Soyuzivka hosts 2004 USCAK national tennis championship (10/03/04)

Soyuzivka hosts 2004 USCAK national tennis championship

by Petrusia Sawchak

KERHONKSON, N.Y. - The breathtaking beauty of the Shawangunk Mountains provided a picturesque backdrop for the national tennis tournament of the Ukrainian Sports Federation of the U.S.A. and Canada (USCAK) held at Soyuzivka, the Ukrainian National Association estate.

Since its inception in 1956, USCAK has held tennis tournaments every Labor Day weekend and they continue to attract good tennis players from around the country.

This year there were 67 entrants in the tournament. Many of the participants return year after year to Soyuzivka and form lasting friendships with each other. Newcomers from Ukraine are also becoming part of the scene and adding a new dimension to the tournament.

UNA Treasurer Roma Lisovich officially opened both the tennis and swimming events on Saturday afternoon. Roman Rakoczy Sr., one of the original organizers of this tournament, greeted the players. Myron Stebelsky, USCAK's president, spoke of the 80th anniversary this year of both the Carpathian Ski Club (known by its Ukrainian acronym as KLK) and Chornomorska Sitch, and lauded their contributions to the Ukrainian American sport scene. Representing the host club, KLK, George Popel also welcomed everyone to the 49th USCAK tennis tournament.

The Ukrainian National Association has been the major supporter of this national tennis tournament since it was started many years ago. The organization has shown its backing in a number of ways, including the trophy awards that are presented to the winners each year.

The tournament is further enhanced by the generosity of John Hynansky, entrepreneur, philanthropist and owner of the Winner Group Inc. Wilmington, Del. As in the past Mr. Hynansky provided financial stipends to the winners in the men's, women's and junior groups in the amount of approximately $4,000 annually. The Winner Group Inc. represents 24 companies, 12 of which are auto dealerships in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as Ukraine.

The winner of the men's final was Eric Matkiwsky of New Jersey who overcame Rostyslav Orach 6-2, 6-2. Matkiwsky returned to Soyuzivka after a nine-year hiatus. He returned with a determination to win and that he did. His game was powerful and precise. As a very young man, Matkiwsky was the champion of the men's division from 1986 through 1988. Orach left Lviv in 1991 and currently lives in New York City. He has played professional tennis, competing in matches on the European circuit. This is his first tourney at Soyuzivka, but he promises to return next year.

In the semis, Matkiwsky defeated past champion Dennis Chorny 6-2, 6-4, and Orach overcame last year's winner George Charuk 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in a long, heated battle. These matches were among the best in the entire tournament.

Last year's women's winner, 14-year-old Maryana Milchutske, originally from Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, won both the women's and girls' final without losing a single set. In the women's final Milchutske beat former champion Ann Marie Shumsky of Connecticut 6-0, 6-0. In the semis, Milchutske eliminated Katrusia Charchalis 6-0, 6-0, and Shumsky beat Tanya Petrykevych 6-0, 6-1.

In the men's age 35 and over division Andrij Charchalis of Maryland emerged victorious by defeating Mykola Nalywayko of Pennsylvania 6-0, 5-7, 6-0. Charchalis is a familiar face on Soyuzivka's courts over the years. He was a counselor at the Soyuzivka tennis camps and later played many tennis tournaments here. He now brings his children to the resort to do the same. Newcomer Nalywayko vowed to participate in tournaments in years to come.

The classic battle of champions continues between Jaroslaw Sydorak of California, 11-time winner in various groups, and five-time men's champion Ivan Durbak of New Jersey. This year Durbak won his fourth tournament in the men's age 45 and over division by defeating Sydorak in the finals 6-2, 6-2. In the semis Durbak advanced by defeating Roman Shumsky 6-4, 6-4, and Sydorak beat Lubodar Olesnycky 6-0, 6-1.

One of the largest men's divisions was the age 55 and over event, which drew four former champions. In the finals George Sawchak of Pennsylvania, 16-time winner in various groups, overcame last year's champion, Jaroslaw Sydorak, 6-4, 6-4, the latter opting to play in two age groups. In the semifinals Sawchak eliminated former tournament winner George Petrykevych of Connecticut 6-3, 6-3, and Sydorak eliminated George Hrabec of Massachusetts 6-2, 6-3. In the quarterfinals Hrabec won 6-4, 2-1, ret. when Zenon Matkiwsky, many times a former USCAK champion withdrew because of injury.

In the older boys' division final Lawrence Zakrevsky defeated last year's winner, Mykola Stroynick, 6-1, 6-0. In the semis he overcame Steve Shumsky 6-0, 6-3, and Stroynick beat Damian Petrykevych 6-3, 6-4. The younger boys' group played in a round-robin format with Oles Charchalis defeating both Gregory Olesnycky 6-1, 6-1 and Alexander Hryhorowych 6-2, 6-1. Hryhorowych won second place.

Maryana Milchutske won her second title in the older girls' division eliminating Lana Denysyk 6-0, 6-0. In the semis Milchutske beat Katrusia Charchalis 6-1, 6-0, and Denysyk overcame Tanya Petrykevych 6-0, 6-7, 6-3. Charchalis also competed in the younger girls' division, winning first place, and Denysyk took second place.

In the senior men's consolation draw, the winner was Walter Dziwak who won the final against Peter Dubas 6-2, 6-1. Dziwak, a familiar face at Soyuzivka, competes in all the tournaments here year after year.

The tennis committee awarded the coveted Mary Dushnyck Good Sportsmanship Trophy to Miss Charchalis for her outstanding participation in the tourney.

During the closing ceremonies Stefan Kaczaraj, president of the UNA, thanked the players and tournament directors, and urged everyone to continue their patronage of Soyuzivka during its renaissance. Presenting the trophies and Winner Group stipends were the tournament director Mr. Sawchak, members of the tennis committee: Messrs. Popel, Hrabec, Rakoczy and Kaczaraj and Petrusia Sawchak.

Memorial trophies were awarded as follows: men's - Bohdan Rak Trophy; men's 35 - Jaroslaw Rubel Trophy; men's 45 - Dr. Wolodymyr Huk Trophy; men's 55 - Dr. Petro Charuk Trophy; and women's - Konstantyn Ben Trophy.

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