2018 TAP (Spanish for Stand-Up! Tennis) World Championships!
Incredible tennis players from around the globe came to play in the World Championships this past weekend in Houston!
With World Class Tennis comes world class Tennis Officials - this years Officials included:
Mike Baird, Willie Brantley, Linda Bratton, Elio Cequea, Harry Foster, April Hadley, Tomoko King, Buffy Powell, Bruce Sampley, Janel Woerner, and Heather Watkins
These Officials donated their time over the three day tournament.
25 Players representing the USA, Japan, Chile, St. Kitts and Nevis, Brazil, and Sweden
Our USA Team (from the left): Richard Herskovitz, John Hizer, David Valenti, Mike Smith (back), Danny Scrivano, Eric Johnson (back), Carl Mower, Nora Moreno, Jeff Bournes, Eric Schmeltekopf Not pictured: Matt Bulow, Steve Grimes, Mike Marsh,
Harold von Koch - Sweden Eduardo Perez and Felipe Arevalo - Chile
Players representing Japan:
Ken Shibatani, Kenichi Takano, Yasuhiro Takahara, Hiroyuki Abe, Masahiro Asai, Shun Kishi
One of the highlights of the event is the Adaptive Clinic - Harry headed this up with the help of Preston Pinto and players from the tournament - the participants were from Shiners Hospital.
Just when you think this tournament couldn't get more inspiring.
Harry loves this event and it shows... I am a blessed Dad!
Some of the Participant's and Players
From high above at Life Time Fitness in the Galleria Mall our fearless leaders Cindy and Andrea (kinda) watch...
Mike Baird in the Chair for a GREAT Match!
Heather Watkins did an incredible job on her first Chaired match - after some HTOA shadowing, some Tomoko and Bruce mentoring - she climbed into the Chair and did a WONDERFUL job.
Buffy Powell called an exciting Final round match.
Janel Woerner shakes hands with eventual Champion Kenichi Takano from Japan and great semi-finalist Thalita Rodrigues from Brazil
Bruce Sampley called a fantastic Final between Carl Mower, USA and Kenichi Takano, Japan
Our "A1" Champion and Finalist: Kenichi Takano and Carl Mower
Finalist "A" draw: Danny Scrivano with Enzo Amadei who heads up the Tour and Cindy Benzon - our Tournament Director
A Draw Champion: Luis Vinales from Chile
This picture tells a 1000 stories...
here is My Sis leading Harold Graham to another task. To say she is a GREAT leader is an understatement...NO ONE inspires more people and does more for Adaptive Tennis!
Harold is one of the many people, behind the scenes, that makes things happen - others (being lead by Sister Cindy) that help make this event successful include the honorable Henry Cox, Adaptive Committee Member and great player Jeff Bourns, the very patient and organized Andrea Booth, and Steve Carr who is our printer, t-shirt maker, picture taker and all around GREAT GUY!
