Cancer wasn’t the only thing to get smashed Tuesday night at the annual SmashCancer girls’ tennis match. The record for most money raised also got smashed.
Delta and Yorktown tennis teams combined to raise approximately $22,000 for local cancer beneficiaries. That increases the 12-year career total to about $114,000. The online apparel store will stay open until 11:59 p.m. today (Wednesday) at www.smashcancer.org for any last-minute apparel orders.
On a perfect 75 degree and sunny evening, the cars overflowed the parking lot at the Yorktown courts. Delta, ranked 20th in the state, cruised to 5-0 varsity and 12-4 JV victories on the court.
But the real winners were the 60+ cancer patients and those serving in honor or memory of a cancer patient who started the evening with an honorary first serve. In addition to the Cancer Center at IU Health Ball Hospital and the Little Red Door Cancer Services of East Central Indiana, seven local families will be among the beneficiaries from this year’s event.
Those families are:
> The family of Randy Reffett, a Yorktown elementary teacher who is battling breast cancer. Mrs. Reffett and her family all hit first serves.
> The family of Doris Slaven, a former director of the Yorktown Middle School cafeteria who recently passed from cancer. Her family members also hit first serves.
> The family of Nathan Schmidt, a Yorktown father who passed recently from cholangiocarcinoma., leaving behind a wife and seven children. One of his children, Henry Schmidt, served in his father’s honor.
> Delta Middle School teacher David Reade, who continues his battle with squamous cell carcinoma. He hit a first serve prior to the match.
> Recent Delta graduate Megan Hiday, who is 2.5 years into her cancer journey with a rare CIC Dux4 sarcoma. Her battle has been difficult and the outlook was sometimes challenging, but she is now near remission. Megan hit a first serve, also.
> The family of former Del-Com IT worker Roy Schaus, who recently passed after a 16-year battle with brain cancer. His daughter Kaleigh, a Delta sophomore, hit a first serve.
> And the family of Will Flannery, an 8-year-old boy who passed earlier this year from brain cancer. His brother, Chase, is a student at Delta High School. Another brother, Evan, served in memory of Will at the event.
And there were many other special guests, including two-time brain cancer survivor Eric Day, who was the keynote speaker at the fire-up dinner for the two teams at Ball Hospital the night prior to the match.
Money was raised through 125 sponsor signs, several raffles, donations, and apparel sales. Raffle winners:
- 4 lower-level Colts tickets — Julie Beckley
- 2 Kings Island tickets — Joe Knight
- 2 Cincinnati Open pro tennis tournament tickets — Bart Keesling
- 2 Cincinnati Open pro tennis tournament tickets – Kathy May
Special thanks also to Cinciinnati Open tournament administrator Jon Sanders, who attended the match and brought lots of shoes and other apparel to help the cause.
On the court, the Delta varsity improved to 10-2 with their eighth straight victory this season. The Eagles dropped only six games total in the match.
Gabby Knight, Brylee Beckley and Elizabeth Bamidele all won 6-0, 6-0 in singles. Kelsey Vest and Katie Manor won 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1 doubles, and Rowan Hinds and Alexa Bratton won 6-3, 6-2 at No. 2 doubles.
The Eagles host Marion tonight (Wednesday) at 5 p.m. in a non-conference match.
Complete results:
Varsity Singles
- Gabby Knight won 6-0, 6-0
- Brylee Beckley won 6-0, 6-0
- Elizabeth Bamidele won 6-0, 6-0
Varsity Doubles
- Kate Manor / Kelsey Vest won 6-0, 6-1
- Rowan Hinds / Alexa Bratton won 6-3, 6-2
JV Singles
- Olivia Marshall won 8-0
- Caitlyn Kirby won 8-0
- Tru Swoboda won 8-0
JV Doubles
- Marley Dowling / Anna Marcum won 8-1
- Audrey Anderson / Addy Anderson won 8-1
- Grace Flowers / Ella Marcum won 8-2
- Sam Diaz / Mylee Jones won 8-0
- Hannah Swanson / Jocelyn Moody won 8-3
- Mackemzie Lipps / Sammi Raleigh won 8-4
- Maggie Ratts / Chloe Oliver won 8-7 (12-10)
- Noelle Longsworth / Ilicia Ritter won 8-1
- Blaysha Downing / Madison Sanchez won 8-4
- Ava Flowers / Ashlynn Sparks lost 1-8
- Avery Barnes / Jax Hines lost 5-8
- Avery Ayres / Karlie Obenski lost 2-8
- Caitie Wright / Jocelyn Moody lost 3-8