The State Foundation Cup regional teams event was played over three days from Tuesday 2 October-Thursday 4 October at the picturesque Berri-View Lawn Tennis Club as part of the 2018 Foundation Cup.
Six regions, Eyre Peninsula, Upper Northern and Yorke, Lower Northern, River Murray, South East and Hills Fleurieu competed in the new teams format combining the boys and girls in each age group for 13/U, 15/U and the new addition of the 17/U.
Previously the boys and girls have competed separately in each age group but for the first time the 13/U, 15/U and 17/U have combined their boys and girls. The feedback from players and team managers has been fantastic, with the new formats bringing teams together and adding a great social experience that they wouldn’t usually experience.
With 120 of the best regional juniors in South Australia battling it out, the standard of Tennis throughout the event was a fantastic. Spectators were spoilt for choice with sensational matches taking place on all courts.
Hills Fleurieu were dominant once again this year making it a clean sweep and taking out the 13/U, 15/U and 17/U teams events. They went through not dropping a single match in any age group, but didn’t have it all their own way with some stiff competition from Lower Northern in the 15/U and River Murray in the 17/U.
One player from each division was awarded the prestigious Kevin Schwarz Sportsperson Award. This award is presented to the boy and girl who show the best sportsmanship on court and is voted on each round by the opposing team.
Good sportsmanship is a large component of a complete tennis player and is arguably more important than a strong forehand or backhand. The huge spread of votes across such a large number of players spoke volumes of the players who were participating and was a credit to all involved.
The winner of the 13/U Boys award was Obe Weir from Hills Fleurieu on eight votes just edging out a close five-way tie for second with Sebastian Henderson, Lachlan Maynard, Stefan Vallelonga, Max Jericho and Zayne Young finishing on a close seven votes.
The winner of the 13/U Girls award was Olivia Wuttke, from Lower Northern on eight votes, finishing ahead of another tie for second, this time with Kierra Schuman, Jorja Mitchell and Alice Tentye just missing out finishing on seven votes.
The winner of the 15/U Boys award was Arley Byass from the Eyre Peninsula finishing on a massive 10 votes, which he polled in every single round. A close runner up was Harry McClean from the River Murray on nine votes.
The 15/U Girls award ended in a tie up the top with Charlotte Nicholls from Hills Fleurieu and Emily Edwards from the South East finishing on 7 votes.
The 17/U Boys winner was won by Zeke Mumford from Lower Northern finishing on four votes. In a close tie for second with Tomas Barry, Call Maczowiack, Ethan Shultz and Jack Cockington just missing out.
The 17/U Girls was tied up the top with Chloe Lamond from Lower Northern and Halle Collins from the South East finishing on four votes.
Latest
SA