Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 9, 1995 TAG: 9505090078
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Take the case of the tennis doubles team of PATSY DILLON-LONG and SHARON TROY of Blacksburg. The pair entered the Virginia Slims Grassroots Challenge in Roanoke last month because they wanted to compete in a tournament. So what happens - they ended up winning the 3.5-and-under division.
"We really didn't [think about winning]," explained Troy. "We just did it for the heck of it. Tennis is just a part of our lives ... We had some friends who had played in this tournament before so we decided to do it. We had never been rated, so we had to declare our skill level."
The two players teamed up about a year and a half ago and play in a tennis league in Roanoke. They complement each other with their different styles of play. Troy can make a lot of different shots. Dillon-Long provides the power.
Still, playing in tournament was something new - and something the duo had to adjust to.
"We thought we would have some fun and go home," said Dillon-Long. "It was the first time we had played outside and that was different. We were both scared to death. And we didn't want to tell the other person - little did we know."
Dillon-Long and Troy shook off their fears and made it through the first match successfully. They then won four more matches - three to win the flight and a fourth to win the division.
The victory means the pair will get to compete in another tournament - the state championship in Richmond on May 19-21. That weekend will also feature a clinic for the participants featuring the likes of Billie Jean King, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, a women's legends tournament and a music concert.
If Dillon-Long and Troy win in state play, they get an free trip to the national tournament in Del Ray Beach, Fla., in December.
WRESTLING RESULTS: Christiansburg's JAMIE HARRIS and Blacksburg's JESSE JANZEN led the local contingent at the Tournament of Champions youth wrestling competition April 22 in Columbus, Ohio.
It was a long day for Harris, a sophomore at Christiansburg High. His first match was at 5 p.m. while his last match was at 3 a.m. But it was worth the wait for Harris, who finished second in the Elite Division at 115 pounds.
"I just rest rested until about 3, then I got up and kept moving around," said Harris.
Harris opened up with a victor against the Ohio state champion. He went 5-2 overall, losing out on his chance for the title to a top competitor from Indiana in overtime.
For his performance, Harris received a clear plaque that featured a red bear in a wrestler's singlet.
Meanwhile, Janzen placed fifth at 70 pounds in the Junior Division. Janzen's top performance came when he beat the New York state champion 7-0.
The tournament featured over 2,000 wrestlers who had earned a berth by finishing in the top three in their division at selected tournaments throughout the nation.
AROUND THE TRACK: Blacksburg High junior SARAH HENDRICKS qualified for the Junior Nationals track meet in the mile.
Hendricks earned a trip to Walnut, Calif., in June by posting a time of 5 minutes, 8 seconds as she won the mile in the Albemarle Relays in late April. She also broke a 14-year school record in the process.
MORE AROUND THE TRACK: The Southwestern District Hershey's Youth Track Meet will be held Saturday at Pulaski County High in Dublin.
Field events begin at 10 a.m. and running events at 11.
Boys and girls compete in three age groups (as of Dec. 31, 1995): 9-10, 11-12 and 13-14. The meet is open to Pulaski County youth as well as youths from surrounding areas which do not offer the Hershey's program.
The entry deadline is the day of the meet and it must be filled out by a parent or guardian. There is no cost.
The top two finishers advance to the Southwestern Regional meet, June 17 at Pulaski County High.
For more information, call EDDIE SUTPHIN, the local meet director, at 980-1000, Ext. 47.
GETTING A KICK: The New River Rockets advanced to the second round of the Snickers State Cup under-11 soccer tournament with a 3-0 win over the Vista Rangers.
The Rockets took an early lead on a header by NATHAN MUTISPAUGH. ETHAN DANCEY added a goal late in the first half to make it 2-0 and then late in the game to make it 3-0.
The semifinals and finals of the statewide tournament are June 3-4 in Richmond.
TENNIS ANYONE? Christiansburg, Radford and Montgomery County are all presently taking registration for tennis lessons or tournaments or both.
In Christiansburg, registration continues through June 16 for youth beginning and intermediate lessons to be held at the Christiansburg High courts.
The basic lessons begin the week of June 19. The intermediate lessons begin the week of June 26.
Participants should provide their own racket and wear appropriate shoes and clothing.
The cost is $20 for town residents and $25 for non-residents.
For information, call the recreation department at 382-2349.
In Radford, registration is underway for lessons throughout the summer. The first one-week sessions are June 26-30 and are for the beginner or advanced beginner.
Youth classes are at 5 p.m. and adult classes at 6. The cost is $10.
For information, call the recreation department at 731-3633.
In Montgomery County, sign-ups for a youth tennis tournament run through May 26.
The tournament will be held at Christiansburg High and will have two age divisions: 11-13 and 14-17.
The cost is $15 for singles and $15 per player for doubles.
Also, registration continues through May 19 for adult and youth tennis lessons following a Monday-Wednesday, Tuesday-Thursday or all-Saturday format. The cost is $15 for six sessions.
For information, call the recreation department at 382-6978.
GOLF GATHERINGS: The seventh annual Golf Tournament for Young Life is Friday at Blacksburg County Club.
The cost is $75 per person and includes green fees, cart and lunch.
For information, call MOLLY DODSON at 552-8726.
The Eagle Country 107-PSK Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the New River Valley Golf Tournament is May 22 at Blacksburg Country Club.
The cost is $50 per person or $200 per four-person team before May 15 and $55 per person and $220 per team after that.
The tournament uses a captain's choice format. Each team must have a total handicap of 40 or more and can only have one player with a handicap less than 10. Play begins at 8:30 a.m. with a shotgun start.
For information, call 381-0662.
SOFTBALL DIAMONDS: There will be a Men's Open softball tournament this weekend at the Princeton, W.Va., Recreation Field. For information, call JULIUS EAVES at 381-5590 after 5 p.m.
by CNB