Evening star., 1953-01-11
Youth Accent Found
With Young Players
High Among Leaders
By Cospor Nonnes

Gray, both OF Washington
headed the 1852 mems and wom-'
ems singles rankings of the
Middle Atlantic Tennis ASsocia-
tion announced at the annual
meeting yesterday.
Kovaleski paired with Fred
McNair of Washington and Mrs.
Gray teamed with Charlotte
Decker Of Washington to top the
doubles rankings for men and
women.
The tall Kovaleski, formerly of
Hamtramck, Mich, succeeded
Malcolm Fox of Baltimore in the
No. ! spot. Fox is in the Army
and did not play competitive
tennis last summer.
Obvious Choice for Spot.
The one-time William and
Mary College star was an obvious
choice for the lead position.
KovaleSki swept through both
the City of Washington and Dis
trict of Columbia championships
without encountering serious OPP
position, and then reached the
Semifinal round of the Middle
Atlantic Grass Court Champion
ships at the Baltimore Country
Club. There he lost to Richard
Savitt, former Australian and
Wimbledon champion, in a we'll
played four-set match. He did
not play in the Middle Atlantic
clay court event here.
Mrs. Gray returned to her top
position in the Women'S event by
winning both the Middle Atlantic
and District of Columbia tourna-
ments. Miss Decker. placed No. 2.
was runner-up in both events.
Last years No. / player. Mary
Slaughter of Charlottesville. Va.
was unranked because she did not
play in the required number OF
Middle Atlantic tournaments.
Accent on Youth Shown.
The rankings show a sharp |
change in the complexion of !
mems tennis in the area, and
with it an accent on youth that |
assures stimulating action for
the future. The five players fol-
lowing Kovaleski are either 2l |
years old or younger. They are |
Edwin Wesley of Washington,
Delnar Sylvia and Bobby Payne
of Richmond, and Tim Coss and
Ted Rogers of Washington.
Wesley, winner of the Middle
Atlantic clay court title, was un-
ranked because of insufficient |
data last year but was No. 13 in |
1850 Sylvia jumped from No. 6
in 1851 to No. 3: Payne from |
28th place to fourth, and Coss
from seventh place to fifth.
Rogers, national junior cham
plon in 1851, was unranked here
last year .
James j. Thackara, who has
at one time or another held all
the local major titles. dropped
from fourth to seventh. Others
in the new first 10 are Hugh
Lynch and Fred McNair. Wash
ington. and Bernie Schrieber of
Baltimore.
Barney Welsh Omitted.
Barney Welsh. perennial Wash
ington standout. was left out
a local ranking for the first
time in many years. Welsh,
omitted because he did not play
singles last summer. was second
in 1851. Don Leavens, another
longtime local star, dropped
sharply from No 3 in the 1851
rating to No. IL in the present
listing.
Alfred J. Dickinson of Rich
mond, Va, was elected president |
of the association at the meet i
ing. which was held at the CO.
lumbia Country Club. The So
year-old Virginian is vice presi- !
dent of the Virginia Carolina /
Chemical Corp. and is a member /
of the Country Club of Virginia. /
A native of Eufaula, Ala, he is
a graduate of the University of !
Richmond. He was captain of .
the schools 1887 team that won
20 out of 81 matches. He sue
ceedS Herbert Stansbury of |
Beckley, w. Va.
Other officers elected were w.
E. Lamble, jr. of Baltimore, first !
vice president; Caspar Names
of Washington. second vice presi-
dent; A. o. White of Washing
ton, secretary. and Frank G..
Roberts of Baltimore, treasurer. !
Mr.. White was elected for the |
fifth consecutive time and Mrs. |
Roberts for the goth consecutive
time.
Executive Committee members
chosen were w. Owen Hohen-
stein. for District of Columbia;
Walter E. Beuchelt. Maryland: |
Richard Spindel. Virginia, and |
V. B. Harris. West Virginia. |
Clarence E. Dawson of Wash |
ington was selected as sectional |
delegate to the United States |
Lawn Tennis Association.
Association Has SO Clubs.
Mr.. White reported that the
association-covering Maryland,
Virginia. West Virginia and the
District of Columbia-now has SO |
clubs. schools and colleges as
members with 7,439 players. |
Five years ago there were 80 |
club members and 3,270 mem |
bers in the association.
A cup donated by Courtland
Ferguson of Washington as
perpetual trophy will be
awarded. starting next year, to
an association player for good |
sportsmanship. progress in the
game. or contribution to the
sport during each year. A COM
mittee will be chosen to make
the award.
The rankings:
Mems Singles: l. Fred Kovaleski; ., |
Edwin Wesley; 2. Delmsr Sylvia; Rich |