CHAPTER FOURTEEN
1975-76: Early Winter Tournaments—Part I.
National Table Tennis League owner Windsor Olson isn’t making much headway in the Northwest (or anywhere else?), for we hear about only two teams up there, the Seattle Sockeyes and the Portland Kings. Has he tried to bring in Canadians? The British Columbia players continue to be active. Results of their B.C. Open, held Dec. 6 at the Strathcona Community Center in Vancouver: Men’s: Peter Joe over Eddy Lo, 23-21
in the 4th. Women’s: Nimi Athwal over Parello Smith. Men’s Doubles: Lo/Joe over Juggy Padda/H. Woo. A’s: Woo over Art Barran. A Doubles: Eng/Smith over Chandra Madhosingh/Woo, 18 in the 4th. B’s: N. Athwal over W. Jang. Men’s Consolation: Frank Karika over Chang Poh, def. Senior’s: Hugh Ward over H. Woo. Junior’s: Joe over Woo.
Perhaps Olson has tried to contact the Alberta players? Here are the Results of the Dec. 13-14 Calgary Open: Men’s: Les Ruszinski over Frank Hodl, 24-22 in the 4th. Men’s Doubles: Sam Bhandari/Steve Beres over K.W. Chang/F. Wan. Women’s: Lei Chu Kong over Judy Mack. Has Olson ever thought about recruiting Northwest women players? Mixed Doubles: Kam Kong/Lei Chu Kong over Bhandari/Renate Hirth. B’s: Ben Mah over Ming Tsang. U-17’s: Mah over Mack. U-15’s: Jim Lewis over fellow Whitehorse enthusiast P. Thibedeau. (Yep, the Yukon has players—more players since Zlatko Cordas and Rod Young went up there as visiting coaches.) U-13’s: Arthur Schoenberger over Chris Chui.
At both the Jan. 17-18 Edmonton Open and the Feb. 7-8 Alberta Open, Keith Wong was the Singles winner—first, over his Alberta Open winning Doubles partner Kam Kong, then over 13-year-old sensation Ben Mah who tournament after tournament was picking up armfuls of Junior trophies. Men’s Doubles: at Edmonton, Arthur Schoenberger/Barry Falk over Ben Mah/Peter Palfenier. Women’s: at Edmonton, Judy Mack over Yun Myung Su; at Alberta, Mack again, avenging her Dec. Calgary loss to Lei Chu Kong. Mixed Doubles: at Edmonton, Falk/Monica Martin over Richard Mah/Judy Mack, the Mixed winners in the Feb. Open. At Alberta the Senior’s went to Frank Hodl over Tony Yee.
Back in the States, University of Oregon student Bruce Douglass, a “serious player” who lists Hwang’s Martial Arts Academy as his address, and favors professionalism in table tennis, let Olson off easy. That is, Bruce didn’t hit him, but restrained himself to sardonically describing the “ridiculous fiasco” of a Seattle Sockeyes (5)-Portland Kings (1) League match he and his friends witnessed (TTT, Jan.-Feb., 1976, 17):
“… This auspicious event opened with a poor cassette recording of the national anthem that most people stood to in quiet humiliation. The games (not matches—pros play one game to 31 points—matches are for amateurs) were played on a hideously blue table lighted by strong search lights on either side, so that no one, spectator or player, could see the ball. There was a microphone taped underneath the table so that the game sounded more like the drum solo to IN-A- GADDA-DA-VIDA. Windsor Olson, Seattle manager and chief referee (complete with an old basketball referee’s outfit), presided over this less than epic clash. The table’s red-white-and blue net and supports were distracting. But it was not distraction enough to overlook the new professional rules (apparently made up as the game progressed). Carl Cole found that if he drove Tom Ruttinger into the barriers it constituted a let. When he protested, Mr. Olson…[was ready] to disqualify him. Hell, I wouldn’t have been surprised to see Olson trying to fine Carl Cole fifty dollars. Olson couldn’t see a Seattle let service if someone…[threatened to stuff] the ball down his throat (as I was tempted to try). The funny part of all this was they wanted us to pay to see this bullshit. I wouldn’t walk across the street to see this crap if I were paid….”
Better viewing for young and old you’d find at the Sizzler Family Steak House Open, held Dec. 13-14 at the Paddle Palace. And check out the perks. Mike Oslund tells us (TTT, Jan.-Feb., 1976, 18) that winners in all classes received, in addition to their plaques, “Steak-a-Bob dinners.” And at the Palace’s Jan. 10-11 Joe Corvino Winter Open, there were more “extras.” This Open was so named, says Lou Bochenski, because artist Corvino, “who has painted portraits for two presidents, several movie stars, and other prominent people, volunteered to make pastel portraits of the winners in each of the 15 singles and doubles events.
