The Laverys Deserve A Trophy

To the Editor:

The annual Newtown Open tennis tournament was again a success, thanks this year to Hugh and Jan Lavery. We are fortunate to see great players from Newtown and the surrounding area compete in this event at a very high level. Many are teaching professionals.

Scheduling this year’s event was extremely challenging because of the weather. The monthlong elimination tournament concluded on Saturday and Sunday.

Special recognition must be given to the Laverys who have coordinated the tournament for the past several years. Saturday’s semifinals were quite an adventure. The Laverys set up for the day’s events at Dickinson Park with table, 18 chairs, trophies, tennis balls, coolers of cold drinks, and scoring materials. Arranging matches on five courts at a time with scorekeepers was not an easy task.

By 11:30 the rains came, and Hugh was on the cell phone making arrangements to move the entire tournament to Middlebury for indoor play. By midafternoon Hugh was on the phone again as court time had run out with matches left to play. Hugh arranged to move the tournament to Beaver Brook Tennis Club in Danbury, moved equipment, and notified players. The day’s matches concluded around 9 pm, five hours later than originally projected. At 10 pm Hugh was on the phone again preparing for the Sunday finals.

As dawn rose over Newtown on Sunday, it appeared to be rain free. Thank goodness for small favors. The Laverys were not looking forward to a repeat of Saturday. At 6 am Hugh could be seen at Dickinson Park drying all five courts, and by 8 am everything was set up and ready for play. Twelve hours later, a successful tournament had concluded, and everything could be packed up and moved for the last time.

Great tennis was enjoyed by all. Thanks to those who played, volunteered, and attended. Hugh and Jan deserve a trophy for their hard work and dedication to the sport of tennis.

John Klopfenstein

14 Old Castle Drive, Newtown   June 9, 2003