2025 July in Review - D.F.O. Player of the Year Preview!
- D.F.O. Editorial Staff
- Jul 12
- 4 min read
In our second July post, we'll break down who is in the running for several high-profile almost non-existent D.F.O. awards! And as the USTA season is all but complete for most leagues - though there are a few that have some regular season action left going forward into August - what better time to look at who may be taking home some post-season accolades then when you are seven months through the year?!
Links
D.F.O. Awards
As everyone - and we mean EVERYONE - knows, there are several post-season awards that are invisibly handed out by D.F.O to worthy nominees who have played at least one season of 3.0 tennis and are computer-rated (sorry self-rated 3.0 stars!). But in case you somehow forgot, here they are!
3.0er of the Year
Traditionally - though not always - given out to the 3.0er with the most wins in all of O-H-I-O it's traditionally - and almost always - given out to the fella with all the wins! Usually. Ahem.
Singles Player of the Year
Given to the player with the most singles wins on the season, if there's a tie the question becomes what is valued more - tournament wins or playoff wins? OR BOTH?!
Doubles Player of the Year
You guessed it! This award is handed out to the player with the most tag-team wins on the year!
Doubles Team of the Year
Probably the most contested award the D.F.O. hands out, the D.F.O. Voting Panel often has to weight regular season versus playoff season versus tournament play in determining the winner of this coveted team award! As such, it's the one award where straight-up numerical wins may not be enough but rather the IMPORT of those wins!
Captain of the Year
Given to the guy - or gal! - who has led their club to the most success on the season. Usually this is overall wins, but championships - District, State, or Sectional - can often weigh heavy on the minds of the D.F.O. Voting Panel
Special 3.0er of the Year
A favorite of the D.F.O. Voting Panel, this could literally go to anyone or anything. A club that's never had playoff success suddenly having success? Sure! A 70 year old winning a tournament? Why not? A guy playing for two clubs at the same time even though that seems impossible? You betcha!
Potential Nominees*
*Stats as of mid-July
3.0er of the Year
NEO
Michael Curtis (North Canton R.C.), 14-2D
Trip Herbruck (Mayfield Village R.C.), 15-3D
Jerome Hill (NCRC), 15-2D
Adnan Kazazic (Medical Mutual), 14-2D
Ravi Krishran (MVRC), 17-3D
Alexander Khaykin (MVRC), 16-4D
Doug Michelson (Paramount Westlake), 18-4D
Noah Ritchey (NCRC), 14-2S
Sayyad Bajee Sheik (Paramount Medina), 12-5S, 3-1D = 15-6O
Abe Waziri (MM), 11-2S, 5-0D = 16-2O
NWO
Kristopher Keating (Twos Athletic Club), 8-0D
Eric Kielhorn (Twos), 9-1S
Ajay Padhye (Southview H.S.), 9-0S
OHVA
Eric Lute (Five Seasons C.C.), 18-3D
Rahul Nair (FSCC), 2-0S, 14-5D = 16-5O
Singles Player of the Year
NEO
Noah Ritchey (NCRC), 14-2S
Sayyad Bajee Sheik (PM), 12-5S, Midwest Independence Tournament Champion
Abe Waziri (MM), 11-2S, Midwest Sectional 18+ Tournament Champion
NWO
Eric Kielhorn (Twos), 9-1S
Tony Mazzarella (Perrysburg T.C.), 9-3S
Ajay Padhye (SHS), 9-0S
OHVA
Rizwan Hamid (FSCC), 5-0S
Rob Hagelberg (Schroeder T.C.), 6-3S
Eric Lowman (FSCC), 9-3S
Doubles Player of the Year
NEO
Michael Curtis (NCRC), 14-2D
Trip Herbruck (MVRC), 15-3D
Jerome Hill (NCRC), 15-2D
Adnan Kazazic (MM), 14-2D
Ravi Krishran (MVRC), 17-3D
Alexander Khaykin (MVRC), 16-4D
Doug Michelson (PW), 18-4D
NWO
Kris Keating (Twos), 8-0D
Conner Senn (PTC), 9-0D
OHVA
Alan Armitage (FSCC), 11-4D
Eric Lute (FSCC), 18-3D
Rahul Nair (FSCC), 14-5D
Doubles Team of the Year
NEO
Michael Curtis & Jerome Hill (NCRC), 13-2D
Dustin Fox & Chris Gnadt (Springside), 4-0D, Midwest NTRP 18+ Doubles Tournament Champions
Trip Herbruck & Alexander Khaykin (MVRC), 6-2D
Santos Suarez & Ben Zagorski (North Ridge), 8-2D
Ashish Sharma & Sanket Shah (Western Reserve), 3-0D, We Love Doubles Tournament Champions
OHVA
Alan Armitage & Bill Pierson (FSCC), 6-2D
Eric Lute & Rahul Nair (FSCC), 8-1D
Captain of the Year
NEO
Eric Bissell (La Tuchie)
Robert Corts (North Ridge)
David Parsons (MM)
Noah Ritchey (NCRC)
Puranjay Samantaray (MM)
NWO
Kris Keating (Twos)
James Jacobs (SHS)
OHVA
Alan Armitage (FSCC)
Tim Stewart (STC)
Special 3.0er of the Year
This award is so special not even WE know who may be up for this one just yet!
All of these folks above - and possibly some not even listed! - are potential nominees to earn D.F.O. recognition BUT there's still plenty left to play for! Indeed, there are one - maybe two?! - 3.0 tournaments left. Not to mention the 3.0 playoffs which take place in August through October. Then there may even be a fall league for all we know! So check back in November when the official nominations are posted ... GET EXCITED!
Comments