KERHONKSON, N.Y. – Blessed with ideal weather for tennis, sunny skies, pleasant temperatures and no wind, the Ukrainian Sports Federation of the USA and Canada (known by its Ukrainian-based acronym USCAK) held its 61st National Tennis Championships at the Soyuzivka Heritage Center during Labor Day weekend. Players represented 11 states. Tennis enthusiasts gathered above the courts to watch their favorites battle their opponents as strands of music filtered from the Tiki Deck.
Continuing a so-called tradition between these two contenders in the men’s division, Marko Krasij (Texas) defeated Mykola Stroynick (New York) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in three sets, which lasted for four grueling hours and 10 minutes – the longest match ever played during the Labor Day Tournament. The two players have been alternating winners for the past six years: Stroynick in 2015, Krasij in 2014, Stroynick in 2013, Krasij in 2012 and Stroynick in 2011.
Petrusia Sawchak
UNA Treasurer Roma Lisovich (left) and USCAK Committee member Ivan Durbak (right) with (from left) men’s 45 finalist Steve Sosiak, men’s 55 and 65 finalist George Petrykevych, winner in men’s 35 and 45 Nick Nalywayko, and winner in both the men’s 55 and 65, Yaroslav Sydorak.
In the women’s division, Lesia Bilak Schinnerer (Pennsylvania), six-time champion and mother of two young sons who also competed in the tournament, beat Anastazija (Nastya) Koval (Ohio), a college student from Cleveland, by the score 6-3, 6-2.
All the winners and finalists were awarded substantial monetary stipends from the Winner Automotive Group Inc., and Winner- Ukraine, whose owner, John Hynansky, was a frequent guest and tennis player at Soyuzivka years ago and has been funding the tournament for more than 30 years.
They also received trophies funded by the Ukrainian National Association (UNA), a fraternal organization that has been serving the Ukrainian community unyieldingly for more than a century with life insurance, endowments and annuities. The Soyuzivka Heritage Center was also a proud supporter of this tournament. Both the UNA and Soyuzivka were among the original founders of this tournament since its inception in the 1950s.
Petrusia Sawchak
During the presentation of trophies (from left) are: UNA Treasurer Roma Lisovich, men’s finalist Mykola Stroynick, USCAK Tennis Director George Sawchak, men’s winner Marko Krasij and USCAK Tennis Committee member Ivan Durbak.
Krasij was also awarded the Roman Rakoczy Trophy. Mr. Rakoczy was one of the original organizers of this tournament and USCAK tennis director for many years (he was inducted into the Ukrainian Sports Hall of Fame on September 17 at the Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Jersey).
The opening ceremonies for both the swimming and tennis championships were held on the deck of the swimming pool on Saturday, September 3. After the formal presentations of the Ukrainian and American national anthems, George (Yurko) Sawchak, USCAK tennis director, officially greeted all the players, organizers and dignitaries to this event. He also thanked all the sponsors for their support throughout the years.
USCAK President Myron Bytz and Roman Hirniak, newly elected mayor of Randolph, N.J., also welcomed the players and thanked parents for bringing their children to this event.
Getting to the finals, Krasij eliminated Marko Gural (New York), who had defeated Nick Nalywayko, Jr. (New Jersey) in a close three setter, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5; and in the second round Pavlo Busko (New Jersey) eliminated Dmytro Pidvysockyj (New Hampshire) 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. In the quarter-finals Stroynick bested Alex Dale (Pennsylvania), who had a nice win, 6-4, 6-4, over Yuriy Pereyaslavskiy (New York); in the second round Stroynick eliminated Paul de Vassal (Pennsylvania), who beat Chris Bula (Florida) 6-2, 6-2.
Petrusia Sawchak
The women’s trophy winner Lesia Bilak Schinnerer receives a stipend from Winner-Ukraine and a UNA trophy from Ivan Durbak.
Before defeating Koval, Schinnerer beat newcomer Mary Berezowsky (New York) 6-1. 6-3, and Koval overcame Catherine Popow (Delaware) 6-4, 6-0.
In the girls’ group, Anna Popow beat sisters Ivanna Voloshchak (New Jersey) 6-1, 6-3 and Natalia Voloshchak 6-1, 6-0. Voloshchak won over Daria Gural (New York) 6-4, 6-0. Gural was the feed-in winner.
Many of the men played in more than one group because they enjoy the competition this provides.
In the men’s 35, Mykola (Nick) Nalywayko retained his title by defeating Dmytro Pidvysockyi 6-4, 6-3, and in the semi-finals Bohdan Kucyna (New Jersey) 6-2, 6-2, while Pidvysockyj beat Steve Sosiak 6-4, 6-2.
In the men’s 45, round robin, Nalywayko took first with Steve Sosiak taking second.
In the men’s 55 (played after the men’s 65), Yaroslav Sydorak (California) beat his arch-rival George Petrykevych (Connecticut) in a highly competitive match consisting of three match tie-breaks 6-10, 10-5, 10-7. Getting to the finals, Sydorak defeated David Pronchick (Massachusetts) 6-2, 6-1, and Petrykevych bested Walter Dziwak (New Jersey) 6-0, 6-0.
In the men’s 65, Sydorak defeated Petrykevych 4-6, 6-2, 11-9 retaining his title. Getting to the finals, Sydorak eliminated Orest Wasyluk (Florida) 6-2, 6-3, and Petrykevych took Dziwak 6-1, 6-1.
The junior boys played in two groups. In the older group, Pavlo Busko (New Jersey) overcame last year’s winner, Marko Gural, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. In the younger group Kase Schinnerer beat Danylo Sosiak 6-0, 6-2, and also Alexander Shevchouk (Pennsylvania); and Sosiak bested Erik Schinnerer 6-3, 6-3. Erik Shinnerer won the feed-in.
Closing ceremonies were held after all the matches were concluded. Mr. Sawchak thanked all the players for their participation, and the sponsors of the tournament: Mr. Hynansky (Winner Group), the UNA and Soyuzivka for their loyal support. He also thanked USCAK Tennis Committee member Ivan Durbak for his assistance. Absent this year was George Hrabec who regretted that he could not attend.
Marusia Durbak
The Mary Dushnyck Trophy for Good Sportsmanship is awarded to Natalia Voloshchak, who is congratulated by Petrusia Sawchak and Ivan Durbak.
All the winners and finalists received their stipends and trophies from the USCAK Tennis Committee, and UNA Treasurer Roma Lisovich also congratulated everyone.
Natalia Voloshchak was awarded the Mary Dushnyck Sportsmanship Trophy determined by the USCAK Tennis Committee. Mr. Sawchak explained that Mrs. Dushnyck, past supreme vice-presidentess of the UNA, was also a very popular and devoted participant who made many contributions for many years to this tennis tournament beginning in 1956.
The following memorial trophies were established but not all presented: Roman Rakoczy Trophies to the men’s and women’s winners; men’s – Bohdan Rak Trophy; women’s – Constantine Ben Trophy; and the men’s 55 and over – Dr. Petro Charuk Trophy.
Ms. Lisovich thanked all the players for their participation and invited everyone to return again next year to keep up the tradition. She also congratulated Mr. Sawchak on receiving recognition and a plaque from the UNA during the Soyuzivka Tennis Camp’s closing banquet in June for his 50 years of service and dedication to that camp. Lastly, Ms. Lisovich asked everyone to continue their loyal support of Soyuzivka and the Ukrainian National Association.