Corvino Results: Open Singles: Carver, last month’s Sizzler Champ, over McLarty in 5 (after Charlie had escaped Mike Bochenski, 19 in the 3rd), then over Crystal. Open Doubles: Nash/Vo Qui Han over Keun Chung/Wright, 23-21, then over Mike Bochenski/Marie Mason. AA’s: Doyle over Crystal. AA Doubles: Doyle/McLarty over Brian Bircher/ Mike LaMear. A’s: Jim Buchanan over LaMear who survived Tisler, deuce in the 3rd. B’s: Muhammed Popoola over Eddie Chin. B Doubles: Bircher/LaMear over Young/Mason. C’s: Oslund over Popoola, 23-21 in the 3rd. D’s: Aaron Ho over John Fredrickson. E’s: Ted Miller over A. Ho. F’s: Hoskins over Randy Miller, 19 in the 3rd, then over Rod Miller, 27, -19, 19. G’s: Mike Perry over Ben Gage. Senior’s: Bob Ho over Art Barron. Junior’s: M. Bochenski over Bircher.
No turkey dinners as prizes for the Nov. 29-30 San Francisco Holiday Open. Men’s Singles saw Angelita Rosal (Men’s Singles?—believe me, there’s proof positive Angie’s still a woman)—nearly upset the eventual winner Paul Raphel in a deuce-in-the-5th quarter’s. Runner-up Jack Howard advanced with a 5-game win over Howie Grossman who’d downed Ron Von Schimmelman in 5. Women’s went to Angie over her sister Monica. Julius Paal took the Esquire’s from Bob Green; and Howard the Senior’s from Danny Banach. A’s: Craig Manoogian over Ron Whitlock. A Doubles: Stewart/Greg Plakos over Gene Wilson/Russ Thompson. B’s: Jeff Stewart over Ron Watkins. C’s: Jim Boatman over Rick Watkins. C Doubles: Plakos/Boatman over Watkins/Watkins. D’s: Georgette Rideg over Doug Kirby. Novice: Tom over Garcia. Junior’s: Rideg over Tom.
Dick Evans sent me a Jan. 17, 1976 letter briefly describing the San Francisco scene:
“…Lots of brilliant and creative people here—but a lot of ‘sickies’ also, unfortunately. Seems like every other person I pass on Telegraph Ave. is talking to someone who ain’t there. A therapeutic community for ambulatory schizophrenics! But the artists and crafts people are the best I’ve seen anywhere.
T.T. is good. There are six or eight players in San Francisco who can beat me as much as I beat them, and two players who nearly always beat me (David Chan and Henry Fung). Well over 50% of the S.F. Club members are Orientals. I play with Shonie Aki every Monday night. He is a fine human being. The Club has a low key, personal atmosphere that is very pleasing to me. No one seems to be on any big ego trip, no superstars, no gambling. If you want to play someone you place your bat under their table and the winner stays up. Must sound…idyllic compared with the NY Club—unless, of course, you like the tension (maybe hustling is a better word) that goes on there….”
The Henry Fung Dick mentions was runner-up to Howard in the Open Singles final at the San Francisco Winter Open. Other results: A’s: Phat over San. B’s: Mike Dempsey over Shun Chan. These two and another, Gary Kerr, played in wheelchairs, and Don Gunn said that one of them tried to play after his chair lost a wheel. C’s: San over Kumar. D’s: Givens over Bushell. Senior’s: Jack Howard over Azmy Ibrahim. Junior’s: Li over DeFazio.
Don’t be surprised Angelita Rosal is in Hollywood—playing in the Nov. 22-23 Western States Open. Two weeks earlier, Mary McIlwain interviewed her (TTT, July-Aug., 1976, 6B), and found that Angie had experienced a religious conversion. Her typhoid sickness after the Calcutta World’s brought her to God. “I go to church every night except for one night when I go to Table Tennis.” No longer, she says, is the Sport “my God and my boyfriend.” Jesus Christ has come into her heart. However, the Lord continues to let her play. ”Every day I work for the Lord,” she says. “Every time I play a match it’s a prayer.” She has a “prayer list” that includes: Burt Reynolds, Elvis Presley, Scott Boggan and family, Gerald Ford, Billy Graham, and Jim with red hair and girlfriend Paula.
Mary and Angelita seem kindred souls. Mary understands that Angie is getting Divine Guidance that’s available to everyone but that she didn’t have before. Mary says, “My faith is very important to me. I still love to go to tournaments, and I neglect my husband a little bit, and when I do I feel badly about it. But in the morning my day starts with thanking the Lord.” Angie says, “As long as I keep everything in the right perspective, and keep God my No. 1 and my first love, then I have everything I need and He gives me everything I need. The minute he slips out of being my No. 1 love, I start making all kinds of mistakes, things start going wrong and I start feeling bad, but as long as I am walking with the Spirit and walking with God everything is okay.”
