Costumed Salisbury High students battle on the courts to raise money for school’s food pantry
Published 12:00 am Monday, April 10, 2017
- Winners Roarke Burton and Jander Rodas and runners-up Maria Capito and Adam Drye pose in their costumes after the ACE charity tennis tournament at Salisbury High School. Photo courtesy of Salisbury High School.
SALISBURY — Hippies, giant fruit, fishermen and even unicorns took to the courts Saturday for the sixth annual ACE charity tournament at Salisbury High School, where the only thing more fun than the tennis were the costumes.
Forty-two SHS students battled in doubles matches all morning for prizes including giant jars of chocolate chip cookies and monogrammed tennis towels donated by Caniche. Jander Rodas and Roarke Burton took first place, and Maria Capito and Adam Drye were runners-up. Costume contest winners were Nellie Brown and Abby Robinette as the unicorns.
But the real winners were the SHS students who will benefit from the nearly $2,000 raised by the tournament, which was organized by Salisbury High junior Julia Honeycutt. ACE stands for All Children Eating, and the tournament proceeds each year support a food pantry at SHS that provides nutritious food sent home in backpacks over the weekend with students who are food-insecure.
Student and tennis standout Madeline Hoskins started the ACE tournament in 2012 and handed it down to another tennis team star, Kayla Honeycutt, who passed it on to younger sister Julia Honeycutt.
“It’s one of the favorite events of SHS students,” Julia Honeycutt said. “Everyone loves to dress up for the costume contest.”
Students paid a $15 entry fee to play in the tournament, which included a T-shirt. All other funds are raised by obtaining sponsorships from businesses and individuals.
“Their generous financial support will help keep the pantry stocked, so no one in need goes home empty-handed,” Julia Honeycutt said. “The food pantry is a great program that our school offers and is relied upon by many.”
The following businesses and people sponsored ACE this year: F&M Bank, Tina S. Merhoff & Associates Pediatric Dentistry, Caniche, Lyn and Jeff Beaver, Diane and Luke Fisher, Sue and Paul Fisher, LeeAnna and Guy Hoskins, Deborah and Dyke Messinger, Gwin and Matt Barr, Kathy and Bobby Rusher, Busby & Webb Orthodontics, Heather and Brad Brady, Debbie and Rip Collins, Nancy and Frank Eason, Nan and Danny Fisher, Bob and Leah Ann Honeycutt, Tricia and Lee Johnson, Eva and Vaughn Nelson, Patsy and Ozzie Reynolds, Amy and Doug Shellhorn, Nancy Shirley, Beth and Paul Woodson, Lesleigh and John Drye and Healthcare Management Consultants, Inc.