http://www.thereddingpilot.com/11980/tournament-fosters-friendship/
Tournament fosters friendship
By Bradley Taylor
August 8, 2013 in Sports Features
Will Boe-Wiegaard, a professional tennis player and Connecticut native, has always been impressed with the Purnell-Thomas Memorial Tournament. However, Boe-Wiegaard left last year’s week-long tournament at Salisbury University with more than an admiration for the competition.
Boe-Wiegaard met Adah Marie Guy, a tetraplegic and Allen, Md., native. Their initial meeting has blossomed into a unique and inspirational friendship that has remained strong despite Boe-Wiegaard’s travels.
“Players do not interact with fans very often at these types of tournaments and meeting a tetraplegic is even rarer,” said Boe-Wiegaard, a 2002 graduate of Joel Barlow High. “Adah was very friendly right off the bat and I was extremely moved by her support. Her charisma was infectious and our friendship began.”
Guy got involved in the 2012 Purnell-Thomas Memorial Tournament by helping her aunt, tournament coordinator Michele Thomas. Guy was responsible for player research and building the competition database for the tournament. Due to her research, Guy was able to speak with Boe-Wiegaard when he arrived for check-in.
“Thinking about my first encounter with Will always makes me smile,” said Guy. “After exchanging pleasantries, I started mentioning facts about his background and career. I do not know where those guts came from but I immediately felt comfortable around him.”
During the winter of 1993, Guy was involved in a car accident at the age of eight that left her paralyzed from the neck down. Given no more than a year to live, Guy has exceeded her doctor’s original prognosis by 20 years. Despite her physical limitations, Guy greets everyone she meets with an infectious blend of cheerfulness and optimism.
“I cherish my friendship with Adah because she is so happy and positive,” said Boe-Wiegaard. “She is super supportive of my career and she keeps my hopes up after bad matches. Her story is inspiring and she is full of so many dreams and aspirations. Her condition may limit her physically but her sharp mind allows her to live an extraordinary life.”
Guy, 28, is a freelance paralegal and journalist. She graduated from James M. Bennett High School in 2002 and holds bachelor degrees from University of Maryland University College and Breyer State University. Recently, she earned a master’s degree in law from Champlain College.
Guy previously worked as a columnist for The Daily Times and currently designs publications for the Allen Asbury United Methodist Church. She is also a published author and illustrator of children’s books who has not allowed a spinal cord injury 20 years ago to limit her immense abilities.
Boe-Wiegaard was so impressed by Guy’s story during their initial meeting that he gave her his contact information. One year later, Guy is Boe-Wiegaard’s most passionate fan. She follows his playing activity online and regularly sends Boe-Wiegaard supportive messages via Facebook.
“Will and I correspond at least once a week,” said Guy. “We share the same sense of humor and it is easy to talk to him about random topics. He keeps me updated on his travels and sends me photos from exotic locations. I am excited to see his passport when he returns to America.”
Impressed with her writing abilities, Boe-Wiegaard encouraged Guy to pen a book about her inspirational life. Guy has finished writing the book and regularly sends Boe-Wiegaard chapters to read. Guy is hoping to get the book edited and published within the next year.
“Will inspired me to begin writing a book about my life and I am forever grateful for that,” said Guy. “It is my story, but his book. He makes me feel special and motivates me to make the book better. I could not finish the book without him.”
Guy has become an avid tennis fan since meeting Boe-Wiegaard last summer. She follows international play online and watches Grand Slam tournaments on television. Prior to her accident, Guy played tennis with her grandmother and even helped with concessions at the Purnell-Thomas Memorial Tournament.
“I really respect Will’s life and career,” said Guy. “He is living the life I wish I could. He travels the world, lives out of a bag and sees places on this planet that I can only dream of. I often find his location on the map and try to live vicariously through him.”
Besides tennis, Boe-Wiegaard and Guy share a passion for the popular American rock band O.A.R. According to Guy, Boe-Wiegaard has made her a “diehard O.A.R. fan” and her life revolves around the band’s music. Boe-Wiegaard has invited Guy to attend an O.A.R. concert the next time he is in America.