Western State Open Results: Men’s: Ray Guillen over Dean Galardi who’d eliminated Paul Raphel in 5. Men’s Doubles: Nick Mintsiveris/Bill Ukapatyasakul (a.k.a. Bill U) over Guillen/Galardi, def. Mixed Doubles: Stan/Angelita Rosal over Guillen/Heather Angelinetta. Esquire’s/Senior’s: Julius Paal over Russ Thompson. Senior A’s: Henry Swain over Don Higgins. Senior Doubles: Thompson/Gene Wilson over Dieter Huber/Jerry LaLande. U-17’s: Jimmy Lane over Karl Huber who’d eked out a 27, 20 win over Georgette Rideg. U-15’s: Lane over Mike Terrell. U-13’s: Rideg over Tony Gonzales, 19 in the 4th, after Tony had eliminated Reagan Tom, 19 in the 4th. Junior Doubles: Huber/Terrell over Lane/Ian Davis. Parent-Child Doubles: Hubers over Toms.
A’s: Rob Lange, deuce in the 3rd, over Jeff Stewart who’d gotten by Stan Rosal, 23-21 in the 3rd. A Doubles: Ron Whitlock/Rosal over Mike Carr/Keith Ogata (from down 2-0), 18 in the 5th. B’s: Stewart over Ricky Guillen. B Doubles: Ogata/Lane over Stewart/Plakos, 19 in the 3rd, then over Guillen/Rideg, 17 in the 5th. C’s: Jim Boatman, 19 in the 5th, over Rick Watkins who’d stopped Mike Ban, -20, 20, 18. C Doubles: Hyam/Tom over DeFrance/LaLande, 19 in the 5th. D’s: Wilbur Durr over Mark Corbett. D Doubles: Huber/Gilbreath over Ruben Guillen/Bill Tamayo. Novice: Tamayo over Ruben Guillen, 19 in the 4th. Novice Doubles: Gonzales/Tom over Tom Mullins/Esler.
Mary McIlwain reports on Topics’ Club of the Month, the Upland, CA Club and its Third Annual Closed (Mar.-Apr., 1976, 24). We learn that through the efforts of Lee Laitz, assisted by Mary and Don Higgins, temporary places to play in Upland were found until rather quickly a permanent site, the Magnolia Recreation Center, became the Club’s two-days-a-week home. Bill Ray, who’d remembered Mary playing in Toronto maybe 15 years earlier, took over as Club Manager and because of his enthusiasm the Club, with tournaments and league play, has prospered.
Results of the Upland Closed, held Dec. 14 in the Upland High School Gym: Men’s Singles: Sam Ahn over #1-seed and fellow penholder David Chiu in 5. Men’s Doubles: Chiu/Gene Wilson over Ahn/Harold Kopper. No Women’s event for McIlwain to defend. Draw Doubles: Bob Reising/McIlwain over Tom Johnson/Elmer Widmer. Intermediate: C. Tom over Reising. Novice: Steve Korf over Johnson. Beginners: Larry Armstrong over Tom Anderson. Senior’s: Gene Wilson over runner-up Bob Green and Higgins. Junior’s (15-17)/Boys (12-13): Reagan Tom over Doug Kirby.
Winners in the Jan. 17-18 Los Angeles Open: Men’s: Dennis Barish over Dean Galardi who’d knocked out Paul Raphel in 5. (At the earlier Long Beach Open, won by Guillen over Galardi, 24-22 in the 4th, Bill U had a 5-game win over Barish.) Men’s Doubles: Galardi/Ray Guillen over Barish/Al Everett. Women’s: Pat Crowley over Heather Angelinetta. Esquire’s: Julius Paal over Gene Wilson. Senior’s: Final: Paal over Danny Banach, 18 in the 5th. Semi’s: Paal over Don Ayers in 5; Banach over Carmen Ricevuto who says the only rubber he can adjust to is Cutman, which he’s run out of and can’t get the name of a dealer in the U.S. or abroad who sells it. Help! Meanwhile, Don Gunn warns of a structural deficiency in the Stiga bat with Mark V rubber and a picture of Alser on the flared handle. It will easily “break at the neck, where the blade meets the handle”—so don’t slap your hip with it, might be an expensive mistake. Senior A’s: Henry Swain over Watkins. U-17’s: Galardi over Barish, def. U-15’s: Lane over Mike Terrell, def. U-13’s: Lee Lawson over Tony Gonzales.
