- April 21, 2025
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Walter Hackett, Cathy Kaplinski, Gary Eisenberg and Chantal Diem
Heather Whitfield, Fanny Younger and Heidi Smith
Larry Greenspon serves during a preliminary match.
Mark Gilford hits the ball during a preliminary match.
Karen Adams and Kate Rhodes
Competitors warm up before a preliminary match on Dec. 9.
Brad Cohen serves during a preliminary match on Dec. 9.
David Glorius gets ready to serve the ball.
Rita Karns prepares to serve during the division four final match.
Rich Belford eyes the ball during a final match on Dec. 11.
Division Four finalists
Division four winners Bill Vancelette, Rita Karns and Joanne and Tom Ivaskiv
Barbara Jendrysik gets ready to serve the ball during a final match on Dec. 11.
Cathy Kaplinski competes during a final match on Dec. 11.
Cathy Kaplinski competes during a final match on Dec. 11.
Christine Short prepares to serve during a final match.
Barbara Jendrysik competes during a final match on Dec. 11.
Fanny Younger
Enrique Vela serves during the division two final match on Dec. 11.
John Beeman serves during the division two final match on Dec. 11.
Billie Lindsey serves during the division two final match on Dec. 11.
Angie Eason
Angie Eason serves during the division two final match on Dec. 11.
Cathy Kaplinksi defends the net during a final match on Dec. 11.
Division three finalists Trevor Gillot, Fanny Younger, Cathy Kaplinski and Walter Hackett
Division three winners Bob Kelly, Barbara Jendrysik and Christine and John Short
Sandy Schonhoff competes during the division two final match.
Rich Fiore smiles during the division two finals.
Rich Fiore serves during the division two final match.
Sandy Schonhoff competes during the division two final match.
Kate Rhodes serves during the division one final match.
Alexandra Gede serves during the division one final match.
Alexandra Gede serves during the division one final match.
Mark Schloback gets ready to serve during the division one final match.
Linda Gillott
Karen Adams serves during the division one final match.
Karen Adams
Andy Adams serves during the division one final match.
Andy Adams competes in the division one final match.
Division four winners Chip Elitzer, Bob Gary, MaryLynn Westervelt and Susan Hulme
Division one finalists Mark Malinowski, Mark Schloback, Linda Gillott and Alexandra Gede
Division one winners Andy and Karen Adams, Karen Rhodes and Chris Wetzig
Enrique and Ute Vela, Sandy Schonhoff and Jim Tarsy
-John Beeman, Rich Fiore, Angie Eason and Billie Lindsay
For some, tennis is just a game, but for those that competed in the 17th annual Observer Challenge Tennis Tournament, it means a little more.
The tournament brought 30 teams and 120 players to the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center for a weekend of friendly competition. The tournament consists of mostly Longboat Key residents, and when teams are formed, so are some new friendships.
That’s what tennis professional Claudiu Retean likes about the tournament.
“It’s a community, friendship tournament,” he said.
Some teams were made of players who didn’t know each other before the tournament. Division one winners Karen and Andy Adams, Karen Rhodes and Chris Wetzig didn’t all know each other before the competition. Karen Adams said they had just met Rhodes when the tournament began and they needed another player.
But, that’s how the tennis center works. It brings a community together.
“Tennis players are all a big family,” Adams said.
