Y Mixed Doubles Team Headed to Nationals

Tensions were high in Lake Nona, Orlando, at the USTA National Campus on December 14 as the Marco Island YMCA’s 7.0 Mixed 55 and Over doubles tennis team won the Sectional championship in dramatic fashion, winning a 10-point tiebreaker, 14-12, over Escambia County. By winning Sectionals, the Marco team advances to the Nationals, to be held March 12-15 in Phoenix.

Team captain Ray Gauch was unable to accompany his team to Sectionals, though, as he was hospitalized here in Collier County. But it didn’t stop him from following the team from his hospital bed.

"I got sick a couple of days before,” Gauch said. "So, I couldn't go with my team.”

Gauch was greatly disappointed that he was unable to be there.

"Oh my gosh,” Gauch said, shaking his head. "I had a fever and the typical flu. But it was a very bad flu because I had to spend a couple of days in the hospital. The tournament was three days, and I watched it on my computer every day, and I felt a little bit better.”

A 10-point tiebreaker is won by the first team to win 10 points by a two-point margin. Imagine the thrill Gauch had watching his team playing an extra six points in the tiebreaker—even if it was from his hospital bed. He said hospital workers got caught up in the enthusiasm.

"I was yelling. Oh my gosh, yes!” Gauch said. "Everybody was very nervous about it.”

Gauch is proud of his team, comprised of Andrea Washak, Inge Lund, Andy Mintz, Deb Dorsey, Robert Jewett, Connie Johnson, Ben Yocom, Rick Lewis, and Mary Fischer.

"What a moment of pride for Marco Island,” Gauch said. “They achieved an extraordinary milestone.”

Gauch’s daughter, Andrea Washak, took her dad’s spot on the team. Washak is a former Sectionals champion and experienced multi-team captain.

In order to advance to Sectionals in Lake Nona, the Marco Y team had to first win Regionals, played against local teams. Gauch is proud of the success the team has enjoyed over the years.

“We’ve won the local league seven years in a row,” he said. "Every year we've won Regionals and went to Sectionals. Sometimes we reach the finals, sometimes not. And now we've won it. Lake Nona’s become our second home.”

For those not versed in tennis league lingo, a 7.0 mixed doubles team is made up of players whose combined USTA ranking equals 7.0. For example, it could be two 3.5 players or a 4.0 player and a 3.0 player.

“Players can only make one step up or down,” Gauch said, “not two.”

Gauch organizes round robins at the Y. That is where he finds talent for the league teams. He has had a number of different players on the 7.0 mixed doubles teams during their seven-year winning streak.

“The players are always changing,” he said, “because to win sectionals or even go to the sectionals, you always have very good players. And then they move up. We are a 3.5 league. And there are a lot of players who move up to 4.0. So, then we have to look for new players. And we do that. We play the round robins four times a week. I organize that and I'm always looking for new good players.”