Hits for Hope Tennis Tournament donates $4,500 to charity
Jun. 18—The Conrad Weiser Hits for Hope Tennis Tournament, which concluded Sunday in Robesonia, donated $4,500 to the Gooter-Jensen Foundation, it has been announced.
The Gootter-Jensen Foundation aims to defeat sudden cardiac arrest through increased awareness, education, scientific research and the purchasing of AEDs for tennis facilities that do not have them. The money donated will go toward the purchase of AEDs for tennis facilities in Berks County.
"It's an honor to be able to use tennis as a platform to improve the world we live in through the promotion and growth of AEDs in tennis facilities," said Hits for Hope tournament director Ryan Knarr.
The weeklong event saw 268 players participate in 34 draws.
In the tournament's marquee match, Nile Abadir defeated five-time champ and second-seeded Andre Fick 7-6 (1), 6-3 in the men's singles final Sunday. Abadir, the runner-up in Class 2A at this year's PIAA Championships, won the state title in 2021. Fick, a Wyomissing grad, was a state titlist in 2014.
Abadir, named the Hits for Hope Adult Tournament MVP, defeated fourth-seeded Dan Trifoi in the quarterfinals and top-seeded and defending champ Kaushik Das in the semifinals.
Abadir also teamed with Anthony Kirchner, a nationally ranked 12U player, to win the boys 18s doubles title.
In the women's singles championship, top-seeded Allison Wolters defeated Issy Franks 6-3, 7-5.
In the men's doubles, Nolan Perugini, who partnered with Ryan Berry of Richmond, Va., won his record seventh men's doubles title. The team beat the Lebanon Valley College duo of Elliot Kleckner and Jordan Shankroff 6-1, 6-1.
In women's doubles, Cara Wirth and Alyssa Sollenberger won their second Hits for Hope title. Wirth, a Wilson grad, was inducted into the Berks County Tennis Association Hall of Fame Saturday.
In mixed doubles, Das and Emma Perkins defeated Paul Ceredes and Wolters 6-3, 6-2.
The junior MVP was Juliet Perkins of Conrad Weiser. She won a record seven draws: 12U singles, 12U doubles, 12U mixed doubles, 14U singles, 14U doubles, 14U mixed doubles and partnered with older sister Emma to defeat Carina and Cydney Roberts from York Catholic in the sister/sister doubles final.
Nicholas Bybel III won six draws in the first Hits for Hope event in 2011.
In other finals, Parkland's Joshua Thomas won the boys 18s singles with a three-set victory over the 12-year-old Kirchner, who is from New Providence.
Kirchner also teamed with Emma Perkins to win the 18s mixed doubles title and with Juliet Perkins to win the 14U mixed doubles championship.
In the girls 18s singles, New Oxford's Allison Horick defeated Hallie Levison of Philadelphia.
In the senior divisions, Allentown's Bill Neal won the men's 35+ singles over Berks' Tom Mastromarino. The team of Revy Meng and Glenn Lavalee beat Don Hutchison and Doug White in the men's 45+ doubles final in three sets.
In the family draws, Emma Perkins and Phil Perkins won the father/daughter doubles over Chris and Olivia Von Nieda.
