Students and teachers will be both teammates and competitors after school as part of the tennis team’s annual fundraiser: the Leopards Aces Tournament and Silent Auction. Set up in a doubles tournament format, students play with other students, teachers, or family members.
“It is our annual fundraising tournament, it raises money for us to go to overnight tournaments and provides things for the team,” head coach Adam Cherry said. “And it’s fun to watch too. There have been rivalries created over the last couple of years.”
One pair, that will be playing their second year together, are assistant volleyball coach Erin McClanahan and junior Ryan Ford.
“I played with her my sophomore year and she was the assistant coach during my freshman year and she’s fun to play with,” Ford said. “We got to the second round my sophomore year.”
Many students and teachers find the tournament enjoyable and as a way to experience a different sport and to compete.
“This will be my third year playing with Ryan Ford; I love playing with [him] he is really funny,” McClanahan said. “My hopes and wishes are that we win a match this tournament.”
Participants can win various trophies as well as bid on different items, such as tennis gear with all proceeds going to the tennis team.
“The sellout auction the parents get involved in and can win many different prices from tennis gear to a $50 gift card,” Cherry said. “Overall, it is just fun to see the athletes that I have in my classes try something new.”
