Article submitted by Liz Tennent

More than 90 players served up great tennis in the annual Salisbury Rotary Spring Tennis Tournament at City Park.

Adults and juniors competed in 20 events, including singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

Batting in the mid-day sun, East Rowan’s Robert Gray outlasted Evan Sutker from Charlotte to take his first men’s championship.  After losing the first set, Gray rallied to win 6-7, 6-4, (10-3). 

“As the score showed, it was a really close match,” Gray said.  “We had long rallies and great points.  I knew I had to be more aggressive at the end.  My strategy worked and I was really happy to come away with the win.”

Salisbury graduate Abraham Post and East grad Chance Brown won the men’s doubles championship over the father-son duo of Charles and Brandon Marchant, 7-5, 6-4.

The women’s doubles final featured three Salisbury High alumni who won recent state tennis championships. Hannah Lebowitz teamed up with her mother, Phyllis Post, to defeat Kirstin and Sallie Kate Meyerhoeffer, 6-3, 6-4.

Susie Post-Rust, from Durham, competed in her first Salisbury Rotary tourney and won the women’s masters singles  in round-robin match play.  Melissa Utley and Teresa Yokeley outplayed their opponents in round-robin competition to earn the women’s masters doubles title.

The boys 18 singles final was a matchup of Salisbury High teammates Ethan McGee and Roarke Burton. McGee won 7-5, 6-7, (10-5).

Seth Worley/Jake Crews won the boys 18 doubles, 7-6, 7-6 over McGee and Salisbury teammate Jander Rodas.

Salisbury High’s Maria Capito won the girls 18 singles title and teamed with Hornet teammate Bethanie Stauffer for the 18 girls doubles title.

Some players didn’t win trophies but won in other way. Don Yousey, who is in his 70s, traveled with his wife, Carol, from Wilmington and partnered with his son, Greg, in the men’s 50 doubles.

“My dad taught me to play tennis when I was 7 or 8,” said Greg, the director of clinical services at Nazareth Children’s Home. “This tournament provided a fun, family atmosphere … and yes, great tennis.”

Mike Meyerhoeffer played in mixed doubles with daughter Sallie Kate and then watched the Meyerhoeffer sisters advance to the women’s doubles final.

“I don’t think Kirsten and Sallie Kate have ever played doubles together in a tournament,” Mike said.  “But win or lose, this tournament is about having fun and spending time with family and friends. It warmed my heart to see my girls on the court with great smiles and sportsmanship. I hope it sparks them to play more tennis. That’s the win for all of us.”

Proceeds benefited the  United Way of Rowan County.  

Junior Division winners:

Ethan McGee — boys 18 singles

John Rust — boys 14 singles

John Paul Shadroui — boys 12 singles

Jake Crews/Seth Worley — boys 18 doubles

John Rust/Luke Taylor — boys 14 doubles

Maria Capito — girls 18 singles

Kelly Campo — girls 16 singles

Brooke Murphy — girls 14 singles

Maria Capito/Bethanie Stauffer — girls 18 doubles

Brooke Murphy/Lacy Waggoner — girls 14 doubles

Adult Division Winners

Robert Gray — men’s singles

Peter Smith — men’s 35 singles

Varner Sink — men’s 50 singles

Abraham Post/Chance Brown — men’s doubles

Brian Koontz/Yuthapong Sukkasem — men’s 35 doubles

Mark Allen/Jack Thompson — men’s 50 doubles

Susie Post-Rust — women’s masters

Hannah Lebowitz/Phyllis Post — women’s doubles

Melissa Utley/Teresa Yokeley — women’s doubles masters

Mark Allen/Rita Goolsby — mixed doubles