A’s: Ricky Guillen over Joelson. A Doubles: Russ Thompson/Gary Whiddon over Joelson/Hall. B’s: Lane over Hall. B Doubles: Lane/Keith Ogata over Jerry LaLande/Richard Badger. C’s: Mike Dempsey over Bob Green. C Doubles: Mark Corbett/Greg Plakos over LaLande/Watkins. D’s: Tony Koyama over Ian Davis. D Doubles: Guy Seaman/Corbett over Jewell/Ruben Guillen. Novice: Koyama over Esler. Novice Doubles: Gonzales/Davis over Field/Ma.
At San Antonio, the Dec. 6 Alamo Open was run on 10 Detroiter tables by J.C. Tenay with help from Gene and Sue Sargent. Enjoying the home-made ice tea were at least some of these winners. Men’s: 1. Alex Tam, 3-0. 2. Perry Schwartzberg, 2-1. 3. Hanumanth Rao, 1-2. 4. Gary Fagan, 0-3. Men’s Doubles: Tam/M.Skiles over Fagan/Charles Butler, 25-23. Mixed Doubles: Doug Hibbs/Cindy Garza over Don Weems/Sue Sargent. Senior’s: Tenay over Gordon. Senior Doubles: Tenay/Arthur “Buster” Chase over Gordon/R. Cunyus.
A’s: Scott Ryan over John Tomlinson, 19 in the 4th. A Doubles: Paul LeBlanc/Ron Heilman over John Hewes/Gary Garner, 18 in the 5th. B’s: David Babcock over Heilman. Babcock, Perry Schwartzberg says, “quit school a couple of weeks ago and is working for Jose Marin at a warehouse. He moved out of the place he was living next door to the chess club, and seems to be acting more normal than ever before.” B Doubles: Grady Gordon/Mike Roddy over Steve Arnold/Doug Copley in 5. C’s: Jeff Wise over Roddy. D’s: C. Murray over R. Murray. Men’s Consolation: Tenay over Buddy Melamed. Junior’s: Schwartzberg over Roddy. Junior Doubles: Schwartzberg/Larry Melamed over Roddy/Irl Copley.
Schwartzberg did well here in San Antonio, but in less than two weeks he’s writing to Ron Shirley fearful that over the Christmas vacation he might have to have an operation on his knee. “The doctor says I might have torn cartilage and have to get the fluid out.” In the same breath he says he’s only been able to play once since the San Antonio tournament. Problem isn’t his knee. It’s how to get to the Club. He hasn’t got a driver’s license yet, both his parents work all day, and since Bob O’Neill’s quit, he hasn’t got a ride. He’s ahead of his time—a young environmentalist. On starting a second sheet of notebook paper writing to Ron, he makes a mistake, and writes: “I started the sentence wrong but didn’t want to use a new sheet of paper because I really do feel that with the way inflation is and the current price for a large package of white notebook paper, about $.99 for 300 sheets, I shouldn’t waste this sheet of paper and have them cut down trees just because I don’t know how to write a sentence! How wasteful!...”
The Dec. 6 Skublicki-Hall Memorial Open was held in Wisner, Nebraska in honor of Jerry Skublicki and Randy Hall, killed in the same car crash Oct. 2 while en route to LeRoy Petersen’s home in Wisner. Liane Guentner tells us (TTT, Jan.-Feb., 1976, 21) that “during the 100 days he lived at Wisner, Skublicki had worked closely with Todd [Petersen],” and, as Todd’s dad LeRoy said, his coaching couldn’t have been more successful. Fourteen-year-old Todd “won every event he was entered in without losing one game,” and so took home the Men’s Singles trophy dedicated to Skublicki.
Mark Kennedy, 17, of Lincoln, Nebraska, who’d been a friend and doubles partner to Hall, wasn’t competing in the C’s, but he wished he were, for the C trophy was engraved in memory of Randy. Mark and his girlfriend Brenda Brinton “both wore red jerseys with ‘Randy the Jet’ stenciled in white on the backs….‘I wanted everyone to remember him,’ Kennedy said.”
Results: Men’s: 1. Todd Petersen. 2. Diana Myers. 3. Jim Lynum. Women’s: 1. Myers. 2. Kathy Giese. Open Doubles: 1. T. Petersen/Lynum. 2. Myers/Kennedy. A’s: 1. Lionel Harris. 2. Scott Petersen. 3. Dr. John O’Hara (he drives 30 miles each way from Clarkson to play at the Wisner Club once a week). B’s: 1. LeRoy Petersen. 2. Mark Engelman. 3. Victor Engelman. C’s: 1. Walene Heermann. 2. Myron Nelson. U-17 Boys: T. Petersen. 2. John Stillions. U-17 Girls: 1. Judi Stillions. 2. Debbie Johnson. U-13’s: 1. Gary Hicks. 2. Denise Heermann. U-17 Doubles: 1. T. Petersen/John Stillions. 2. Kennedy/Brinton.
