In his role as the men's coordinator of USTA League tennis in Fort Worth, Steve Miller alerts me whenever local teams achieve great things. It seems that at least half the time those teams include Bill Stetzer--and half the time includes now.

Here's Miller's report about how Stetzer's latest Senior Mixed 8.0 team won Sectionals in Corpus Christi, earning a trip to Nationals next March (yes, that weird championship scheduling rears its ugly head again). The team plays out of Arlington Tennis Center.

RTC McCallion, which plays out of Richland Tennis Center, won the 7.0 division, so that team also will go to Nationals. At Sectionals, RTC McCallion represented Fort Worth.

"After coming in second to Dallas in the 2011 Senior Mixed Doubles Sectional Championships, the 8.0 team of ATC Stetzer sought redemption at the 2012 Sectional event held in Corpus Christi. The Stetzer team faced the newly formed Dallas team in the first round of this year’s Sectionals on Friday, June 8, and won all three lines against their Metroplex nemesis.  They then defeated the team from Lufkin, representing the Northeast Texas area (NETX), winning all three lines later that afternoon.

"On Saturday, they were to face Lubbock, who pulled out of the event due to injuries, and then defeated a tough team from Corpus Christi by a 2-1 margin following a retirement of the last line once two lines, and the match, were won.

"Sunday, the day all Sectional teams hope to play on, found ATC Stetzer playing the team from Austin in the finals. The first line to come off court went to Austin (7-5, 6-3). The second line went to ATC Stetzer (7-6, 7-6). The third and deciding line was also won by ATC Stetzer (7-6, 7-6) to secure the National bid.

"ATC Stetzer was represented by Bill Stetzer (captain), Bob Barrie, Martha Benson Barrie, Nidia Bridges, Keith Clark, Sue Mowery, Sue Walker, Mike Fincher, Trish Chandler, Andras Bocsardi and Steve Miller. The date and location for the National Championships has yet to be determined but will most likely occur at the end of March 2013 in the Southern Section.

"RTC McCallion represented Fort Worth in the 7.0 division. They won their flight by defeating teams from San Angelo (2-1) and NETX (3-0) on Friday.
"On Saturday, they continued their run with defeats over Austin (2-1) and Corpus Christi (2-1) to also advance to Sunday competition. In the finals, they defeated Abilene to advance to the National Championships next spring.

"RTC McCallion, captained by Ellie McCallion, was represented by Les Thomas, Christi Gordon, Steven Samuel, Pamela Eppinette, Steve Byam, Patty Avery, Marsha Scott and Irma Brown."