Captain Kevin Wensing (ret.), USTA, Dr. Hani Thariani, orthodontist (Tournament Presenting Sponsor), Courtney Park-Jamborsky, director, Laurel Learning Center, Mary Lee Brendsel (4.0 doubles champion), Marjie Alloy (4.0 doubles champion), Elaine Killoran, tournament co-chair at the Rally for a Cause Tournament in Reston Sept. 21-22. Peter Staples
Early morning clouds dispersed and the rain held off Sept. 21 and 22 for Reston’s “Rally for a Cause,” the second annual tennis tournament. Sixty five players, nearly double the number of players from the previous year, gathered at the Lake Newport tennis facility for men’s and women’s 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 singles and doubles draws. They brought their racquets, their wallets and their friends to combine the sport of tennis with charitable giving. The tournament sponsored three causes: USTA Serves/Wounded Warrior Curriculum, HEART (Have Everyone Access Tennis) and Cornerstones, which respectively support rehabilitation through tennis for injured or ill veterans, tennis scholarships for children and interfaith family services.
The tournament drew a significant number of entrants from surrounding areas such as Arlington, Alexandria and Herndon and saw fundraising revenue grow from $2,000 to $3,100; an increase of approximately one third.
While competitors mixed it up on court in competition Saturday, tournament directors mixed it up Sunday with a last minute men’s and women’s 4.0 mixed doubles round robin. A shortfall of men’s and women’s doubles teams required the last minute fix but the players loved the remedy. Trophies, raffle drawings and free refreshments donated by local businesses and underwritten by local orthodontist Hani Thariani, supplemented the fun and success of the event.