Spurred on by the renown of Canadian National Junior Champion, Brian “Kid” Zembik, and Charles Chow, who a year ago won the Singles and Doubles at Magoo’s Winter Carnival Open and has had wins over Peter Joe, Eddy Lo, Alex Polisois, and Rod Young, Manitoba has become one of the top competing provinces in Canada. In the CTTA Table Tennis News (Mar., 1976, 11), Dave Lofchick fills us in on the Unicity Open which, with help from Don Kokan, he successfully directed. Open Singles: Zembik over Chow, 17, 18, 19—despite Charlie’s use of a “secret rubber” from Hong Kong (which maybe he wasn’t yet used to?). “Come on, Kid,” Zembik yells, and for three games he loops in winners. Earlier, however, Brian had to go 5 to get by Boris Rainer and his consistent counter-and-kill game. Open Doubles: Zembik and Men’s semifinalist Ed Smook over Chow/Rainer.
Other winners: Women’s: Patsy Alphonso over Pat Galovics. Mixed Doubles winners: Leon Cox/Alphonso. A’s: Stephen Lee over Lofchick. B’s: Kerry Eidse. C’s: Dan Bakaluk over Cecil Morris. Intermediate Doubles winners: D. Clark/Jon Laufman. Novice: Laufman over Neil Dookie. Open Consolation: Stephen Lee over Mark Harrison. Senior’s: Cox over Manitoba TTA President/Coach Art Werier (affectionately known as “Uncle Art” to Zembik and Chow). Juniors: Zembik over Manitoba new arrival John Partyka, 19 in the 3rd. Boys: Terry Trueman over Brian Hollos. Junior Doubles: Zembik and Marshall Rice, MTTA Publicity Chair, over George Drazic and Harry Hirsh.
At Manitoba’s Red River Open that followed, Chow, who’d earlier played in the English Open and is now #3 in Canada, straight-game avenged his Unicity loss to Zembik. Alphonso again won the Women’s—this time from Rosel Hoppe. Mixed Doubles went to Ranier/Hoppe over Zembik/Kay Kowalker. A’s: Lofchick over Rice. B’s: Lofchick over Gary Patushok. C’s: Peter Lee over Patushok. Novice: Sam Yu over Peter Lee. Open Consolation: Stephen Lee over Rice.
Magoo’s, with its Charlie Disney/Alan ”Doc” Goldstein State Championship rivalry, has come and gone.* After a terrible riot at the nightclub they were sharing space with, they had to leave, and the present Club (to avoid the riot remembrances?) is called Disney’s. Here’s how Steve Grant (TTT, Jan.-Feb., 1976 24) opens his write-up of their Jan. 24-25 Winter Carnival tournament: “A flood of local publicity drew 150 people for the finals, many of them paid spectators. Unfortunately, Thai champions Charlie Wuvanich and Chuchai Chan stayed home nursing their wounds, as the usual $100 in prizes was not offered them this time.” In celebrating t.t. as part of Icentennial ’76, “Wuvanich was featured first on a filmed local sportscast, then again in a full-page story in the Sunday sports section the morning of the tournament.”
Results: (final rounds played on “a single table centered in a barriered arena, with spectators on all four sides”): Men’s: Final: Apichart Sears over Stu Sinykin. Semi’s: a looping Sears over a looping Pete Tellegen in 5; Sinykin in 5 over Chuck Turchick who’d eliminated State Champion John Soderberg in 5. After Disney’s manager Don Larson had described Turchick “as a hitter ‘who can’t loop because of his pips-out style,’ Turchick immediately looped the next ball past Sinykin, and the crowd went wild.” Turchick himself apparently went wild some time later, for in an Apr. 2nd letter to Disciplinary Chair Dr. Scott, Disney said Chuck was “no longer welcome” at Charlie’s Club. Open Doubles: Sears/Steve Steblay over Tellegen/Ray Mosio, 18 in the 4th. Women’s: Sheila O’Dougherty over Takako Trenholme, 3-1. Mixed Doubles: Steve Strauss/O’Dougherty over Sears/Sheri Soderberg.
A’s: Stu Sinykin over Steblay. B’s: Ed Ells, a psychologist at Minneapolis’s V.A. Hospital, over Todd Petersen. C’s: John Meader over Mark Kennedy. D’s: Bob Williams over Gary Adams. E’s: Adams over Bob Faulkner. Women’s Novice: Judy Winiecki over Desiree Baker, 19 in the 3rd. Novice Doubles: Kennedy/LeRoy Petersen over Hanson/Collette. Esquire’s: Al Faulkner over Chester Halpern. U-17’s: John Soderberg over Petersen. Junior Novice: Jim Rudberg over Mike Cusick. Junior Doubles: Petersen/Kennedy over Soderberg/Soderberg. Parent-Child Doubles: Petersens over Kennedys.
