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NORTHERN HAVEN Wint Filipek Sr. The return of the tennis tournament was a success in their new home and new charity work.
The 17th event culminated in the championships on Thursday night at the Ridge Top Club in North Haven.
The club’s nine fields were full of singles. By the evening all 12 matches had been settled and the champions were crowned.
The real winner was the beneficiary of the tournament, the Connecticut branch of the Alzheimer’s Disease Association. Tournament director Wint Filipek said he plans to cut the organization’s $ 25,000 neighborhood as well.
Its charity is close to the heart of Philip. His wife Margaret suffers from Alzheimer’s, and Filipek suspended his tournament when the couple survived the trouble.
It’s the first time a few years ago and a little lower this year, Filipek said. I’m thinking of bringing it back next year, as long as my wife is okay. I’m kind of back in my career. I know people come here and have fun.
Filipek was happy with the weather, the field and the competition. The only rain fell on Monday, which was a planned holiday. For the first time in the history of the tournament, all finals were completed by the last day of the event.
But this year’s tournament was more than just tennis. Filipek said he saw so many familiar faces healing him.
That’s what encourages me to want to come back, Filipek said. I sent an email this morning inviting everyone to come to the finals. I got a bunch of emails saying they can’t get into it, but they’re so glad the tournament is back.
People come from different states and say how much they love the tournament.
Filipek was particularly excited about his two eldest grandsons, Benjamin and Zachary, who played in the Mens C Doubles division.
At this point, all indications are that the tournament will return next year: the Ridge Top Club would be open to host again, and Filipek added that the Alzheimer’s disease director in Connecticut would likely benefit from the charity again.
Ridge Top Club Chairman Michele Klimczak said the club was excited to host the event.
We were excited to see our courts busy, Klimczak said. We were happy to donate our hosting fee back to the tournament. We were not going to take anything. Wint is very generous, and we know the money goes straight (Alzheimer’s Association’s Connecticut branch).
It was a pleasure to do this, he added. This was what everyone needed after the pandemic.
Ridge Top opened on Memorial Day for the first time since 2019 and does not usually host major tennis tournaments.
Filipek, for his part, has continued to provide scholarships to high school students in downtown Connecticut.
On the field, 11 finals were held on Thursday. Womans A Doubles was held on Wednesday due to schedule conflicts: Julie Condit and Jennifer Noonan defeated Kim McCarthy and Shirley Berliner (6-4, 6-2) to win the match.
Among the winners on Thursday were former Southington High star Abby Murphy and her New Haven University teammate Sidney Constantinidi. They won the women’s B singles (under 100s combined) by beating Beth Sweigard and Lynn Siebert 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 in the tightly contrived final.
Returning to Filipek after a two-year absence is great, Murphy said. Win or lose, it’s a very enjoyable tournament and we’re excited to be here.
Constantinidi was in the tournament for the first time.
We were in a 5-4 drop in the second set and brought it back by winning three straight, Murphy said. We got a little tired and started moving our legs more. They hit a lot of great volleyball. There is not much you can do anywhere. You just have to try to put it off before they can do anything about it.
Mens A Doubles stole the show. Aaron Kusza and David Poudrier, who received the top seed, were bordered by No. 2Jason Sucoll and John Holschlag7-6, 7-6.
It feels good to play in a tournament every year; this could not be a more positive thing, said Kusza, who lives in Wallingford. Profit is a cake. Wint and family keep me coming back every year.
Poudrier, who lives in Fairfield, has been practicing under Kusza since he was 10 years old. He is now a sophomore at Connecticut College.
The opportunity to play here with him at a high level is absolutely amazing, Poudrier said. I had fun.
Wint Sr. Doubles, featuring teams over 130 in total, saw Chip Boyd and Tom O’Connell win the championship with Larry Tannenbaum and Ron Zeiger 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.
Womans Group B teams of 100 and over were joined by Colleen Mills and Kirsten Page, defeating Shawna Baron and Janet Baron 6-3.6-1.
The men’s B doubles (total age age 100+) went to Greg Catalano and Chris Harder over Ray Bucknam and Kenon Clark 6-4, 6-4, while Alex Copp and Jake Ness took the Mens C Doubles title, taking three setter from Don Cretella and Nick Rioux . 7-5, 3-6, 6-2.
Gowthaman Mohan and Lavanya Rathore defeated Isabel Bedoya Rose and Jonlon Smith in 6-2, 6-4 B-mixed doubles (total age under 100). In the B-mixed games for teams 100 years and older, Gilles Marchand and Sharon Marczewski suffered Larry Tannenbaum and Wendy Feldman 6-3, 7-5.
In the women’s C-doubles, Bobbie Dise and Stephanie Dise surpassed Lynne Rosenfeld and Claudelle Natividad in Le 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.
The two matches ended early due to the darkness. The men’s A singles (total age under 100) title went to David Purushotham and Chris Abildgaard 1-6, 7-6, 4-4 (8-6) over Rohan Kataria and Kunal Kataria.
In Mixed A Doubles, Kusza and Julia Migliorini beat former RJ tennis player of the year Justine Hoover and Cheshire graduate senior Yasha Laskin. The match ended with a 8-6 pro series due to the darkness.
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