SIKESTON -- The 12th Annual Ed Nunnelee Memorial Tennis Tournament wrapped up on Sunday on the Sikeston High School and Sikeston Country Club courts.
"I would like to thank all the sponsors," said organizer Tom Nunnelee. "There was no major sickness or injuries and there was a lot of great tennis. All-in-all, I think it was the best tournament we've had."
The tournament had 115 entries this year, and started with junior play on Friday morning. After a full day on Saturday, the event wrapped up last night with Men's B Doubles.
"We didn't have any problems on the courts," said organizer Lee Shell. "I was very impressed with the juniors' etiquette and how they handled themselves. There were no arguments about line calls or anything like that. It was a very smooth tournament."
There were a few surprises this year, such as the performance Todd Tilghman in Men's Open Singles. The Union City, Tenn., native upset top-seeded Shane Anderson in the semifinals 6-2, 6-4, then bested Stephen Pobst in the finals, 6-4, 6-4.
Anderson had won the bracket six years in a row.
"Todd was the better player this weekend," said Shell. "He got to the finals last year, and Shane beat him in the finals, so it was a turnabout. It made for good, quality tennis."
Pobst reached the finals by defeating Troy Bell in the semis 6-4, then Bell retired.
"I was most impressed with Stephen," said Nunnelee. "Todd Tilghman beat Shane Anderson, who was our number one seed, in straight sets. When Stephen played him, he was in the match the whole time. I also watched him in the doubles, and it was something to see his level rise up to all these guys. I think UMSL has got a good, young prospect on their hands."
Sikeston's Bill Bradley won the Men's A Singles with impressive wins over Ken Anderson and Joe Navakal. In the semifinals, Bradley defeated Anderson 6-3, 6-1.
Navakal defeated Tim Flatt 6-4, 6-4 in the other semifinal, then Bradley toppled Navakal in the finals, 6-3, 7-5.
"Bill and Joe Navakal had played each other five times," explained Shell. "When they play indoors, Joe wins. When they play outdoors, Bill Bradley wins. He's small on his feet and he moves real well. Heat doesn't both him as much as Joe, who has a bigger frame. The heat today was a factor in that match."
The Men's B Singles championship will be played by Peter Jones and Ish Patel later this week. Jones reached the finals by defeating Joe Recker in the semis 6-3, 5-7, 7-5.
Patel blanked Don Alker in the semis 6-0, 6-0.
Shane Anderson and Stephen Pobst teamed up to win the Men's Open Doubles. In the semifinal round, they defeated Joe Childress and Joe Navakal 6-1, 6-2. In the finals, they beat Troy Bell and Bill Bradley 6-4, 6-3.
"Troy Bell has been sick for most of the week," said Shell. "He wasn't at full mast today."
Bell and Bradley reached the finals by beating Bill Dannke and Todd Tilghman in the semis, 6-3, 6-4.
In the Men's B Doubles, Greg Colwick and Joe Childress played Ken Campbell and John Davie for the championship.
Colwick and Childress reached the finals with a 6-1, 6-3 win over David and Gabe Potashnick in the semifinals. Campbell and Davie qualified with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Joe Smith and Bill Dahnke.
Barbara Nkomazana won the women's open singles, defeating Jorgina Wulfers in the finals, 7-6, 6-2. Nkomazana reached the finals by beating Ali Wulfers in the semifinals 6-2, 6-2. In the other semifinal, Jorgina Wulfers bested Pat Carter 6-2, 6-2.
"We had some excellent women players," said Shell. "Barbara is in college up in Illinois, and Jorgina is in college down in Tennessee. They put on a real good match for us. Everybody here really enjoyed their play."
In the semifinals, Amanda Wittenburg and Megan Bridges defeated Pat and Shanna Carter, 6-3, 6-3. Barbara Nkomazana and Rhiana Wunderlich defeated Mary Bey and Annette Slattery in the other semifinal, 6-1, 6-3.
Nkomazana and Wunderlich won the championship by default.
In the semifinals, Jorgina and Steve Wulfers defeated Jay Roberts and Barbara Nkomazana 6-1, 6-0. Pat Carter and Greg Colwick defeated Peter Jones and Elizabeth Killion 6-1, 6-2. Carter and Colwick won the championship by default.