Jim Davey did triple duty at the Jan. 9-10 Illinois Closed. The tournament was run at the Chicago Club co-owned by Jim; the Topics write-up (Jan.-Feb., 1976, 22) was written by Jim; and for the third straight year the Men’s Singles was won by Jim Results: Men’s: Davey over Bobby Pallit who’d beaten him in two recent Friday night Chicago Club tournaments, then in the final over (she’s not a man either) Faan Yeen Liu, after Liu had eliminated Leonard McNeece, 19, -19, 15 in the semi’s. At the July, 1974 Columbus, Ohio Summer Tournament, Insook Na wasn’t allowed to play in the Men’s Singles because there was a Women’s Singles (had Men’s Singles been called Open Singles Na could have played in it). Question: has that rule been rescinded? Answer: no, just ignored—both for Angie Rosal in that recent San Francisco tournament and for Faan Yeen here. Women’s: Barbara Taschner, National Intercollegiate Champion, in 3 over Liu. Their winning USOTC teammate Carol Cook finished 3rd. Men’s Doubles: Paul Pashuku/Liu, 19 in the 3rd, over Davey/McNeece who’d been 24-22, 30-28 pressed by Brazda/Mike Menzer. A’s: McNeece over runner-up John Hart and Menzer. B’s: Joe Bujalski over runner-up Taschner and Primo Madrigal. C’s: P. Jordan over I. Weiner. D’s: Jordan over T. Butts.
Winners at the Jan. 17 Woodland Michigan Open: Open Singles: Mike Baber over Rick Vanderlind. Open Doubles: Dave Shenk/Steve Betts over Sweeris/C.J. Williams, deuce in the 3rd. A’s: Tom McEvoy over Vanderlind. B’s: Betts over Leon Shahnasarian. B Doubles: Baber/Dave Williams over Vanderlind/Betts. C’s: Betts over John Missad. D’s: Omer Miller over Bob Lichtenheld. D Doubles: Miller/Betts over Pawlowski/Pawlowski. E’s: Tom Stout over Lennie Ores. Novice: Ores over Ed Vandervries. Beginner’s: Richard Grossman over Eric Zirnis. Handicap: Grossman over Betts. Senior’s: Shahnasarian over Bill Hornyak (who’ll soon be running his own tournaments in Michigan City, IN). U-17’s: Torsten Pawlowski over Steve Wasik. U-15’s: Ores over Pawlowski. U-13’s: Ores over Jim Doney, 18, 22.
Results of the Dec. 27 Lake Erie Open at Cleveland: Open Singles: 1. James Earl.
2. Sam Steiner. 3. Glenn Marhefka. 4. Dave Strang. Women’s: S.M. Liso over Sue McDowell. Men’s Doubles: Earl/Gus Kurz over Marhefka/Mike Kinney. A’s: Ron Schull over Kinney. A Doubles: Bob Slapnik/Roper over M. Allen/Bob Allen, 19 in the 3rd. B’s: Strang over Bob Allen. C’s: M. Allen over Slapnik. Consolation’s: Walt Bubley over Alain Yeung. Esquire’s: Lou Radzeli over Bob Allen. Senior’s: Radzeli over Jim Richling. Young Adults: Steiner over Strang, deuce in the 5th. U-17’s: Ben Joelson over Blake Cottrell. U-15’s: Cottrell over Allan Eva. U-13’s: Tom Arcaro over Mark Gillinov, 10, 11, -19, -29, 19.
Canada’s trying to bring table tennis to some of its Regional areas—hence a Dec. 22nd match between Ontario (5) and Quebec (3) in airport-accessible Rouyn-Noranda. That’s in Quebec, near the Ontario border, up, up the map in a straight line from Toronto. An ad in the CTTA Mar., 1976 News said that Alex Tam wanted a coaching or Phys. Ed. position in Canada. Would he want to go to Rouyn-Noranda? Results: Alan Heap (O) over Rod Young, -17, 20, 10. Errol Caetano (O) over Guy Germain, 12, -17, 18. Alex Polisois (Q) over Derek Wall, 9, -17, 14. Caetano (O) over Young, 12, 12. Polisois (Q) over Heap, 17, -17, 12. Germain (Q) over Wall, 14, 16. Caetano (O) over Polisois, 19, 19. Wall (O) over Young, 10, -19, 17.
