By Mike Kinney
The Richmond Tennis Association (RTA) glittered with gold medals this season.
The Age 18+ 3.5 Women’s Team finished first place in the regular season, which ran from April through June, and brought home the gold at the East Bay Championship, according to Garry Hurlbut, president and executive director of the RTA.
Meanwhile, the RTA-USTA Men’s Team 18+3.0 team also brought home the gold at the East Bay Championships and also at the USTA (United States Tennis Association) Northern California Championship Sectionals Tournament.
“The RTA is very proud of both the Women and Men Teams for their incredible victories,” said Hurlbut. “They played great and represented Richmond very well.”
The season for the Age 18+ 3.5A Women’s Team ran from April through June. After finishing in first place during the regular season, the team captained by Stacy Ma faced Harbor Bay Tennis Club of Alameda in the first round of the playoffs. It then faced an immense challenge in the final playoff round against the RTA B team before winning the title.
“The team went on to represent Richmond in the Northern California Championship Sectionals Tournament at Gold River Sports Club in Gold River, CA on the weekend of August 11-13,” Hurlbut said. “Despite the incredibly hot weather, the team came in second place in its flight, a first for the Richmond Women’s 3.5 team.”
The Men’s Team 18+3.0 traveled to a Roseville to take on other regional champions and despite battling very hot temperatures, they started off strong winning three matches to advance to the finals, according to RTA Men’s Team Captain Phil Villagomez. On Sunday, the team faced defending 3.0 national champs Pleasanton, one of the strongest teams Villagomez said he’s ever seen.
“We put up a fight but fell 1-4 to this team that will move on to the Nationals in Phoenix,” Villagomez said.
The team captain announced co-MVPS for the season in Stefan Moskowitz, who finished with a 3-1 Singles record in Sectionals, and Fernando Ramos, who went undefeated at sectionals winning four doubles matches.
Hurlbut credited “excellent leadership” for the successes of the Men’s and Women’s teams.
“We have captains and co-captains who have excellent leadership skills and act as very talented coaches,” he said.
