Author: Lily Rowen
On Oct. 22 the Oxy women’s tennis team hosted its annual Round Robin Tournament, which invites members outside of the current Oxy community, alumni and professors to participate in matches with Oxy players. The event serves as both a fundraising and team bonding opportunity.
This year, the tournament’s non-student roster included such names as Ghia Godfree, Sally Wiggins, Professor Eileen Spain, Lorna Kim, Melissa Mazin, Professor Linda Lyke, men’s basketball coach Brian Newhall, Amy Newhall, Emily Newhall, David Newhall, Rachel Newhall, Reagan Bean and Paul Finchamp.
The tournament gave the excited Oxy players the opportunity to practice their skills against other seasoned players in a fun, friendly environment. “[This year’s event had] more players and better competition,” said women’s tennis coach Linda Park.
Yvonne Pederson, another contestant in the event, was a former tennis player for Oxy who went on to play with a United States Tennis Association team.
“I really enjoyed meeting and watching Yvonne Pederson play,” Park said. “It was nice too that a former Oxy women’s tennis player [would] come back and play,” added Park.
In addition to spectacular play from Pederson, Oxy players Katrina Gould (first-year) and Rachel Washtien (first-year) put on excellent performances in the final round.
Washtien and her partner Godfree ultimately defeated Gould and her partner Wiggins in a close match.
“[The final round] was nerve wracking because I knew my partner Sally really wanted to win,” said Gould. “It was disappointing when we lost, but we did our best, and our opponents Rachel and Guia were fierce competitors.”
Although this annual event is exciting and fun for the spectators and players involved, preparation and planning for the event is extensive. The women’s tennis team did a lot of preparatory work to ensure the event’s continuation this year.
“We sent out letters to all past and present supporters of the tennis program to invite them to the event and give them an update about the program this year. We also had to make a bracket and assign the participants into teams,” said Marissa Cassman (senior).
At the end of the day, all of the hard work paid off as participants finished off the tournament with a bonding barbeque.
“My favorite part [of the day] was after the tournament we all had a barbeque together and ate some really good food,” said Gould. The day’s food was prepared by the Costa family from Sierra Madre and the Go family from Los Angeles.
The Oxy players who participated in the Round Robin Tournament felt that they took away much more than just tennis experience from the event.
“I think the best part was the pairing up of an Oxy player and a sponsor as a doubles team,” said Gould. “We got to play doubles with people we normally wouldn’t get to and make a new friend.”
This article has been archived, for more requests please contact us via the support system.