No surprise in the Dec. 6th Ontario Closed that Caetano won the Men’s over Alan Heap, or that Irena Cordas won the Women’s over Birute Plucas. But that the Men’s Doubles went to Victor Skujins/Modris Zulps over Heap/Derek Wall was unexpected, at least to me. Women’s Doubles: Cordas/Flora Nesukaitis over Gloria Hsu/Gloria Nesukaitis. Mixed Doubles: Alain Thomas/Hsu over Heap/Cordas. Men’s B’s: Randall Airst over Plucas. (You couldn’t have Birute play in the Women’s B’s, right? So give her another event to play in.) Women’s B’s: Becky McKnight over Loretta Koperski. C’s: Ray Reichert over David Williams. C Doubles: D. Williams/A. [Alan?] Williams over George Bonnigut/J. McKeating. (Is it possible the winners are the Williams brothers who’ll later play out of Frostberg, MD?) D’s: Sing Yeung over Reichert. Senior’s: Ken Kerr over Ron Bickerstaffe. Boys U-17: Ross Sutherland over Airst, 19 in the 3rd. Girls U-17: Plucas over G. Nesukaitis. Boys U-15: D. Williams over Reichert. Girls U-15: G. Nesukaitis over McKnight. U-13’s: Joe Eng over Ivan Krofky.
On Jan. 18th at the West Humber Collegiate Institute, it was Caetano again. The “22-year-old service technician for Rogers Cable TV” won his fourth Toronto Open—this time over Rod Young. Errol and Rod also took the Doubles—from Polisois/Germain. Women’s: Rupa Banerjee over Gloria Hsu. Women’s Doubles: Banerjee/Hsu over Flora Nesukaitis/Suzanna Kavallierou. Mixed Doubles: Heap/Kavallierou over Skujins/G. Nesukaitis. Men’s B’s: John Nesukaitis over Emil Varden, 19 in the 3rd. Women’s B’s: Koperski over Lamia Janusauskas. C’s: Claude Lamoureux over Chuck Gorcheck C Doubles: Labreche/Norman Gauthier over Ming Shing Leung/King-Mo Sun. D’s: Sun over Zdravko Sondic. Senior’s: Zulps over Wolfgang Scholich. Boys U-17: Southerland over Desforges, Girls U-17/U-15: G. Nesukaitis over Colleen Johnson. Boys U-15: Reichert over Labreche, 23-21, 28-26.
Meanwhile, monthly tournaments were held at the Marymount High School in Montreal. Nov. 23rd Winners: Men’s: Peter Gonda over Adham Sharara in 4. Women’s: Francine Theoret over Colleen Johnson, -19, 23, 17, 19. Men’s Doubles: Sharara/Young over Germain/Ron Chapman. Women’s Doubles: Sonia Duwel/Johnson over Theoret/Joanna Flakierska. Mixed Doubles: Young/Johnson over Germain/Theoret. Men’s A’s: Randal Airst over Daniel Savaria, 17, -20, 18. Women’s A’s: Flakierska over Duwel, 18 in the 3rd. B’s: Claude Lamoureux over Gerard Melancon, -20, 17, 19. D’s: A. Oryschuk over Johnson, 20, 20. Senior’s: Siggi Kunz over Daniel Jacquemen. Boys U-17: Lamoureux over Jean Desforges. Girls U-17: Flakierska over Duwel. Boys U-15: Jean Labreche over Marc Lalonde. Boys U-13: Mitch Rothfleisch over Alain Tremblay. (Thirty years later Mitch will have a thriving Stiga/Table Tennis Pioneers distributorship.)
The Dec. 6th Montreal tournament was held to determine the Quebec Province Junior Champions. Winners: Boys U-17: Marc Lesiege over Pierre Normandin. Boys U-15: Labreche, deuce in the 3rd, over R. Desjardins (any relation to Montreal’s J.J. Desjardins, 1936 CNE Open winner and 1947-48 National Closed Champ?). Boys U-13: Charles Masson over Rene Lewandowski, deuce in the 3rd. Girls U-17: Christine Forgo over Duwel. Girls U-15: Colleen Johnson over Duwel. Girls U-13: Julia Johnson over Sylvie Leveillee. U-11’s: Daniel Aucon over Stephane Leveillee.
I’ll stretch on in Canada—give you Results from the Jan. 24th Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Open (113 players). Men’s A’s (in some places in Canada, the Men’s A’s are equivalent to the U.S. Men’s; the B’s equivalent to the U.S. A’s): home town favorite Neville Brabrook, 17 in the 5th, over Steve Peers who, playing in his first A’s, really did turn out to be Neville’s peer. Ladies: Defending Champion Kelleye Crockett over fellow Prince Edward Islander Glenda Macwilliam. (Glenda’s sister, Janice, just married, has moved from Charlottetown, and is pursuing her career as a dietician and is now Secretary of the Nova Scotia TTA.)
