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MIDWESTERNERS TAKE 14 MEDALS IN MIAMI LAKES!

By Mary Ann Bowles

 The weather was warm, the new and renewed friendships were warmer, and the play at the 2012 Graham/Toms U.S. Senior International Badminton Championships was positively hot!  Ninety-nine eager players converged on Don Shula’s Athletic Club January 10-14 for a 4-courts-full four days of amazing shots, dazzling footwork, and stunning teamwork.  When players weren’t providing the competitive performances, they were treated to even more great play along with the spectators who joined the athletes.

 Play commenced on Wednesday, January 11, 2012, with matches starting at 9AM and ending by late evening.  Play continued on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday with many finals matches held on both Friday and Saturday.  A hospitality suite was available each evening, and players were welcomed with a registration and wine/cheese reception   Tuesday evening.  It was indeed an international gathering of players fromCanada,Costa Rica,Denmark,Ireland,India,Peru, Trinidad/Tobago, and theUSA.

 Five Midwesterners trekked toMiamiLakesfor the annual Senior competition.  FromKalamazoo,MI, Harry Orr played in three events.  In 75MS, he took a bronze medal in a round robin.  Playing with Phil Brunner (AZ) in 70MD, this team bowed out in the first round, and lost in the consolation finals to Canadians John Cree/Wilfrid Pineault, 21-1, 21-11.  In the 75XD, Harry teamed with Canadian Carole Charnutzky.  They won a bronze medal in this event. 

 FromSt. Louis,MO, Mary Ann Bowles played in five events.  She won the gold medal in 60XD, partnered with Bob Cook (CA).  They defeated Manuel Rivera/Dora Aliaga (Peru) in the final match, 21-13, 12-21, 21-19.  In 60WD, Bowles/Andrea Weiss (NM), took the silver medal, bowing to Susan Dommeyer (CA)/Dora Aliaga (Peru), 21-14, 21-12.  In 55WD, Bowles/Weiss won silver in a 5-team round robin.  Bowles/Curt Dommeyer (CA), won silver in the 55XD, losing to Paisan Rangsikitpho/Terry Lira (CA) in the final, 21-13, 21-13.  In 50WD, Bowles/Betty Gordon (Canada) took the bronze medal in a round robin. 

 Wisconsinhad three players representing the state in this tournament.  Wolfgang Arlt ofMilwaukeeplayed in four events.  In the 70MD, teamed with Gordon Pearman (CA), this team went down in the first round and lost in the consolation rounds.  In 75MS, Arlt took fourth in a round robin.  In 75MD, partnered with John Merritt (Scotland), this team won the silver medal, bowing to Ken Money/Tosh Uyeda (Canada), 21-8, 21-18, in the finals.  In 80MS, Arlt took the silver, bowing to John Merritt in the final, 21-19, 21-14.

 Mary Blandino ofWest Allisentered six events.  Partnered with Helen Koh (Canada) in 55 WD, this team took fifth in a round robin.  In 55XD, playing with Martin Roussy (Canada), this team lost in the first round and bowed out in the consolation rounds.  In 60WD, Blandino/Koh lost in the semifinals to Bowles/Weiss, 21-15, 21-14.  Mary won the bronze medal in 65WS in a round robin.  Teamed with Sanne Dryborough (Canada) in 65WD, this team won the silver medal, bowing to Dora Aliaga/Lucia Jimenez (Peru) in the finals, 21-13, 21-11.  In 65XD, Blandino/Dave Murray lost in the quarterfinals.

Dave Murray ofJanesvilleplayed in four events.  In 65MS, Dave won the silver medal, bowing to Bruce Roberts (FL) in the final, 21-9, 21-19.  Playing with Mary Blandino in 65XD, this team lost in the quarterfinals to Robin Lyons/Judy Gray (CA), 21-13, 21-9.  In 70MS, the bronze medal was Dave’s, winning the consolation finals over Gordon Davidson (Canada), 21-15, 21-14.  Partnered with Allyn Woodward (MA) in 70MD, this team took the silver medal, bowing to Jeff Fishback/Robin Lyons (CA) in the finals, 21-14, 21-11.

 A delicious buffet dinner was held on Saturday evening in the hotel’s ballroom.  Paisan Rangsikitpho welcomed the players to the dinner, and thanked the hotel, hotel staff, and members of the Tournament Committee—Bob Cook, Ana Cook, Terry Lira, Dudley Chen, Phillip Ayoung Chee, Betty Gordon, Dave Zarco, Dave Gergely, Michel Tafoya, and Rose Le Fatt—for all their work.  Referee Dave Carton and the umpiring staff were also thanked, along with all volunteers.  Thanks were also given to the tournament sponsor, the Yonex Corporation. 

 Bob Cook and Paisan presented several tournament awards.  Heman Patel was recognized as the person having traveled the furthest fromIndia.  Jackie Myers was recognized as the most enthusiastic newcomer.  The player who served out a match 21 points in a row was Garth D’Abreu. 

 This tournament recognizes two players annually for their outstanding sportsmanship.  In 1999, in honor of both Kelly Tibbetts and Bill Graham, both of whom had played a major role in the evolution of this tournament, an annual Sportsmanship Award was initiated.  The 2012 Kelly Tibbetts Award was presented to Andrea Weiss (USA), and the 2012 Bill Graham Award to Ken Money (Canada).  The evening ended with the famous Dave Zarco video of players in action taped from the early 1980’s through 2006.  Everyone enjoyed the humor, style of play, clothing worn, and hair styles.  Dancing followed. 

