ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, August 8, 1996 TAG: 9608080012
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
TYPE: HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS STAFF WRITER
Upwards of 60 participants are expected for the third annual Greater Blacksburg Open tennis championships at Blacksburg Country Club.
Among the many advantages of the three-day, single-elimination tournament that starts Friday, as far as event director Louie Belt is concerned, is that all ages may compete.
"This tournament does two main things for the tennis players around the New River Valley," Belt said. "It gives the ones just getting started the chance to play in a tournament and it gives the better players a chance to highlight their talents."
Among the favorites are Blacksburg High School's Yasamina Hilu, the Group AA state girls' singles runner-up last season, and Paul Peterson. Each will compete in the 16 and under divisions. Other high school standouts expected to battle for championships include Giles' Russell and Evan Bowling, the school's top two seeds. This time the Bowling brothers will stand on opposite sides of the net while competing in the under 18s.
Stuart Dowling and Scott Sterrett are expected to battle for the top spot in the boys 14 and under and will also team up in doubles play. Nicole Branch comes in as the early favorite in the girls under 12.
In the adult divisions, Rick Sprague of Blacksburg and Mike Hunt of Roanoke are favored to repeat as champions in men's doubles.
Overall the tournament features five age brackets in the junior division starting with the 10 and unders and running through the under 18s. There are also open singles divisions for both men and women over the age of 18 and a separate bracket for male participants age 35 and older. Doubles opportunities are available in each age bracket as well.
"They've always had some kind of tournament [at Blacksburg Country Club] but I wanted to start one that everyone in the area could participate in," Belt said. "It's not a big, gigantic tournament so it gives a lot of local people a chance to get noticed ... and that's as good for the game of tennis as it is for them."
Belt graduated from Virginia Tech in 1993 after spending three years on the Tech tennis team. He now coaches both the Blacksburg Middle School and High School boys' tennis teams as well as serving as the professional at the country club. Belt started playing at age 12, Now, he focuses his attention on helping younger people learn to play and enjoy the game.
"No matter what your level, tennis gives everyone a chance to play and enjoy it," Belt said. "I want to teach the kids to have fun with it and get as much out of it as I did, whether they're competing seriously or just playing for fun. Tennis offers an opportunity for girls and boys to play together with their friends and gives them a chance to socialize while keeping them off the streets."
Dowling said at age 13 he's already found more than one reason to continue the sport.
"Tennis helps you make new friends and it helps you when you get older to just go out and have a fun game of tennis," he said. "It's not like golf where everyone has to play at the same level - on the same course. With tennis you play at your own level. And it's not like basketball or something because you can keep playing for years and years."
And while Dowling may indeed play for many years to come, this tournament will end Sunday. All participants will receive T-shirts, and the champions in each division will be awarded trophies. Belt said he'd like to add additional tournaments at other times in the year, and hopes to see his sport - and his tournaments - gain recognition.
"Tennis' popularity has kind of fallen off everywhere in the last few years, but I'd like to see that change," Belt said. "I'd like to see this become a well participated and well covered event that draws in good tennis players from around the area ... and just continue to watch it grow."
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM/Staff. With tournament director Louie Beltby CNB(rear left) are some of this year's younger participants in the
Greater Blacksburg Open Tennis Championships. They are (from left)
Samantha Cooke, Kasey Branch, Scott Sterrett (behind net), Stuart
Dowling and Nick Sprague. color.