“Will and I have only known each other for less than a year and I can honestly say that he is my best friend,” concluded Guy. “Despite his busy and stressful schedule, he always makes time to communicate with me in any way possible. My life would be much less enjoyable and exciting without Will’s friendship. Being miles apart is irrelevant to me.”
Boe-Wiegaard played at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine and was a five-time All-American (2002-2006). He finished his collegiate career as the top ranked player in the nation after winning the 2006 NCAA Division III singles title.
Boe-Wiegaard is currently competing overseas and is the No. 1,104th- ranked player in the world. While he will not be participating in this year’s Purnell-Thomas Memorial Tournament, Boe-Wiegaard says the annual event played at Salisbury University’s 12 outdoor courts outshines much bigger tournaments.
“I have played in the Purnell-Thomas tournament three times over the last four years and I always walk away impressed,” said Boe-Wiegaard. “The competition is strong and the hospitality of the workers is astonishing. Fans are very supportive throughout the tournament and the food is top notch.”
The 2013 Purnell-Thomas Memorial Tournament will be held Aug. 13-17. The tournament is a tribute to Chris Thomas and Jack Purnell, two local tennis enthusiasts who lost their battles with cancer. All matches are free to watch and the money raised through the tournament benefits Coastal Hospice in Salisbury.
For more information on the tournament, visit http://www.purnell-thomas.org.
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Reunion 2013!
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On early Tuesday morning Bates men’s tennis was on the road again. Matt Bettles and Rob Crampton were on their way to Kalamazoo MI for the Division 3 National Singles and Doubles tournament. With the Team event finishing up on Wednesday, the action started for the men late Thursday morning. Rob played his first round singles match against Daniel Brown of UT Tyler. With rain coming down in Kalamazoo, the matches were all held indoors. Starting off, despite the fast indoor conditions, the boys traded breaks all the way to the first set tiebreak. Deadlocked at 4-4, Rob finally broke through by reeling off three straight points for the 7-4 win. Up a set, Rob continued to groove, shortly finding himself serving for the second set and match. However, Brown held steady fighting off nearly ten match points before finally breaking to even the game score at five a piece. From there Brown would move on to take the second set, deadlocking the match at a set all. In the third set Brown surged, holding easily for the first time in the match, he began to challenge Rob’s serve. Yet Rob held firm and in the seventh game of the set he broke through taking the 5-3 lead. With the second set still in mind Rob bombed in several serves to take the third set and the match. It took 3 hours and 8 minutes, by far the longest match of the tournament, but the berth into the round of 16 earned Rob his third All American award.
In the next round Rob was matched up against one of the top seeds, Paul Burgin of Kenyon. Despite this, Rob rolled in the first set. Rob returned and served well on the fast indoor surface and finally broke through in the ninth game of the first set allowing him to take the 6-4 first set victory. In the second set, Burgin began to fight back breaking in the first game. However, once again Rob went to work pushing Burgin to get the break and the second set back on serve at 4-5. Back on serve finally at 4-5, Rob played a rough game giving Burgin the break back for the set win. In the third set Rob ran out of steam as Burgin powered ahead to take Rob out of the draw with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 win.
With Rob out of singles the pair moved on to their evening doubles match. In the first round, Matt and Rob drew Frankie Allinson and Max Sabel of Pomona Pitzer. Having played them in their second match of the season and beaten them 8-6 in a tight match, the boys were ready to do it again. Matt and Rob started the match with a break but the Pomona-pair held tough and stuck with Matt and Rob even breaking back in the eighth game to even the match at 4 a-piece. Yet with the matched tied up the Bates pair took the initiative and broke through for the 6-4 first set win. With the first set under their belt, Rob and Matt got into a good mode taking the double break-4-1 lead at the start of the second set. Matt even accelerated the Bates surge with amazing shot-making that included a screaming-running-winner that rendered all neighboring court play speechless. With the end in sight, Bates continued to cruise as the pair became doubles All Americans with the straight sets win over the gritty Pomona team.
