Shawnigan Tennis Champions

Mixed Doubles – La coupe de toute saison

Earning its name in 1990 from having to be played in more than one term due to inclement weather, this year's tournament simply delayed its start – like all of this season's events – because of the frequent rains in May. Luckily, all participants cooperated with the intensive schedule and after some close semi-final play, the scene was set for an all grade eleven final between second seeds Elyse M. & Nader M. and Betty V. & Alex H. Elyse held serve to begin the match but then Betty & Alex won the next four games in a row and looked on the verge of an easy victory in the first set. Nader & Elyse bounced back to take the next five games and the first set 6-4. The second set unfolded with Elyse's serve being broken twice and Nader's once. Betty & Alex won it 6-3. In the third and final set at five games to four in favour of Betty & Alex, Nader served the longest game (14 points) of the match. At the eleventh point, Betty & Alex had a break point to win the match, but Elyse made two consecutive volleys to save the day for her team. Betty was then broken and Elyse served out the match, hitting three service winners. Elyse & Nader won the decisive set 7-5. This match lasted almost 2 and a half hours!

Girls' Singles – The Chu Cup

When the School became co-ed, girls' trophies needed to be acquired. Irene Chu, a fine tennis player in her own right, donated a trophy for the girls' singles event after she graduated. Appropriately, the trophy is named after her. This year's final saw last year's finalist Betty V. being challenged by newcomer Caitlin C., again, a grade eleven battle. Betty stormed off to a five nothing lead in the first set only to see Caitlin change her strategy and rebound to five games all. Betty responded by winning the final two games of the first set to take it 7-5. In the second set, Caitlin stuck to the strategy that almost garnered a comeback in the first set and led twice by scores of four games to two and five games to four. Once again, however, Betty's tenacious play took the final three games of the second set to earn her the longest two set match in Shawnigan Lake School's history by a score of 7-5. This match lasted two hours and thirty-seven minutes!

Boys' Singles – The Grogan Cup

This tournament's origins date back to the 1930's. In the 60's the Creighton brothers dominated the scene and then, in recent history, Malcolm Geddes holds the record with three consecutive wins. Last year's finalist, John W. was defeated by Bogdan V. and he came out on the court with something to prove. He took the first set easily against Nader M. 6-1. To his credit, Nader did not become discouraged after dropping the first two games of the second set, breaking John in the third game and then dropping two more games to trail 1-4. Nader won the next three games to level the set. Each player held serve until John, leading at 6-5 broke Nader a final time to win the match 7-5.
 

– Stewart Candelaria, Coach

Photos by Stephen Lane