The Stratford Tennis Club held a junior doubles tournament this past weekend. With the Club Championship tournaments approaching, players got some valuable doubles experience. Nicolle Crowley and mixed doubles partner from last season Ryan Lay decided to enter the boy’s doubles to prepare them for the tough matches they will see in the Club Championship mixed doubles events. Players ranged in age from 8 to 15 years old and experience level but the matches were close and played at a high level.

The girl’s doubles saw Ashley Humphrey and Isabelle Thibeault continue their 2014 success. Playing each other in the final of both junior singles tournaments the girls teamed up in the doubles and went on to win the championship with an 8-6 victory over Crowley and Amelia Jackson. The final was highlighted by many great rallies and dramatic moments. Humphrey and Thibeault proved steadier at the end leading to their title.

The girl’s ‘B’ final had Megan Furlong and Mackenzie Dumais take on youngsters Lauren Okrainec and Alison DeJong. Furlong and Dumais were able to hold off the future stars taking the ‘B’ title with an 8-3 victory.

The boy’s doubles final had Crowley and Lay facing Luke Fischer and Evan Moorehead. The calibre of play was exceptionally high and had several momentum shifts. Close right until the end eventually Fischer and Moorehead were able to edge Crowley and Lay 8-6 to take the championship. The boy’s ‘B’ final was even closer. A tie breaker was needed to determine the winner with Jared Larder and Matthew Vandewiel scoring a 7-4 win in the tie breaker to win the title over Luke McCarroll and Collin Rose. Another close final was held in the boy’s ‘B’ event. Kadin Dench and Marcel Lundrigan were able to hold off Michael Vandewiel and Marcus Nicholson taking the title with an  8-6 win.

Bill White

THE WINNERS