Cecilia Romeo and Amelia Trefilo show off their victory medals. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Griffith’s tennis scene has been highlighted by a local primary school scoring a huge upset victory in Wagga, while the town’s annual adult championship featured more surprises with newcomers to town getting their names etched on the club’s honours board. Here is a wrap of all the October tennis action in Griffith.
Todd Woodbridge Cup
Eight students from Griffith East Public School won a major tennis event in Wagga on Friday (20 October) and will now test their skills in Sydney against some of the best young players in the state.
Navair Singh, Younis El Daly, Mia Noad, Quinn Armstrong, Cecilia Romeo, Amelia Trefilo, Ethan Bugno and Harry Bugno won the South West region of the Todd Woodbridge Cup – a competition for kids in years 3 and 4 that uses modified equipment, numeric scoring and mixed-gender teams.
“Our school is particularly proud of the team and the sportsmanship they exhibited,” sports organiser and year 6 teacher Andrew Noad said.
In the final, his players beat Wagga’s Lutheran School, the team that took out the statewide championship in 2022. In the semi-finals, Griffith East edged St Anne’s in a tight tussle.
The Griffith team will now travel to Sydney Olympic Park on 20 November to play in the 2023 state finals.
Mr Noad paid tribute to Griffith Tennis Club veteran Cheryl Rawle, who spent many hours preparing the children for the tournament.
Griffith East Public School’s winning squad with sports organiser Andrew Noad in Wagga on 20 October. Photo: Supplied.
Cecilia Romeo said: “I want to thank my older sister Sophia Romeo for getting Amelia and me into tennis and for practising with us.”
She said she and Sophia modelled their game on their hero, Novak Djokovic, and preferred to use their speed and power to slug it out from the baseline rather than charge the net and volley.
Griffith Tennis Club adult championship
Sophia Romeo, 13, has won a string of junior events this past year, and on Friday (20 October) competed with adults for the ladies’ singles title at the Griffith Tennis Club championships – an annual event in which the best players in town compete to have their name added to the club’s honour board.
She performed strongly but her event was won by 44-year-old teacher Katrina Pickering, who was making her debut championship appearance.
“After moving to Griffith from Wollongong earlier this year, I picked up my racquet after over 20 years as a way to get to know people,” Katrina said. “I have felt really welcomed into the Griffith tennis community and I am honoured to have won the championship.”
Katrina Pickering hits a forehand on the way to her title. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Another newcomer to town, Jamie Mitton, a 22-year-old PR expert, was the runner-up.
“It’s exciting to get my name on the honours board after moving here just six months ago,” she said.
In the men’s singles, perennial champion Danny Dossetor once again took out the A-grade title, barely losing a game on his way to the crown.
B grade was won by 19-year-old Antonio De Marco, who became one of the youngest champions in the tournament’s history. He edged Colombian power-hitter Alejandro Carrera in the final.
The men’s, ladies’ and mixed-doubles championships will be played on Friday (27 October). Club members Matt Hockings, Robyn Meehan and Danny Dossetor organised the tournament events.
Loading ...
