In another application of determination and physical endurance, Amelia Ritger, 13, won the girls' 16 division at the last Junior Satellite Tournament of the season.
Not wanting to let her soccer team down, Ritger played until 10 p.m. on Friday. Her first round match was at 8 a.m. Saturday. The second round immediately followed.
Then this tournament director essentially forced her to play an unexpected third round with only a half-hour respite.
In the finals on Sunday, she was to square off against Hanna Loop of Galena. Due to the appearance of an overnight head cold and an ongoing allergic reaction to rabbit brush, Ritger considered defaulting the match.
She chose to compete but quickly fell behind 2-0 to an opponent she hadn't previously lost to.
After that, her competitive spirit re-ignited and she ended up winning 6-4, 6-0.
James TenBroeck, 12, was invited to participate in the Harbor Bay Junior Excellence Touranment in Alameda, Calif.
The event consisted of the top 32 12-year-olds in Northern California. TenBroeck finished fourth, playing some of his most exhilirating matches of the year.
-- Bill Welch is the tennis columnist for The Record-Courier. He can be reached at 782-5775.