Having finished the last match at 10pm the night before the pair had most of the next day to rest before their quarterfinal match began in the evening. With one of their opponents still in the singles draw the wait would end up lasting until that night at 7:00pm. Their opponents would be Robert Kjellberg and Artsiom Prostak of NC Weslyan, the 3rd seed of the doubles draw. The NC Weslyan pair came out playing hot as they quickly took a double break for the 6-3 first set win. Continuing to work Kjellberg and Prostak went up another break for the 2-0 lead in the second set. However, the Bates pair refused to go away as they broke back and then broke again to take the 5-3 lead. Serving for the second set, Rob faced two break points but worked back to deuce and finally took the set 6-3. In the third set, Matt and Rob continued to work but their opponents regained their first set form and would race to the 6-1 set and match win ending the Bates run in the quarterfinals. This loss would of course end both seniors’ careers, however, despite the early exits it should be noted that the triple All-American honors were the pairs 5th, 6th, and 7th total All-American honors in their four years, and in the process of earning those accolades Matt and Rob accumulated over 200 combined wins between singles and doubles. These accomplishments of course pale in comparison with their contributions to the team which are immeasurable, they will be missed.
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Last Wednesday, Senior Captains, Rob Crampton and Matt Bettles were selected to compete at the Division 3 national singles and doubles tournaments held in Kalamazoo Michigan. The pair made it in as one of the top 4 doubles pairings in the region. They posted a stellar record of 22-5 that included a finals appearance in the ITA Fall regional championship. Meanwhile Rob will compete in the singles draw after a 15-7 record that included a Middlebury Invitational A-flight singles title. The Boys were quarterfinalists in the doubles draw and Rob was a semifinalist in the singles draw at last years Nationals held in Cary, North Carolina. This year the individual singles and doubles tournaments will start May 23 and end on May 25.
On Saturday morning the Bates men were pitted against the Amherst Lord Jeffs in the semifinals of the NESCAC tournament. The Bobcats came out fighting hard taking breaks from the Jeffs on all three courts. At three doubles Peter and Dylan broke Fritz and Reindel twice early on to take the 3-2 lead. However, the Amherst pair played stepped up and reeled off 6 of the next 7 games for the 8-4 win. Up 1-0 Amherst’s Solinmano and Kahan took the next point as they overcame Timmy and Pierre’s break up 4-3 to take the 8-5 win. At one doubles Rob and Matt fought hard going back and forth with Dale and Yareghi, yet in the end Amherst completed the sweep with the 8-6 win.
Down 3-0 and with the decision looming the Bates men fought hard. Rob and Timmy both took first sets against their opponents at one and three, but in the end a loss at 6 and 4 would seal the 5-0 decision for the Amherst team.
Today the Bates Bobcats played the Wesleyan Cardinals in the first round of the NESCAC tournament at Amherst College. The early morning doubles point proved to be a good indicator of how tight the match would be. In first doubles, Rob and Matt broke early but would struggle after going down 5-2 to Brint and Rudovsky of Weslyan. However, the Bates pair would eventually pull it together and take the first point 8-6. Down 1-0 the Cardinals would strike back as Legunn and King took the 8-4 decision to even the score. As second doubles finished, Reffe and Yanofsky fought off a triple match point to take Wesleyan’s Monk and Suh to a tiebreaker. With the breaker score tied at five a piece Dylan and Peter came up with two huge points putting the Bobcats up 2-1.
Moving onto singles, the Cardinals and Bobcats began a two and a half hour marathon that would come down to two matches. The first points off were one and four singles, Pierre, hampered by a slight injury fought hard but fell 6-4, 6-1 to Legunn. At one singles Rob stormed through Wesleyan’s Monk, winning 6-1 6-4. With Bates up a point Wesleyan would strike back as Hudson would take down Ben with a 6-2 6-2 win. Dylan was the next to finish, down a set and a break he came all the way back against Brint, to take the 2-6, 7-5, 6-0 win. With the 4-3 lead and Bettles locked in a third set with King, Timmy came up with the final break to win his third set and the decision 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.
With the win, the Bobcats clinched a place in the NESCAC semifinals where they will play the top seeded Amherst Lord Jeffs. The match will be at Amherst and start at 9am tomorrow morning, Saturday May 4th.
Bates College Tennis 