Mill Creek Tennis Team Crowned National Champs

FIRST PLACE: 6.0 Pacific Northwest (Mill Creek, Wash.) L to R: Enrique Rodriguez, Heather Waters, Christopher Tang, Cynthia Wyer (Captain), Ted Kim (Coach), Shannon Marie Corbett, Terry Ward, Patty Terhar, Rick Odom

SURPRISE, ARIZ., NOVEMBER, 16, 2014 – A mixed doubles tennis team from Mill Creek, Wash., representing the USTA Pacific Northwest Section, captured the national title at the USTA League Mixed 40 & Over 6.0 National Championships held at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex in Surprise, Ariz.

The Mill Creek team defeated a team from Gulfport, Miss., 3-0 in the Championship match. Earlier in the day, the Mill Creek team defeated a team from New Providence, N.J., 2-1 in the semifinals. They advanced this far by winning their round-robin flight contested Friday and Saturday.

The team is captained by Cynthia Wyer of Bothell, Wash., and coached by Ted Kim. The team features players Enrique Rodriguez (Kirkland), Heather Waters (Bothell), Christopher Tang (Woodinville), Shannon Marie Corbett (Mill Creek), Terry Ward (Bothell), Patty Terhar (Mill Creek), Rick Odom (Lake Stevens) and plays at the Mill Creek Country Club.

The top four teams in order of finish are: Pacific Northwest, Southern, Eastern and Hawaii.

Established in 1980, USTA League has grown from 13,000 participants in a few parts of the country in its first year, to over 820,000 players across the nation today, making it the world’s largest recreational tennis league.

USTA League was established to provide adult recreational tennis players throughout the country with the opportunity to compete against players of similar ability levels. Players participate on teams in a league format, which is administered by the USTA through its 17 Sections. The league groups players by using six National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) levels, ranging from 2.5 (entry) to 5.0 (advanced). USTA League is open to any USTA member 18 years of age or older.

Last year USTA League changed its structure and format. The change offers USTA League participant’s two divisions: Adult (18 & Over, 40 & Over and 55 & Over) and Mixed (18 & Over) to better align participants with players their own age. In 2014 a Mixed 40 & Over division was added. The restructuring guarantees more frequency of play opportunities at more appropriate age groups.

Head Penn Racquet Sports is in its 27th year as official ball of USTA League.

For more information about USTA League or the USTA, visit www.usta.com.