Wendy Bermingham and Kathleen Parker Repeat at Colorado State

Cary Hodges
December 9, 2014
Denver, CO

Mild temps and overcast skies made for an epic day for Colorado's State Women's Open on December 6th. Wendy Bermingham and Kathleen Parker, seeded first after last year's results, needed the full three sets to get past the second-seeded team of Anne Koo and Anne Lehigh. Koo and Lehigh got off to a quick start in the first set and led 3-0, but Bermingham and Parker’s nerves settled a bit and the drives started finding their mark with the first set going their way, 6-3. Koo and Lehigh battled back in the second set with better positioning and patience to take the set, 7-5. With the third set up for grabs, both teams made subtle adjustments throughout the set until Bermingham and Parker found themselves up a break, serving at 5-4. We all know serving at the end of a match can be nerve-wracking, but Bermingham was as cool as the other side of the pillow, and with some help up front from Parker, they were able to hold serve for a victory.

Koo and Lehigh survived another three setter in the semifinals to eventual third place winners, Kathy Givan and Winslow Waxter, 6-7, 6-1, 6-1. Givan and Waxter also needed three sets in the third place match against Leslie Cavness and Eag Norton. That match was as tight as the final, going 7-5, 3-6, 6-4.

  

Ann Kokish and Lynn Kelly also went the distance to take the Consolation bracket, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 over their good buddies Maggie Hays and Sue Knott. Cyn Rentz and Holly Stabler took the Quarter Reprieve draw and fifth place with a straight set win over Suzanne MacKenzie and Amy Quinn, 6-3, 6-1. In the Last Chance final, Laurie Assini and Cady Sheldon also had a barn burner over their good pals Kristi Emerson and Katie Ozimek, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4.

In the B bracket, Lucy Dinneen and Tracy Kerr went through the draw without dropping a set. However, it wasn't that easy. In the semifinals against Annie Humphrey and Leslie Schott, Dinneen and Kerr trailed in the first set tie breaker, but rallied to take it and then kept their momentum, winning the second set, 6-2. Similarly, in the final match with Carolyn Rippey and Rosie Wiedenmayer, Dinneen and Kerr found themselves at 6-6 in the first set. With a pair of clutch volleys and deep lobs when they needed them, Dinneen and Kerr won the first set and then picked up the pace on their overheads in the second set and won it decisively at 6-1. Rippey and Wiedenmayer had come off a very close match in the semis with Wendy Fryer and Kris Kerr (no relation to Tracy), who battled throughout, falling 7-5, 6-4.

Congratulations to all players who competed. It was a very fun weekend of paddle.

The APTA would like to thank Cary Hodges for his work as tournament director and for keeping us up on what’s happening in Region VI.

WOMEN’S OPEN
Main Draw: Wendy Bermingham/Kathleen Parker def. Anne Koo/Anne Lehigh, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4
Third Place: Kathy Givan/Winslow Waxter, def. Leslie Cavness/Eag Norton, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4
Quarter Reprieve: Cyn Rentz/Holly Stabler def. Suzanne MacKenzie/Amy Quinn, 6-3, 6-1
Consolation: Ann Kokish/Lynn Kelly def. Maggie Hays/Sue Knott, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4
Last Chance: Laurie Assini/Cady Sheldon def. Kristi Emerson/Katie Ozimek, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4

WOMEN’S B
Main Draw: Lucy Dinneen/Tracy Kerr def. Carolyn Rippey/Rosie Wiedenmayer, 7-6. 6-1
Third Place: Annie Humphrey/Leslie Schott def. Wendy Fryer/Kris Kerr, 7-6, 6-3
Consolation: Margot Kelly/Molly Miner def. Annie Stookesbury/Jennie Wolf, 6-2, 6-1
Last Chance: Lisa Benson/Chriss Bond def. Marilyn Dana/Babette James, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3