Andy Pawlowski posted on February 27, 2012 06:23
2012 Florida State Singles Championships
more state singles photos
The 2012 Florida State Singles Championships took place at the 6 court Sarasota Bath & Racquet Club main facility and the 6 court Sarasota YMCA on February 17-19, 2012. The Saturday night awards banquet was held at the Ramada Sarasota.
There were 148 participants competing in 34 skill and age singles divisions. The finals and other key matches were viewable online via live streaming video and audio made available at the FRA website.
This year’s Men’s Open division had 24 competitors in the draw. The open final was a repeat of the 2008 match-up. It had the 6 seed Allan Engel defeating the 2009, 2010, 2011 champion Mike Harmon, 15-13 , 7-15 , 11-4.
The Florida men’s draw was deep this year. At age 30 and the #26 ranked player in the country, Harmon had to defeat Loren Hirvela, Aaron Metcalf, and Andres Ramirez just to get into the final.
Engel, at age 38 defeated Kevin List, Wes Miller, and the #43 ranked Vinny Carvallo to set up the championship battle against Harmon. Carvallo took the 3rd place bronze medal.
The Women’s Open division included 8 competitors in the draw. The open final had the 3 seed Sara Noyes defeating the 2011 champion Janet Tyler, 15-13 , 7-15 , 11-7.
Noyes, ranked #157 nationally, defeated Claudia Andrade and Diana Garza on her path to the state championship. Tyler, ranked #112, defeated Deborah Galvanek and Melody Butler to make it to the final. Butler took the 3rd place bronze medal.
This result made for the fourth different Florida women’s state champion in the last four years.