8 triumph in IT&E tennis tourney

Around 70 players participated in the 2009 IT&E Summer Tennis Tournament with eight ruling their respective divisions after two days of competition at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan and American Memorial Park tennis courts.

Making it to the champions’ list were junior players Julia Ishikawa, Seiya Eda, and Daniel Park, Sue Knecht, Vickie Izuka, Lydia Tan, Chris Fizer, and Dong Ik Jang.

Julia Ishikawa notched the Level 1 division title after beating Jin Tong in the finals, 6-3. Ishikawa first won over Mimi Sakano in the Round of 16, 6-0, downed Taylor Knecht in the quarterfinals, 6-2, and topped Lance Chingkoe in the semis, 6-2.
In Level 2 division, Eda defeated Sakura Imaya in the finals, 6-4. Eda started her title bid with a 6-3 victory over Alina Ishikawa in the first round and nailed her second win after thumping Kui Lee in the quarterfinals, 6-3. Eda advanced to the title game after prevailing over Tomo Hatamata in the semis, 6-3. Alex Park finished third after slipping past Hatamata in the consolation game, 6-3.

The Level 3 division title went to Daniel Park, who posted three wins to claim the championship. He first thwarted Quintin Ramsey in the quarterfinals, 8-3, downed Kennedy Izuka in the semis, 8-6, and topped Chris Park in the finals, 8-3. Chris beat Jack Sharer, 8-2; Mikayla Lopez, 8-3; and Carl Dela Cruz, 8-3, before bowing to Daniel.

Sue Knecht secured the women’s 2.0 division tiara after prevailing over Anne Song in the title match, 8-5, while Vickie Izuka took the women’s 3.0 championship after winning over Ling Lihua in the finals, 8-5.

Lihua advanced to the semis after topping Delia Johnson in the semis, 8-4, while Vickie booked the other finals seat after edging Sarah Brostrom in the semifinals in a tiebreaker, 8-7 (7-4).

The women’s 4.0 title showdown featured perennial rivals Lydia Tan and Yuri Hatamata with the former winning in the finals, 8-3. Sakiko Eda defeated Melanie Daly in the battle for third, 8-1.
Fizer, Fiesta’s sports and recreation manager, competed in his first tournament and won the men’s 3.0 title after defeating Edward Armia in the finals, 8-5.

In the men’s 4.0 division, Jang walloped Richard Brostrom in the finals, 8-4. Junior tennis player Jake Lee, who bowed to Jang in the semis, 8-5, beat Gary Ramsey in the consolation game, 8-6.
The Top 4 placers in each division of the tournament organized by Fiesta tennis instructor Peter Loyola received medals, which IT&E donated. Winners were feted at the awards banquet held at Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan Sunday night.

Loyola wished to thank the following for supporting the tournament and the awards banquet: IT&E, Knecht family, Lydia Tan, Vickie Izuka, Fizer, Daly, AMP Park Ranger Nancy Kelchner, and the parents of all junior players.