SEDONA, AZ The Northern Arizona Tennis Association (NAZ) hosted its 8th annual awards banquet Friday at the Vintages Restaurant in Rim Rock, AZ. Awards were presented to individuals in recognition of tennis accomplishments both on and off the courts.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION – JANA PERPICH (Flagstaff, AZ)
A special presentation was made to Jana Perpich of Flagstaff. She was recognized Saturday, October 27th in El Paso, TX as the Southwest Section (SWS) Volunteer of the Year. Perpich has served on over 10 USTA tennis committees the past decade, is a past president of NAZ, and directs a program that provides tennis instruction to over 900 Flagstaff school children year round.
TEACHING PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR – RICK GOLDWASSER (Flagstaff, AZ)
Goldwasser has tennis clinics operating in most of the Flagstaff Parks and Recreation centers as well as assisting Perpich in the on court implementation of the 10 & under tennis program in Flagstaff.
HIGH SCHOOL COACH OF THE YEAR – ANDREA MEYER (Cottonwood, AZ)
Meyer has been the girls tennis coach at Mingus Union High school in Cottonwood for the past 12 years and has almost always posted a winning record, coached many students to individual accomplishments in Arizona High School State competition and provided many other opportunities for her team to enhance their scholastic tennis experience.
FEMALE ADULT COMPETITIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – CHRIS FINEFROCK (Sedona, AZ)
Finefrock competed in 4 different United States Tennis (USTA) league programs this season, assisted in the organizing of several of those teams and is a recent new board of directors of NAZ.
MALE ADULT COMPETITIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – PACKY BAKER (Sedona, AZ)
Baker is the director of tennis at the Poco Diablo Resort in Sedona and posted the best player record on three different USTA teams in which he participated.
JUNIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR – ANDRE SCHREIBER (Sedona, AZ)
Schreiber is currently ranked #12 in the SWS boys 12 & under singles and was selected as a member of the SWS zonal team, posting the best singles record of the boys on that team in competition against other teams from across the country.
USTA LEAGUE CONTRIBUTOR – JOHN KOLODY (Flagstaff, AZ)
Kolody has been a very successful USTA captain of over 30 teams over the years and has been a part of several teams that have advanced to USTA sectional championships.
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR – MEL LEVINE (Sedona, AZ)
Levine created tennis programs for senior players as a member at Poco Diablo Resort, is spearheading a new Community Tennis Association in Sedona and served as the NAZ treasurer for three years.
FAMILY OF THE YEAR – THE SCHREIBER FAMILY (Sedona, AZ)
The Schreiber Family has all three of their children in USTA tournament competition, is home schooling them so more time can be spent on their tennis development, and all three children make straight A’s in their scholastic work.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN OFFICIATING – RICHARD BOZEAT (Prescott, AZ)
Bozeat has been a certified USTA official for over 45 years and has served as an umpire (chair, line) in some of the most historic professional tennis matches of the tennis open era, including the first US OPEN in 1968 and 25 other US OPEN tournaments.
This was a very exciting gathering of individuals at this year’s banquet” said NAZ president Larry Lineberry. “All of these recipients are very deserving of their recognition. NAZ is proud to highlight their achievements and we are all looking forward to a great year of tennis in Northern Arizona in 2013.
The new 2013 Board of Directors for NAZ was announced at the banquet. The new members include: Ron Barron of Prescott; Jan Blackman of Flagstaff; Lisa Cook of Prescott; Chris Finefrock of Sedona; Chris Howard of Prescott; Larry Lineberry of Sedona; Liz Murietta of Prescott; Jana Perpich of Flagstaff; Jonathan Pryzbyl of Prescott and Scott Weber of Flagstaff.
NAZ is one of 7 districts in the SWS which is one of 17 sections which make up the USTA.
(2012 NAZ Annual Awards Banquet Program)
Larry Lineberry
Co-President, USTA NAZ District
USPTA Master Professional
928-300-5394