls' group, winning over Larissa Temnycky 6-2, 6-4 in the final match.

In the men's and seniors' consolation round, which featured play among men from all divisions who had suffered one loss, Ihor Chuma and Dr. Askold Mosijchuk, respectively, were the winners.

Boys competed in the tournament in three age groups, each composed of three players. Paul Tarnawsky defeated Victor Sulzynsky in the oldest boy's group (age 18 and under) by a score of 6-0, 6-0. Among boys under age 16 Damian Zayac earned first place by defeating Svitozar Fokshey. In the youngest group Stepan Shumsky defeated Paul Kossak.

The 1998 tournament was conducted by a committee comprising Mr. Sawchak, tournament director and tennis chair for USCAK; Roman Rakoczy Sr., chief judge; Mr. Popel, president of KLK; Mr. Hrabec and Zenon Snylyk.

Stipends were awarded to winners by Winner Ford as follows: men, $600 each; women, $600 and $300; boys and girls, $200 and $100; in addition, competitors eliminated in the semifinals of the men's division received $200.

During the opening and closing ceremonies of the tennis tourney brief remarks were delivered by Mr. Rakoczy, USCAK President Myron Stebelsky, Messrs. Popel, Sawchak and Snylyk, and UNA President Ulana Diachuk.

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