Published: August 21, 2008 09:29 am         

Tennis tourney raises money for Gentile memorial scholarship

By ERIC AHLQVIST
Cooperstown Crier

The first Chris Gentile Memorial Tennis tournament held earlier this month netted close to $1,500 for a scholarship in the former Cooperstown student’s name. Gentile, a standout tennis player at CCS, died after a car accident in April 2007, two months before he was scheduled to graduate. His mother, Penney, organized the tennis tournament, which was held at the Clark Sports Center.

She said 32 people entered the 41 events offered. The money raised will be awarded to a Cooperstown student at the 2009 graduation ceremony. The scholarship recognizes a CCS graduate who will attend college, has a joy for life, is outgoing and compassionate, touches many people in a positive way, is community minded, passionate and committed to sports.

``It was a success; we’ll definitely be doing it again next year,’’ Gentile said of the tournament. ``I think the wording on our poster scared some people off who should have played, so my goal is to double the number of participants next year.’’

Chris Gentile was the first tennis player in the history of CCS to qualify for the state tournament in singles, which he did in his junior year by easily winning a Section Three Class C title. Gentile was also a standout soccer and basketball player at Cooperstown.

Since Chris’s death almost a year and a half ago, an award has been established in his name to be given out each year at the Cooperstown athletic banquet, and Penney Gentile has been named to the state’s new temporary special advisory panel on driver education.

Chris Gentile was not wearing a seat belt at the time of his accident, and the panel was created by the legislature in a law sponsored by state Sen. Jim Seward, and inspired by the Gentiles, to improve the quality and availability of driver education in New York State.

Following is a list of winners from the tournament. Some events were not completed due to rain. Penney Gentile said Sheri Holohan, tennis instructor at the Sports Center, was instrumental in setting up the draw and format of the tournament.

A Flight: Singles: Champion: J.T. Closi; Finalist: Joseph Dwyer. Women’s Doubles: Rain delay. Vicki Johnson/ Jenny Bentley vs. Gwen Snyder/ Glynis Gozigan should be completed this week. Men’s Doubles: Champions: Jonathan Richman/ Joseph Dwyer; Finalists: Fielder Thomas/J.T. Closi. Mixed Doubles: Champions: Jenny Bentley/ Charlie Kieler; Finalists: Ali Angerer/ Quinn Snyder. B Flight: Singles: Champion: Ryan Smith; Finalist: Cameron Holbrook.

Women’s Doubles: Champions: Sarah Angerer/ Ali Holbrook; Finalists: Kate Graham/ Natalia Gadomski (pictured Gadomski, Graham, Penney Gentile).

Men’s Doubles: Champions: Jay Beightol/ Chris Hulse; Finalists: Charlie Kieler/ Tom Barry.

Mixed Doubles: Not held because of rain delays and scheduling issues. The doubles teams were Maia Fong/ Laurent Demunyck and Catherine Closi/J.T. Closi. The A flight champs and finalists won engraved plates, and the B flight champs won a racquet bag. Finalists won a can of tennis balls and head and wrist bands. Gentile said she is hoping to secure donations of tennis balls and prizes next year to increase the money left for the scholarship.

Gentile added she and Holohan wanted to thank Charlie Kieler, Rich Jantzi, and all the participants in the Chris Gentile Memorial Tennis Tournament for making the first year a success.