Here are the results of this year’s Sunflower State Games held in Topeka on July 17 and 18.
MEN’S DOUBLES SKILL GROUPS
4.5, 5.0 Men’s Doubles
Gold – Tavon Morrow and Zack Taylor
Silver – Ashok Peri and Surya Rao
Bronze – Dan Quach and Gerry High
4.0 Men’s Doubles
Gold – Barry Fishman and Tyler Richard
Silver – Cole Dister and Devon Fuller
Bronze – Justin McClung and Ramon Lozano
3.0, 3.5 Men’s Doubles (3.5)
Gold – Daniel Gray and Danny Knapp
Silver – Ed McMurphy and Jim Bruton
Bronze – John Cole and Scott Wolford
3.0, 3.5 Men’s Doubles (3.0)
Gold – Jerry Lammers and Mike Dalrymple
WOMEN’S DOUBLES SKILL GROUPS
4.5 Women’s Doubles
Gold – Amanda Cervantes and Kayla Keuter
Silver – Suparna Garinger and Tricia Skibell
Bronze – Chandi Bongers and Kim Knotts
4.0 Women’s Doubles
Gold – Karly Williams and Liz Sharp
Silver – Allie Callahan and Amber Steele
Bronze – Jody Vinson and Karen Fox
3.5 Women’s Doubles
Gold – Jenny Cole and Michelle Pease
Silver – Amy Poynter and Sarah Johnico
Bronze – Heather DeVore and Rachael Cady
3.0 Women’s Doubles
Gold – Dawn Hardy and Deb Tenpenny
Silver – Rossi Petrova and mom
Bronze – Anne Jarriel and Jana Dolbear
MIXED DOUBLES SKILL GROUPS
4.5, 5.0 Mixed Doubles (5.0)
Gold – Andrea Haas and Zack Taylor
4.5, 5.0 Mixed Doubles (4.5)
Gold – Kelsy Schimmel and Ryan Brandt
Silver – Suparna Garinger and Surya Rao
Bronze – Greta Siemens and Scott Wolford
4.0 Mixed Doubles
Gold – Kat Tomlin and Ramon Lozano
Silver – Justin McClung and Sharon Steimel
Bronze – Devon Fuller and Virgen Moreno
3.5 Mixed Doubles
Gold – Ian Wright and Liz Sharp
Silver – Cheryl Haefele and Michael Chico
Bronze – Kevin Homan and Leslie Bloom
3.0 Mixed Doubles
Gold – Andy and Elle Betz
Silver – Glynis and Scooter Kickhaefer
Bronze – Carol Stephens and Ron Dultmeier
Brian and I came up to Topeka on Saturday afternoon and I got to watch some of the women’s doubles play. I believe the men’s doubles had pretty much wrapped by the time we got there. There weren’t a lot of teams this year. Many of the 5.0 players that I’ve come to expect at these tournaments were notably absent. I’m not sure if there was a special event going on during this same weekend. I know some of our top guys were playing in a round robin at Riverside Tennis Center in Wichita on Saturday afternoon but I’m pretty sure that was scheduled well after SSG was announced.
I really liked that this was an indoor tournament played on an outdoor court playing surface. I would totally play in it next year. The main downside of the tournament is the lack of participation from higher level players.
Part of the fun of attending tournaments, besides playing in them, is being able to watch the skilled players battle it out on the court so when they don’t play the tournament really loses its appeal for me. Will have to figure out a way to ensure that this tournament is well-attended next year because I really do want to play in it.