Holleran/Butcher Win Record Eighth Mixed Doubles Title
USSRA National Doubles
By Beth Rasin
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40s (L-R): Mary Repetto, Sara Luther and Fred Duboc (Finalists),
Sandy Worthington and Rich Sheppard (Winners)
“If it wasn’t clear before who is one of our best women’s doubles players ever, it should be now,” said Keen Butcher immediately after winning the finals of the 2002 National Mixed Doubles Championship at the Shore Racquet and Fitness Club in Somers Point, NJ. His commentary was not prompted by the fact that this was his eighth title with Demer Holleran, who now exceeds the old record of seven titles held by Joyce Davenport and by Gail Ramsay. Nor was Butcher referring to the fact that they recaptured the title this year after losing last year to Jessie Chai and Gary Waite. Rather, it had to do with the fact that Butcher, significantly hampered by an injured calf muscle suffered in first round play, had to rely heavily on his partner to carry their team to victory. If any player was up to shouldering that burden, it was Holleran, who now owns 35 National Championship titles (including four junior, three intercollegiate, six hardball, six softball, eight women’s doubles and eight mixed doubles titles).
Although the champions faced two doctors en route to the championship, none of the competition was able to capitalize on Butcher’s injury to topple the top seeds. In the semifinals, the West Coast team of physician Phoebe Trubowitz and Tony Catalan, Jr., took the seven-time champions to five games. Effectively freezing Catalan out of the match, Butcher and Holleran made Trubowitz hit most of the balls. Trubowitz, who has apparently taken up running in addition to squash, demonstrated deft hands as she kept her team in the match. However, no one in the game has better hands than Holleran; a rematch with one half of the pair that wrested the title away from her last year was the reward for keeping Catalan out of the match and Trubowitz at bay.
Open (L-R): Chuck Mattson, Demer Holleran and Keen Butcher (Winners),
Jessie Chai and Doug Lifford (Finalists), Mary Repetto
Jessie Chai, the other doctor in the draw, and her partner Doug Lifford, had an easier route to the finals, besting the No. 3 seeds, Jessica DiMauro and Alex Eiteljorg in three games. Lifford and Chai had faced the Butcher/Holleran duo several times in previous finals; last year, Chai partnered with the world’s best men’s doubles player to finally win the title.
It looked as though Chai might repeat as the No. 2 seeds won the first game 15-9 when Holleran found the tin more often than usual and Butcher seemed a bit tentative. The Butcher/Holleran duo quickly faced a 5-9 deficit in the second game. “At that point,” said Holleran, “we had to pick up our game if we were going to stay in the match. I started getting my shots above the tin and Keen really stepped up and became more aggressive.”
Despite the fact that he could not move backwards to cover balls that floated over his head, Butcher did an impressive job of covering his half of the court with cross-court volleys that kept the ball on the women’s side. Holleran, unused to handling the entire back half of the court, covered for her partner. After limited success shooting the ball when pulled out of position, Holleran adjusted by using the lob to great effect to keep the ball in play and give her time to return to her half of the court. When the ball was on the women’s side of the court, Chai did her best to keep the rail exchanges going. Inevitably, however, it was a losing battle as Holleran was able to force the opening more often than not. The top seeds turned the tide in the second game as they evened the match with a 15-11 game in their favor. Two more games on their side of the score sheet, 15-8, 15-10 and the team of Holleran/Butcher had secured themselves a particularly satisfying victory. “When I lose, I always wonder if I am ever going to win again,” said Holleran. “So after losing last year, and having to deal with Keen’s injury this year, it was really nice to win the title again.” Not to mention having staked their claim to being the winningest mixed doubles duo in US squash history.
The 40+ Mixed Doubles draw attracted several notable players and 15 teams. After dispatching Joyce Davenport and Rob Dinerman in a five-game semifinal, the husband/wife team of Sandy Worthington/Rich Sheppard took on Sara Luther and Fred Duboc in the finals. The Colorado team also survived a five game semifinal, eking out victory against Bostonians Molly Downer and Tom Poor. The finals proved less dramatic as Worthington/Sheppard won in three straight to take the title.
Thanks to sponsors Black Knight Fleet Bank and Tropicana Casino.
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