Schuler outlasts Race in open final

Players and spectators alike were treated to a fitting finale in the 2009 Coconut Classic Tennis Tournament with CNMI’s coach Jeff Race dueling former Drake University standout Kirk Schuler in the men’s open singles title match late Monday afternoon at the American Memorial Park tennis court.

The more than hourlong match ended in a close slugfest with Schuler eking out a hard-earned 9-8 (7-4) victory over Race.

“Hats off to coach Jeff, he really gave me a hard time. What a way to return to competitive tennis and win against a very good player/coach,” Schuler said, who joined in a tournament on Saipan for the first time since arriving on the island late last year.

Race also had good words for Schuler saying his foe has a good service game.

“I did my best in this seesaw battle, but he got the breaks in the end and I could not keep up with his big serves. It was great playing against a former collegiate player,” Race added.

Joining Schuler in the champions’ list in the tournament supported by Department of Public Health’s Wise Women Village Project, were Lydia Tan, Carl Dela Cruz, Rafael and Emily Jones, Amy Arenovski, Peter Loyola, Neghar Rastguiy, Lila Mailman, Dong Min Lee, and Benjie Decena.

Tan prevailed in the round-robin women’s open singles with her 3-0 record. Kinumi Tanaguchi and Sakiko Eda finished second and third, respectively.

Dela Cruz ruled the 17-player field boys’ 10-and-under division after beating Colin Ramsey in the finals, 6-3. Kennedy Izuka took third place.

Siblings Rafael and Emily Jones dominated the boys’ 14-and-under and girls’ 10-and-under divisions, respectively. Rafael won over perennial rival Christian Miller in the finals, 8-2. Jake Lee defeated Chris Cajigan in the battle for third, 8-3.

Emily topped Sakura Imaya in the girls’ 10-and-under finals, 6-1. Gabrielle Race settled for third after whipping Julia Ishikawa, 6-0.

Arenovski pulled off an 8-5 upset over top seed Ilia Corella in the girls’ 14-and-under finals. Rastguiy finished third after whipping Alina Ishikawa in the consolation match, 8-3.

Neghar teamed up with Loyola in the mixed up doubles and they won in the finals over Nicholas Son and Jean Bracken, 8-6.

Mailman took the girls’ 18-and-under title after a clean 3-0 slate in the round-robin tournament. Mailman beat Thea Minor in the third game, 8-4, sending the latter to second place. Thea’s older sister, Theecel finished third.

Decena secured the boys’ 18-and-under plum after outclassing Woo Suk Chang in the finals, 8-4. Nathan Nutting settled for third after downing Sung Hoon Ham, 9-8.

The men’s 40-and-above singles title went to Dong Min Lee, who prevailed over Richard Brostrom in the finals, 8-0. Nanding Cajigan won over Alex Martin in the battle for third, 9-8 (7-4).

All Top 3 finishers in each division received medals, while the champions and runners-up also took home painted coconuts as trophies.