Men’s A Doubles: Peers/Ray Tsang over Scott Milsom/Joe Fisher. Ladies Doubles: Kelleye/Laura Crockett over Joan King/Linda Knight. Mixed Doubles: Peers/Janice Silver over Milsom/King (from down 2-0), 19 in the 5th. Men’s B’s: Ken Goggin over Ron Cooper. Men’s B Doubles: Doug Pope/Mike Stephens over Mark Kent/John McPherson. Boys U-17’s: Mark Kent over brother Ian. Girls U-17: Jennifer White over Cheryl Matheson. U-15 Boys: Ian Kent over Jimmy King. Girls U-15: Judith Cooper over Louise LeBlanc U-13 Boys: Ed Suen, whom some think is the best U-13 in Canada, over David Crockett.
At Boston’s Jan. 3-4 ’76 Open, Robert Earle won the Men’s when Mike Bush defaulted the final. Interesting late-round matches: Earle over Errol Resek (from down 2-0); Ralph Robinson over Mike Lardon (also from down 2-0); and Dave Sakai over Carl Danner, -24, 16, 9, 18. (Jairie Resek, in her Jan-Feb., 1976 Topics column said that Dave, “a bachelor now,” was gonna give up (perhaps already had) his 6-table USTT Center in Waterbury and start an 18-table International House of Pong in Hartford.)
Other Boston Open Results: Open Doubles: Chui/Sakai over Tim Boggan/Fuarnado Roberts, deuce in the 3rd, then over Resek/Bush by default. (As if taking his cue from Ali Oveissi—Ali couldn’t shake a 101 fever, was taking penicillin every four hours—Mike succumbed to stomach cramps and nausea). Gossip maven Resek in her column said that as they were driving through Rhode Island en route to Boston, “a very friendly and helpful State Trooper presented Errol with a speeding ticket.” Huh? Friendly/ Helpful? Jairie’s being ironic? Nope:
“…Errol was going 83. If you do over 70 in Rhode Island, you lose your license automatically. Then the trooper told us to be careful, said there was another radar trap nine miles ahead. Benfield Munroe took over the driving, and do you think Big Ben was intimidated? Hell no; the speedometer didn’t go below 95 until we stopped [stopped voluntarily?]”
Women: Anita Wu over Evelyn Zakarin. Mixed Doubles: T. Boggan/Zakarin over Wu/Harry Morris. A’s: Frank Dwelly over Siegfried Sporer, 19 in the 3rd, then over Jeff Zakarin. B’s: Morris, 19 in the 3rd, over Scott Boggan who’d 19, 21 nipped his brother Eric. C’s: Lardon over Morris. D’s: Tom Seay over Pete Schuld, -15, 13, 20, 20. E’s: Paul Weaver over Dave Clevenson. F’s: Weaver over Ralph Bockoven. G’s: L. Lam over L. Conlon, 12, -16, -16, 20, 19. Handicap: Weaver over Bockoven. Senior’s: Boggan over Mort Zakarin. U-17’s: S. Boggan over E. Boggan.
Earlier, C winner Lardon had scored a big upset over Lim Ming Chui—a win that contributed to Mike’s being named Topics’ Mar.-Apr. “Junior of the Month.” Dan Green in his write-up said that when he first spotted him at the Huntington, Long Island Club three years ago he was impressed by Mike’s “determined attitude and maturity,” especially for a 12 and ½-year-old, and he began coaching and playing with him. Later, Mike was coached some by Mort Zakarin, Sam Hammond, and Dick Miles.
Mike’s promise continues. A sophomore at Huntington’s John Glenn High School, he’s “an Honor Society member,… has been active in baseball (Little League All-Star Team) and football (quarterback, Huntington Y 1972-74), has been a member of his Junior High School gymnastic team, and a Junior High School officer.” As for his table tennis: he’s currently the Long Island U-15 Champion and the Huntington Township U-17 Champion. If there were such an honor, says Dan, Mike “would be in contention for Junior of the Year.”
SELECTED NOTES.
Though we’ve seen in earlier volumes that Minnesota has had a long table tennis history, going back into the 1930’s, Don Larson tells me that in 1966-67 the Sport was dead in Minneapolis. Then Goldstein had found Disney on the tennis courts and persuaded him to start playing table tennis again. They began putting up modest prize money at tournaments to raise the Image of the Sport and to promote the best players—that would be Doc and Charlie. In the beginning, “Doc was first and Charlie was second in three straight tournaments.” Then in 1968 D-J Lee sold Charlie new rubber, “and for the next year and a half he beat Doc in nine straight tournaments. Doc was upset enough that he went to a seminar on hypnosis in New York….He also went to D-J’s coaching clinic [and got new rubber?].”