 Thanks to all the players who filled the courts for four great days of hot and spirited play. Many thanks to all who assisted with the tournament including Shula’s Hotel and Golf & Athletic Club staff, the Tournament Committee, Dave Carton and the umpiring staff, Organizing Committee Chair Paisan Rangsikitpho, the South Florida Badminton Association, the Yonex Corporation, and all the volunteers who made this year’s tournament such a great week.  If you are looking for a warm place to spend a week in January and play your favorite sport, put this Floridatournament on your calendar in 2013.  You won’t be disappointed!

 KUDOS TO MBA CLUBS!

 Thanks to the MBA clubs who speedily submitted their 2012 club registration information and checks long before the deadline!  First in the mailbox was the registration from the Top Flight Badminton Club, led by Bob Ericson and Karen Harned of Omaha, Nebraska.  Following were the Fishers, Indiana, YMCA Badminton Club with Francis Wai and Satish Panicker, and the McKinley Park Badminton Club of Chicago from Jim Staneart.   Kudos to these clubs for getting their registration information in early—that makes life a lot easier for the MBA Secretary!  The other MBA clubs include the Birmingham club, the Greater Milwaukee club, the Indianapolis club, the Missouri club, and the Shaker club. 

 Clubs may add new members at any time, and the cost is only $10 per member.  Members are entitled to receive the bi-monthly Flick newsletter online or hard copy, to play in the MBA Adult, Junior, and Senior Championships, and show their support for badminton in the Midwest states.  If you don’t live near a club, an individual membership is only $15 and includes the same benefits.  Become a part of organized badminton in your local area! 

 The MBA Secretary, Mary Ann Bowles, has provided secretarial services for 20 years.  She will retire March 1, 2011, so future contact with the MBA will go through the officers listed on the MBA website.  President is Dawn Patel of Indianapolis. 

Upcoming Events

Feb 25, 2012 Preseason Youth Open (Lisle, IL) 

March 16-18, 2012 2012 Yonex/Midwest Closed Championships & Seniors (Louisville, KT)

April 06-07, 2012 First Quality Mortgage Open,Total $1000 cash, Elk Grove Village, IL

May 26-27, 2012 Senior Badminton Tournament, Bethel College, IN

To Update, Email to:   MidwestBadminton 

Tournament Update

Twenty-First Annual Indiana Badminton Open Tourney – January 13-15, 2012

The week before the tournament the temperatures were in the 40's and the 50's, but of course come the tournament weekend the temperature plummeted to the 20's and the 30's. 

The tournament started Friday night with singles.  That was when we discovered one of the curtain motors did not work.  We were unable to separate courts 4,5,6 from courts 13,14 and 15.  We had 57 players fromIndiana, 14 fromIllinois, 11 fromMissouriand 8 fromOhio.  There were so many new faces.    

TheIndianaStateUniversitystaff, as usual, did a wonderful job of getting the facility ready, keeping it clean and usable.  The players greatly appreciate the high quality service provided by the athletic trainers.  ISU is known for their great athletic training academic program.  We always work it into our tournament budget to have them available to work the tournaments we hold there.  Thanks to John Lentz and Kimberley Monte for coordinating the ISU staff. 

Derrick Applegate and Eric Lee of USA-YONEX came through once again by providing high quality shuttles and some very desirable items to raffle during the tournament as well as prizes for the winners of each division.  The raffle items were divided into two groups with one drawing held Saturday evening and one Sunday afternoon.  Thanks to Dawn Patel and Norma Trusler for drawing the winning tickets and presenting items to the lucky winners .

Charles and Bobbie Norton of Louisville Badminton Supply have always supported our event as stringers.  They always provide professional service and products for the players and the badminton enthusiasts.  Their time, energy and great attitudes are always appreciated.

The Indianapolis Badminton Club is the supporting club allowing all the USAB connections and communications to make this event happen each year.  The IBC support crew is primarily Dawn andBharatPatel along with Norma Trusler and Pam Bailey.   

Thanks to Pam Bailey and Norma Trusler for running the all important and hectic tournament desk.  Thanks to Wendy Chia-Smith and Mark Tomac for umpiring the finals matches.  We also appreciate all those individuals that volunteered to call lines during the tourney.  Our officials are a very important part of the professionalism of our sport.

All participants received tournament t-shirts.  All finalists for all divisions received Award t-shirts, medals and Yonex provided prizes for all the winners in each division.  We usually run an A, B, C, D, Drop Flight Draw that allows players the opportunity to play at least 3 matches per event.

Ben Hussey was in all three “A” finals winning the Singles against Quinn Hussey and Mixed Doubles with Tiffanie Kimura against Anoop Vasu and Yun Anoop and losing to Anoop Vasu and Merrell Lim in the  Doubles playing with Quinn Hussey.  Tiffanie Kimura played in Mixed Double and Women's Singles against Hannah Doren and was a winner in both events.  The Women's Doubles was an all Purdue final with Hannah Doren and  Julie Ziolkowski holding off Yi Qian Oo and Jayne Piepenburg.  Congratulations to all the winners and finalists of all the draws and good luck to everyone else for next year.  Thanks to all the players who participated in the tournament.  We hope to see you all again next year. 

We usually get permission to run the event the same time each year, so mark your calendars for Jan. 18-20, 2013 for the 22nd Annual Indiana Badminton Open.  We hope you decide to be a part of the big event next year and make it an even bigger event.