Jim Johnson of Fremont, NE, teamed up with Kenneth Tharp of Lincoln, NE, in the USTA National Men’s 70 Indoor Championships in Houston, Texas, March 23-27 to win the Consolation Championship.

After losing their first match in the Main Draw (6-4, 6-1) to Alfred Hagan and John Wilkerson, both of Houston, TX (with an obvious unfair home court advantage!), they moved to the consolation bracket. In the round of 16, they defeated John Martin and Larry Plasek 6-3, 6-0. Martin and Plasek were also both from Houston, so Johnson and Tharp were able to overcome the home court advantage this time and post the win.

In the Quarterfinals, Johnson and Tharp played Bob Bobbitt of Encinitas, CA and Johnny Sanchez of San Diego, CA. After dropping the first set 3-6, they rallied and won the second set 6-4, and then a match tie-break 1-0(2).

After that, it was smooth sailing for the tough team of Johnson and Tharp. In the Semfinals, they ran over a New Jersey team of Mark Forrester of Moorestown, NJ, and James Rauch of Annadale, NJ, 6-1, 6-4. By the Final match, they were smoking, and captured the championship 6-2, 6-2 over Keith Hostetler of Gainesville, FL and William Vogt of Maunaloa, HI.

Johnson and Tharp also played in the Men’s 70 Singles draw. The singles didn’t go quite as well for them. Johnson lost the first round 6-4, 6-1 to Richard Andersen of Houston, TX (again the home court advantage!). In the first round of the consolation bracket, Johnson lost to William Vogt of Maunaloa, HI in a close match, 7-6(3), 6-3. Vogt ended up losing in the Semifinals in the singles. It was probably sweet revenge for Johnson and Tharp to then defeat Vogt and Hostetler in the doubles consolation Final.

Tharp made it to the Quarterfinals of the Singles main draw. In round one, he defeated Doyle Leslie of Austin, TX, who withdrew because of an injury. He then beat Leonard Lindborg of Laguana Beach, CA, 6-3, 6-2. Tharp gained another victory over William Wolff of Forth Worth, TX, 4-6, 5-2, when Wolff retired due to an injury. (Tharp is apparently rough on his oppontents!) Tharp then lost in the Quarterfinals 6-3, 6-4 to the 4th seed, Robert Quall of Meroed, CA. Quall ended up winning the championship match, so Tharp made a good showing.

Congratulations to Jim Johnson and Kenneth Tharp on some good wins, a consolation championship, and for making a name for Nebraska Tennis!