Click here for champions and finalists photos.
In two upsets, “B” 3.5 teams defeated their state rivals in the 2021 USTA League Adult 65 & Over Southern Sectional Championships.
In the Men’s 3.5 final, the Snellville, GA, team captained by Eugene Goedtke and Charles Schultz ,defeated the Marietta, GA, team 2-1. In the Women’s 3.5 final, Marsha Cobb’s Monroe, LA, “B” team downed the Lafayette, LA, “A” team 2-1.
In many competition or NTRP levels, the USTA Southern sectional tournaments will have a state champion team from its nine states. To fill out two, round robin brackets of five teams, a state is randomly selected to send the two top teams from their state championships.
The host state of Alabama had a strong tournament with Birmingham placing two champions and two finalists from the eight levels in the championships. Additionally, Muscle Shoals scored with one winner and Selma was represented by a finalist.
Lafayette, LA, had two finalists.
The tournament was played Nov. 12-14 in Dothan. The tournament was played at three facilities: Westgate Tennis Center (tournament headquarters), Azalea Swim & Tennis Club and the Dothan Country Club.
This year’s event drew the top teams from throughout the section’s nine states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Many of the teams – which represent various clubs, parks, recreational departments and organizations – have finished at the top of their local leagues or are noted as top teams in their respective states.
There were 62 teams with approximately 500 players who competed in eight levels: Men’s and Women’s 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 9.0 combined.
Here the champions and finalists.
| Level | Champion Hometown –Captain/s | Finalist Hometown – Captain/s | Score in final or round-robin* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 3.0 | Raleigh, NC Jay Copan | Birmingham, AL Mike English | 3-0 |
| Men's 3.5 | Snellville, GA (B) Eugene Goedtke/ Charles Schultz | Marietta, GA (A) James Meidl | 2-1 |
| Men's 4.0 | Birmingham, AL Samuel Hooper | Lafayette, LA Marc LaPointe | 2-1 |
| Men's 9.0 | Atlanta, GA Chris Bussert | Selma, AL Donnie Ellis | 4-0* |
| Women's 3.0 | Muscle Shoals, AL Vu Thi Gailon Brown | Durham, NC Donna Webb | 3-0 |
| Women's 3.5 | Monroe, LA (B) Marsha Cobb | Lafayette, LA (A) Kathryn Bordlee | 2-1 |
| Women's 4.0 | Birmingham, AL Tracy Rasco | Charlotte, NC Debbie Carmazzi | 2-1 |
| Women's 9.0 | Nashville, TN Barbara Hooper | Birmingham, AL Barbara Ernest | 2-1* |