Recipe for a great night of tennis:

> Start with a cup of sunshine and 65-degree temperatures
> Sprinkle in light winds
> Add two rival teams wearing every color under the rainbow
> Blend in 50+ “server survivors”
> Marinate with an overflow crowd of spectators
> Garnish with multi-colored smokebombs and a giant tennis racket
> Serve it up!

The 11th annual SmashCancer match was a smashing success Thursday evening.  On the courts, Delta earned a 5-0 varsity victory and a 14-2 JV victory over rival Yorktown.

Delta freshman Elizabeth Bamidele attempts a serve with a giant tennis racket prior to the SmashCancer match. (Photo by Eleni Bow)

But their mutual opponent was cancer.  And through apparel sales, sponsor signage, concessions, chances for special Colts tickets, and donations, the annual match will set a record with more than $20,000 raised for local cancer beneficiaries. Final totals won’t be available immediately, but the previous record of $15,500 from a year ago was unquestionably smashed!

The online apparel store will remain open until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, May 7th if you want to make a last-minute order.  You can find it at https://smashcancer2023.itemorder.com/shop/home/

Beneficiaries this year include:

Delta senior Megan Hiday, who hit an honorary first serve prior to the match.  She is 18 months into her journey with CIC DUX4 sarcoma, a rare cancer that has resulted in five surgeries and months of chemo and radiation.

Delta senior Megan Hiday receives encouragment from a tunnel of Delta and Yorktown players in the opening ceremony. (Photo by Eleni Bow)

Delta Middle School phys ed teacher Dave Reade, who also hit an honorary first serve. He was diagnosed with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma earlier this year.

Delta Middle School teacher Dave Reade hits his honorary first serve. (Photo by Eleni Bow)

Former Delta lunch lady and custodian Dawn Crawley, who also hit an honorary first serve.  She is battling throat cancer.

Dawn Crawley walks out to hit her honorary first serve. (Photo by Eleni Bow)

And Yorktown mother Candace Ford.  Her friend Beth Parris, a breast cancer survivor, hit a serve in her honor.  Ford is undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

Additional beneficiaries are the Cancer Center at IU Health Ball and the Little Red Door Cancer Services of East Central Indiana.

Those in attendance at the match who are fighting or have fought against cancer received a flower from Granny’s Bloomers floral shop of Hartford City.

Bill Lutterman, grandfather of a Yorktown player, gives high fives to players with his tennis racket on his way to serve. (Photo by Eleni Bow)

Many parents worked concessions, helped with server check-in, sold apparel, made the match programs, passed out programs, took photos, and sold chances for four on-the-field tickets to a Fall 2023 Colts home game.

Sixty six different girls — every girl for both teams who was healthy — got to play a match.

Here are the complete results

Varsity Singles