Canadian Matches 2012

USA vs. Canada
June 2 & 3, 2012
Piping Rock Club, Locust Valley, NY
 

Louise Gengler-Thomas Gengler Cup Recap:

What a wonderful weekend! Great weather, high level of play, competitive matches, fun socials and friendships made and renewed. It was a terrific IC event for all participants. Team USA won back the Gengler Cup trophy with many closely contested matches but a decisive 11-2 win over Canada.

The weekend started off with Team USA and Team Canada meeting at the Piping Rock Club for an afternoon practice, getting used to the grass and meeting old and new teammates and friends. After a good hit and appropriately grass-stained strings, we met up at the Gengler home in Locust Valley for a casual cookout with an assortment of Canadian and US men and women.

With indoor plans in place and a forecast for rain all Saturday morning, everyone got the unexpected 'plan B' phone call. The rain had stopped early and the clay courts were dry. The women played on Piping's clay, and with the help of a third set tiebreaker win (13-11), USA took the first round lead 2-1.

We broke for a great lunch at Piping's main clubhouse, then played all afternoon at the Nassau CC. The USA went up 2-1 again in round 2, and with another 3 rd set tiebreaker (12-10) win, we went 2-0 in the third round taking a comfortable but well contested 6-2 lead going into Sunday.

The evening IC Banquet at the Piping Rock Club was well attended with over 70 players and friends. All appreciated the fine food as well speeches by the men and the women. The evening was highlighted by Fred Kovalevsky's amazing stories of past play followed by a clever comeback commentary from Stan Smith who was in attendance for the weekend.

Sunday's skies were clear blue and temperatures in the low 70's. Outdoor lunch was served at the grass courts as final matches were played. Again, it was a 3 rd set tiebreaker gave the USA the final insurmountable lead. We closed out the day with a 5-0 sweep, 11-2 win.

Many thanks to the Piping Rock Club and to Head Pro Larry Hilbert who arranged the clay and grass and helped all weekend to make the event go smoothly. Many thanks to Tim Mangan for offering Nassau and setting us up at his beautiful club for Saturday's matches. A special thank you to Dick Zauzner at the Port Washington Tennis Academy who every year reserves indoor back up for us, at no cost. And of course thank you to the Canadian women who each year field such a wonderful team of players and sportswomen.

David Dickenson/Bob Litwin Men's Recap:

If it wasn't for the beautiful Piping Rock Club, Head Pro Larry Hilbert's magic, Tim Mangans' help with Nassau's Courts, Bob Litwin, and Mike Powers guidance, the great lunches, fun cocktail party, delicious buffet dinner and desert, the repartee between the legends, Fred Kovaleski and Stan Smith, the commardere with the US and Canadian teams, it could have been just another weekend. But it wasn't!

The tennis was first class, going along with the entire experience. The US team was victorious and all our participants contributed to a true team victory. I think we all 'raised the bar' regarding the tennis, as well as, entertaining our guests from Canada.

Let us all look forward to 2013 and defending our victory on Canadian soil. Again a special thanks to the Piping Rock Club and Staff, Larry Hilbert, Tim Mangan, Louise and Frances, Bob Litwin, and Mike Powers. This weekend was a team effort both in the tennis results and the organization. I was proud to be your captain and part of our USA victory.

Until next year..David, Bob and Mike