Gloria Bible
The excitement began at Dave and Judy Sypkens’ home with a random draw on Nov. 8. Twelve men and 12 women participated in the draw, determining player combinations for this much-anticipated tournament the weekend of Nov. 14.
With highly changeable temperatures and wet weather in the forecast, organizers and players held their collective breath wondering if the weather would prove favorable enough to complete this event. Thankfully, in the end, the three-day tournament was able to proceed, beginning with a series of two-set matches held on Friday and Saturday.
Then on Sunday, Nov. 16, the four players who accrued the most points competed in the tournament’s final match. Mike Wagner, a retired USTA official, was on hand to ensure that all rules and protocols were correctly followed.
A two-set format was implemented, and even the winds came to play, since their gusts played havoc with the contestants’ serves. In the end, Ryan Modesto and Chris Moravchik emerged as the first place holders, with Hilary Wade and Rick Wade as runners-up. And in case you’re wondering, Rick and Hilary were not only teammates, but are married mates as well!
All that playing, cheering, and spectating worked up some powerful appetites. Fortunately, attendees had a tasty selection of chilis, cornbread, salads, and desserts to tempt their tastebuds. Ten different types of chili competed for top honors, with Stuart Nelson’s Pork Verde Chili emerging as the favorite. Many thanks to the QC Tennis Social Committee’s Hilary Wade, Sandy Hirdes, Carol Modesto, and Holly Crombie for orchestrating this most enjoyable event. A special thanks is owed to Dave Sypkens for the many hours he spent working and organizing yet another successful and enjoyable tournament!