Local senior men are tennis champions
Seniors win 3.5 USTA national championship
BY Ryan Schleicher – SUN NEWSPAPERS
Age is nothing but a number and the men who were crowned the 2012 3.5 Senior United State Tennis Association (USTA) national champions in Indian Wells, California are living proof.
The 2012 National Championship Senior Men’s Champions from Fridley. Left to right, Eric Narvaez, Boy Toy (Captain), Frank Spanish, Thomas Yue, Leon Narvaez, Peter Haan, Tom Galvin, Dale Patrick Chilton, Dale Chilton, Jr.
The team who is based out of Fridley and managed by 77-year-old Boy Toy is composed of eight members — all of who are over the age of 50. Toy, who is no stranger to the national level had been there six times previous but was never able to advance past round-robin pool play — until this year.
Toy and his team represented the Northern Section (Minnesota, Dakota’s, Western Wisconsin) in the tournament and defeated teams all throughout the United States en route to their national championship. Toy’s team defeated the Southwest Section in the semi-finals 2-1 and then proceeded to blow away Northern California in the finals by defeating them 2-1.
“We did not have any stars. They all chipped in. It’s a team win. I’m so proud of every one on my team,” exclaimed Toy after their victory. This is the first championship for a northern section team since this tournaments inception in 1980.
Members who compose the 2012 3.5 Senior USTA championship team include Dale Chilton (South St. Paul), Tom Galvin (Minneapolis), Peter Haan (Hastings), Eric Narvaez (St. Paul), and Leon Narvaez (Northfield), Frank Spanish (Savage), Boy Toy (Mounds View), and Tom Yue (St. Paul).
The 2012 National Championship Senior Men’s Champions from Fridley. Left to right, Eric Narvaez, Boy Toy (Captain), Frank Spanish, Thomas Yue, Leon Narvaez, Peter Haan, Tom Galvin, Dale Patrick Chilton, Dale Chilton, Jr.
