47th annual tennis nationals dedicated to the late Zenon Snylyk (09/22/02)

47th annual tennis nationals dedicated to the late Zenon Snylyk

by George Sawchak

KERHONKSON, N.Y. - The 47th annual national tennis championships of the Ukrainian Sports Federation of U.S.A. and Canada (USCAK) were held during the Labor Day weekend at Soyuzivka, the resort of the Ukrainian National Association. This year's tournament was dedicated to the memory of Zenon Snylyk, a great athlete, chief editor of The Ukrainian Weekly and Svoboda, and a member of USCAK's tennis committee, who passed away January of this year.

The dedication ceremony was a celebration of Mr. Snylyk's life and was presented during the opening activities of the tennis tournament and the swimming championships, which were held concurrently at Soyuzivka.

Roma Lisovich, UNA treasurer, officially opened both sports events. The speakers at the presentation ceremony were George Popel and Roman Rakoczy from the host club, the Carpathian Ski Club (KLK); George Sawchak, USCAK's tennis tournament director; George Hrabec representing the players, and Myron Stebelsky, USCAK's president.

"Zenko Snylyk's achievements on the athletic arena and in Ukrainian literary and educational sectors have sealed his name in history - his commitment to his native country only solidified his presence and contribution to America," Mr. Hrabec said. He added, "Let it be known that on this day your family, friends and fellow athletes came to bid you a final farewell - to thank you for enriching our lives with your wisdom, humor and love."

Almost 60 tennis players of various age groups participated in this year's tournament. The Ukrainian National Association sponsored the trophy awards. As in many previous years, the firm of Winner Group from Wilmington, Del., whose owner and president is John Hynansky, sponsored the financial stipends for the men's, women's and junior groups. This year the total amount of stipends was $3,500.

There were also special awards presented to the winners of various groups: the Bohdan Rak Trophy, Dr. Huk Trophy, Jaroslaw Rubel Trophy, Constantyn Ben Trophy, Dr. Charuk Trophy and the Mary Dushnyck sportsmanship Trophy.

In the men's group, Mark Oryskevich from Chicago defended last year's title by defeating Andrew Salak in a three-and-a-half-hour-long and sometimes controversial final by the score of 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4). In the semi-finals, Mr. Oryskevich won another long three-setter from Dennis Chorny, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3, while Mr. Salak advanced to the finals with George Charuk retiring in the second set due to a back injury, with the score being 7-5, 3-0 for Salak. The level of tennis played in this group was very high. In the quarterfinals Mr. Salak eliminated last year's finalist, Gordie Milchutske, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (1), and in the first round Mark Krasij 7-5, 6-3.

In the women's group, last year's finalist, Ann Marie Schumsky from West Hartford, Conn., won the title by defeating Maya Milanytch 6-0, 6-1. In the semifinals Ms. Schumsky won by the identical score from Asya Fedun, while Ms. Milanytch had to play three sets to overcome Luba Voinov 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.

The men's 35 group presented a repeat of last year's final with Adrian Kutko winning the title by defeating Andrij Charchalis 6-0, 6-3. In the semifinals Mr. Kutko beat Roman Cikalo 6-2, 6-2 and Mr. Charchalis defeated George Cikalo 6-1, 1-6, 6-1. The Cikalos playoff for third place went to George over Roman, 6-3, 7-5.

The final in the men's 45 group was a classic battle between two former champions, Ivan Durbak and Jaroslaw Sydorak, with Mr. Durbak winning a closely fought match by the score of 6-2, 7-6 (5). In the semifinals Mr. Durbak defeated another former champion Lew Worobkewych, 6-0, 6-2, and Dr. Sydorak eliminated George Petrykevych 7-5, 6-2, the latter opting to play in two age groups.

Mr. Petrykevych won the men's 55 group by reversing the outcome of last year's results and winning the finals from George Sawchak 6-4, 6-2. In the semifinals of this group, Mr. Petrykevych won a closely fought match from George Hrabec 6-4, 6-4 and Mr. Sawchak defeated Ihor Buhaj 6-2, 6-1.

In the women's 35 group Natalka Kachala took the title with a finals win over Svetlana Poleshchuk by the score of 6-1, 6-1.

There were two age groups in both the junior girls' and boys' divisions, with some players competing in two age groups. In the girls' groups there was a double winner, Maryana Milchutske from Holmdel, N.J. In the older group finals she defeated Alexandra Kachala 6-0, 6-1 to win the title. In the semifinals of this group Ms. Milchutske beat Tanya Petrykevych 6-0, 6-0, and Ms. Kachla beat Laura Diduch 7-6 (1), 6-0. Third place in this group went to Ms. Petrykevych.

In the younger group Ms. Milchutske once again won the final match over Ms. Petrykevych. She beat Laura Diduch in the semifinals 6-0, 6-0, while Ms. Petrykevych defeated Emilia Ferencevych 6-2, 6-1. The consolation trophy in this group went to Katrusia Charchalis.

Maryana Milchutske's older brother, Gordie, won the boy's older division, winning the finals over Dan Wasyluk 6-0, 6-1. In the semifinals he defeated Andrij Harasewych and Mr. Wasyluk beat Danilo Walchuk 6-1, 6-0. Third place in the group went to Mr. Walchuk.

Damian Petrykevych won the younger boy's group with the final win over Danilo Walchuk 6-1, 7-5 (Mr. Walchuk played in two groups). In the semifinals of the group Mr. Petrykevych beat Chrystyk Cholhan 6-1, 6-3, and Mr. Walchuk defeated Rema Cholhan 6-2, 6-2. The consolation trophy in this group went to Chrystyk Cholhan with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Oles Charchalis.

In men's consolation play Marko Krasij defeated his brother Oles 6-1, 6-1 to win the trophy. In senior consolation play George Walchuk won the event in the finals, when, with the score being 6-7, 2-0, Ihor Chuma retired.

The tournament committee selected Mr. Krasij to receive Mary Dushnyck's trophy for good sportsmanship and fine play during the tournament.

The rains that fell along the East Coast of the United States finally came to Soyuzivka on Monday morning, Labor Day, and the closing ceremonies were held on the soggy Soyuzivka tennis courts. Presenting the UNA-sponsored trophies and the special traveling trophies were Messrs. Popel, Hrabec, Rakoczy, Flis, Charuk and Sawchak, and Ms. Lisovich and Vira Popel.

On behalf of Winner Ford Group, Mr. Sawchak distributed stipends to winners and finalists of men's, women's and all junior groups, as well as to the men semifinalists.

Messrs. Popel and Sawchak thanked everyone for contributing to the tournament's success. UNA Treasurer Lisovich officially closed the 47th USCAK Tennis Tournament at Soyuzivka.

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