Mint Festival Tennis Tournament
The St. Johns Kiwanis Mint Festival Tennis Tournament came off without a hitch, but a flat tire and modest bovine added a measure of suspense to the club’s popular “Peppermint Patty Plop.” In the end, however, Festival Queen Alyssa Mee saved the day and produced a winner by tossing a ball that landed in a grid and sent Kimberly Brzozinsk home with $1,000.00.
Other winners in the annual raffle were habitat for Humanity which took second prize of $500.00. Four others won $200.00 each, including Betty Ammons, Jack Bergeron, Ryan VanSickle and Brenda Terpening.
Event chair Marilyn Thelen explained that the flat tire delayed the cow’s arrival and the animal’s reluctance to perform caused a delay in the proceedings. However, as the famed bard wrote, “All’s Well that Ends Well!”
Meanwhile, at the tennis courts it was another successful tournament. The Friday to Sunday competition produced winners in the following categories:
Girls 15-18 Doubles: Haley Stine and Abbey Stemple of Saginwa.
Male Singles 19-34: 1st Place – Mike Salminen of Cadillac; 2nd Place – Travis Stewart of Ithaca and the Consolation winner was Wade Grost of St. Johns.
Male Singles 35+: 1st Place – Chris Johnson of Grand Ledge; 2nd Place – Nate Lounds of St. Johns. Sam DeOpsummer of California who competed at age 75, took consolation.
Male Doubles: John Coates and Bradley Wolfe of Lansing.
Mixed Doubles: 1st Place – Jeff Lawler and Helena Niblett of Holt; 2nd Place – John Coates and Chris Sanches. Consolation went to the team of Bill and Jennifer Peattie of East Lansing.
Co-chairs for the tennis event were Kiwanians Chris Bouck and Ken Perrin.