Tryzub hosts fall tennis tournament, honors Sawchak (10/29/06)

Tryzub hosts fall tennis tournament, honors Sawchak

HORSHAM, Pa. - For nearly 20 years, every spring and fall, tennis players from many parts of the East Coast gather at Tryzub's Ukrainian American sports facility, to compete against each other in a spirit of camaraderie. This year the fall event was held on September 23-24 and attracted a number of highly competitive players.

The tournament was played in the men's group only and the format was a single-elimination main draw with a complete feed-in for the main draw losers.

Ivan Durbak of New Jersey, long-time champion of the Ukrainian Sports Federation of the U.S.A. and Canada (USCAK), won his fourth consecutive title at Tryzubivka. In the finals of the tournament he overcame Stephan Sosiak of northern New Jersey, many times a winner of Ukrainian tournaments, 6-0, 6-1.

In the semis, Mr. Durbak beat Jerry Tymkiw of Philadelphia, with a score of 6-2, 6-2, and Mr. Sosiak won over George Sawchak of Rydal, Pa., 6-2, 6-3.

In the quarterfinals Mr. Durbak defeated Ihor Buhaj of Bethlehem, Pa., 6-2, 6-2, Mr. Tymkiw overcame George Hrabec of Danvers, Mass., 6-4, 6-4, Mr. Sawchak won over Walter Dziwak of Lake Hiawatha, N.J., 6-0, 6-4, and in the closest quarterfinal match of the day Mr. Sosiak outlasted George Petrykevych of West Hartford, Conn., 6-4, 5-7, 6-1.

First-round matches paired George Popel against Mr. Buhaj, Boris Tatunchak against Mr. Dziwak and Andrew Wapowsky against Mr. Petrykevych.

In a very close pro-set match in the finals of the feed-in tournament, Mr. Hrabec outlasted Mr. Petrykevych 9-7, thus winning third place in the overall tournament. He also had a very tough match with Mr. Buhaj in the previous round, winning that match 10-8. Mr. Petrykevych eliminated Mr. Dziwak 8-3 and Mr. Tymkiw 8-4 to get to the feed-in final round.

During the closing ceremonies this year, Mr. Sawchak, the tournament director, a player and organizer, was honored for initiating and coordinating these tennis tournaments throughout the years. "We wish you and the tournaments continued success in the years to follow and health and happiness on and off the courts," said Mr. Hrabec, member of USCAK's tennis committee, as he awarded Mr. Sawchak the congratulatory trophy, an original tennis ball from 1988, and an album filled with memories from all the past tournaments.

Ihor Chyzowych, president of Tryzub, welcomed everyone and congratulated the winners while Mr. Sawchak's granddaughters, Ariadna and Yulia, dressed in Ukrainian outfits, presented their "Dido" (grandfather) with flowers.

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