Contributed by Loretta DeWalt:

Net Play December 2006 Issue

• “Smash for Cancer” Tournament: Northwood Racquet and Fitness Club sponsored the “Smash for Cancer” Tennis Tournament this past August. Friday, August 25th opening ceremonies included first round matches followed by a luminary lighting ceremony around the Northwood courts. Players, family members and spectators purchased luminary bags in memory of or to honor those who have or have survived cancer. Guitar and keyboard background music was played as the bags were lit. Perhaps the most memorable moment was when David Shook, Lehigh University Tennis Coach and tournament player, lit 40 luminaries, shaped in a heart, on center court which he purchased in honor of his wife, Elaine, who is presently fighting the battle. It was a moving experience for all. Everyone participating knew humility in their heart and why they were playing...not for the Win but for the Battle. Courts and memberships for winners were donated by Northwood. The Lehigh Valley Tennis Association provided food and local businesses sponsored gifts for prizes. The Northwood “Smash for Cancer” tournament raised $1,300.00 for Relay for Life.

(174 words; photo is being sent electronically…note, if Shook Heart comes out too dark, please select one of the other 3 winner photos: Reutinger/Dalusio, Bloch/Exley or Davidowich/Kielhofer)
• Alzheimer Patients Love Tennis: Using kid’s racquets, a short court, foam balls and Bozo as a target, Kimberly Nolan runs a tennis program for patients at Westminster Alzheimer’s Day Care Program in Allentown. Included are exercises for stretching and strengthening as well as tossing and serving the balls and hitting volleys. 
(51 words; photo 50120784210 Alzheimer is being sent electronically)

• Junior Team Tennis 14’s 2006 Championship: Sunday, July 16th, Westend Racquet Club hosted the Junior Team Tennis Championships for 14 and under. Teams competed in a round-robin format and included: 2 teams from Reading, the Fromuth Aces and the Fromuth Slammers, both coached by Craig Cronrath; a team from Stroudsburg coached by Prasad Mahadev; and a team from Westend coached by Renee Lentz and Chris Beck. The Fromuth Aces were the champs and moved on to the Sectional Championships in Princeton, NJ. Thanks to Bruce Kisthardt who coordinated the event and to Barb VanBuskirk, the tournament director. It was a great day for all involved.

(106 words; photo titled Westend 14 is being sent electronically: Fromuth Aces-Coach Craig Cronrath; Players-Alisa Gleason, Nolan Perugini, Lindsey Shields, Patrick Shields, Kay Woodward, Zach Simon)

• EPD Teams to Nationals: Established to provide adult recreational tennis players throughout the country the opportunity to compete against players of similar ability and piloted in Middle States in 1979 prior to receiving national status in 1980, the USTA League Tennis celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2005. This year, 3 EPD Men’s teams advanced to Nationals. The Hillcrest 4.5 team, captained by Don Hutchison and the Westend 4.0 team, captained by Juan DeLuna, traveled to Hawaii. In addition, captain Joe McKeown’s 4.5 senior team from Hillcrest advanced to Nationals in Tucson, Arizona. Let’s hear it for the EPD men!

(99 words)

• Lehigh Valley Tennis Classic (LVTC): This was the 12th year for the LVTC which was held at Lehigh University in Bethlehem. Twenty-five players participated in the regular match play. The 6th Annual One-up/One-down was held on Friday night during the tournament. Many local stand-up players, including 16 this year, come back every year to participate. The wheelchair players find the Up-Down a good warm-up for their regular match play and the Up-players are impressed with the level of competition they get from Down-players. Winners include … Men's A Singles: Tarek Zohdi; Men's B Singles: Dylan Levine; Men's C Singles: Don Haynie; Men's A doubles: Burns/Zohdi; Men's B doubles: Levine/Mancuso.

(110 words; photo titled LVTC Wheelchair 2006 is being sent electronically)
Included in photo: the LVTC tennis committee and several players with their Service Dogs. In rear from left to right: Sammy (Service Dog), Linda Bollinger, Pam Amelio, Corrisa Mace, Rachel Amelio, Marvin Hill.
In front seated: Larry Soular, John Kistner, Bob Amelio (TD), Bear (Service Dog), Shelia Costanzi.

• EPD Junior Featured in Sports Illustrated: Ryan Knarr, Robesonia, PA, a ranked junior player, was mentioned in the August 28th edition of Sports Illustrated in the “Faces In The Crowd” section for his achievements at the 2006 Keystone State Games. He won a record 3 gold and 2 silver medals at the 2006 Keystone State Games held in York, PA, July 25 through July 30, 2006. His wins included the boys’ 18s singles, 18s doubles and mixed doubles and he placed second in the 18s mixed doubles and men’s open doubles. Ryan was also chosen by the Keystone Games Tennis Committee for the Tennis Sport Award for the 2006 Games. The Keystone State Games are annually held multi-sport competitions giving PA amateur athletes the opportunity to compete against athletes throughout the state.

(133 words; photo IMGP0955 Ryan with his 5 Medals and Tennis Sport Award is being sent electronically)


• USTA/DR: The tournament was held at Valley Tennis and Swim Club on August 12th. The Parkhurst twin brothers continued the Parkhurst tradition at Valley Tennis and Swim Club by competing in the tournament finals like their father and uncle. George Parkhurst was Champion with Harry Parkhurst Runner-Up in the boys 14 and under. Other tournament winners included: Anthony Laurencio, Champion and Christopher Nagele, Runner-Up in the boys 12s; Kendra Coker, Champion and Brittany Stanton, Runner-Up in the girls 12s; Carolin Mueser, Champion in the girls 14s; Mark Covert, Champion and Fred Hockenbury, Runner-Up in the boys 16s; Aurora Davis, Champion and Stephanie Miller, Runner-Up in the girls 16s; Thomas Misiolek, Champion and Ryan Baxter, Runner-Up in the boys 18s.

(120 words; photos titled Aug 12 Monick tournament boys (George Parkhurst, Champion and Harry Parkhurst, Runner-Up in the boys 14 and under) and Aug 12 Monick girls (Stephanie Miller, Runner-Up and Aurora Davis, Champion in the girls 16 and under) are being sent electronically)

• Summer Youth Recreational Tennis Program: Over 40 players participated in each of the 2 sessions held this past summer at the JFK tennis courts in Pottsville. As per Bob Wakiyama, program director, the program was held on the courts that were resurfaced last year with the help of a USTA/MS grant.

(52 words; photo titled Pottsville JFK recreational tennis program is being sent electronically)

• USTA brings Tennis to 600 students at Parkway Manor Elementary School:
In May 2006, USTA Coach Kim Nolan went to Parkway Manor Elementary School with 30 racquets and two short courts in hopes of teaching tennis to a few gym classes. Little did she know that substitute gym teacher Barbara Ball was a USTA League player and was ready to teach the whole school how to play tennis. For the next month, using foam balls and short courts, Kim and Barbara taught all 600 kids how to play tennis. The program was received and supported enthusiastically by students, staff and parents. 

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Steph & Fred with medals from 05 Keystone Games