Oryshkewych, Bilak win tennis nationals at Ukrainian National Association resort (09/30/01)

Oryshkewych, Bilak win tennis nationals at Ukrainian National Association resort

KERHONKSON, N.Y. - Mark Oryshkewych, a well-known Ukrainian tennis player from Chicago, waited five years to regain the men's title at the national tennis championships of the Ukrainian Sports Federation of the U.S.A. and Canada. He had won that title for the first time in 1996 by dethroning Roman Sydorak in a difficult three-setter.

This year Mr. Oryshkewych celebrated the fifth anniversary of that contest by winning the final match of the 46th annual nationals held at Soyuzivka on Saturday through Monday, September 1-3, defeating 17-year-old Hordiy Milchutsky of Ukraine by the score of 6-1, 6-0. It was Mr. Milchutsky's fourth year competing in this tourney; last year he captured the boys 18 and under title.

The tournament was conducted by the Carpathian Ski Club (KLK). Trophies were funded by the Ukrainian National Association, while Winner Ford of Wilmington, Del., awarded stipends.

The tournament was conducted by a committee composed of: George Sawchak, USCAK tennis director; his assistant, Zenon Snylyk; George Popel and George Hrabec. Games were played in 10 groups.

In the men's group, Messrs. Oryshkewych and Milchutsky made it to the final by defeating a host of tennis veterans. In the quarterfinals Mr. Milchutsky eliminated two-time champion Dennis Chorny in two sets, winning 7-5, 6-2, while in the semis he beat Dr. George Charuk 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.

Mr. Oryshkewych emerged victorious in the quarterfinals over three-time champion George Glowa with the score of 6-7, 6-1, 6-1, while in the semifinals he defeated Will Ritter 6-3, 6-4.

In the women's group, the unmatched Lesia Bilak took her fourth consecutive title, winning the final against Anne Marie Shumsky 6-3, 6-0. In the semis Ms. Bilak defeated Luba Wojnow 6-4, 6-3, while Ms. Shumsky beat Anna Szczupak 6-0, 6-1.

Among senior men age 55 and over, Mr. Sawchak defeated Mr. Hrabec 6-2, 6-1. On the way to the final Mr. Sawchak eliminated Walter Dziwak in twin sets of 6-0, while Mr. Hrabec beat George Petrykewych 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

In the largest group at the 2001 tennis nationals, senior men age 45 and over, a five-time men's champion came out on top. Ivan Durbak earned the Dr. Wolodymyr Huk memorial trophy and the senior men's title by defeating Roman Shumsky 6-1, 6-1.

In the semifinals Mr. Durbak eliminated another former men's champ, Leo Worobkewych, after a tough duel that ended with the score of 7-6, 2-6, 6-1. Mr. Shumsky, meanwhile, eliminated Wsewolod Hirka 6-2, 6-2. (Dr. Jaroslaw Sydorak, a perennial champion, did not compete this year.)

The youngest group of senior men, those over age 35, saw Adrian Kutko emerge victorious in the final match against Andrew Charchalis. The score was 6-3, 6-1. In the semis Mr. Kutko defeated Roman Tkachuk 6-0, 6-0, while Mr. Charchalis eliminated Mr. Sawchak 6-3, 3-2.

Among boys age 16 and under Stephen Shumsky defeated Daniel Walchuk 6-0, 6-0 to take the title.

In a match between two youths that was not formally part of the tournament, Mr. Milchutsky, 17, defeated 15-year-old Yuriy Pereyaslavsky, a compatriot newly arrived from Uzhorod, Ukraine, 6-2, 6-0.

Among the younger group of boys Michael Jaskiw beat Demian Petrykewych in twin sets of 6-2.

The single group of girls, which encompassed tennis players of various ages, Larysa Szczupak emerged the winner in the final match against Marianne Milchutsky by the score of 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. In the semifinals Ms. Szczupak defeated Adriana Hirka, while Ms. Milchutsky won over Alia Kachala.

In another match held outside the parameters of the official competition, Ms. Milchutsky beat Christina Blahy 6-0, 6-0.

As in previous years, the tournament committee allowed players to compete in two age groups in recognition of the relatively low number of participants (57).

The tennis nationals, as well as the swimming championships, were officially opened on Saturday afternoon, September 1, at a special gathering that included a flag-raising ceremony and the singing of the national anthems of the United States, Canada and Ukraine. The athletes were addressed by Messrs. Sawchak and Popel of the tennis tournament committee, USCAK Vice-President Irenaeus Isajiw and UNA President Ulana Diachuk.

The tennis tourney's official closing ceremonies on Monday afternoon, September 3, encompassed presentation of awards and stipends, as well as brief remarks by Messrs. Sawchak, Popel and Snylyk of the tournament committee, and Mr. Durbak, who spoke on behalf of the tennis players. UNA President Diachuk declared the 2001 tournament officially closed.

Stipends were awarded to winning tennis players as follows: men - $800 and $400 for first and second-place finishers, respectively; women - $600 and $300; youths (boys and girls) - $200 and $100. Defeated semifinalists in the men's groups (which had the largest numbers of competitors) received $200 stipends.

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