Not a hint of winter weather is expected anywhere near the inaugural Snowflake Open.
Indeed, the Sedona Community Tennis Association expects clear skies and 78 degrees for its mixed doubles charity tournament Friday and Saturday, Feb. 27 and 28, on the Poco Diablo Resort tennis courts.
“We’ll have to bring some ice out,” joked tournament director Claudette Laliberte. “We were thinking that it was going to be cold.”
Partnering up so far to play in the double-elimination tournament are over 30 Northern Arizona tennis players. Registration will be open in all age groups until Tuesday, Feb. 23.
Proceeds from entry fees will go to the American Diabetes Association in memory of SCTA board member Kevin Schutt, who died suddenly of diabetic complications last year.
“We didn’t even know he had it,” Laliberte said. “It was, like, in his sleep. He woke up, didn’t feel good and went to the couch.
“He was slim; he wasn’t necessarily overweight. Everybody was shocked.”
Proceeds from ticket sales for a tournament raffle will also go toward the local ADA chapter in Schutt’s memory.
“He was a great competitor,” Laliberte said. “He didn’t like to lose.”
Solo players will be paired up at the tournament, while teams will be placed in different divisions according to their National Tennis Rating Program level of play.
“Two 3.5 level players would be 7.0,” said Laliberte, a United States Professional Tennis Association elite pro who will team up with one of her 3.0 level students. “We could have higher at 4.0 … 8.0, 9.0.”
But what Laliberte primarily hopes this year’s tournament accomplishes is raising awareness of how tragic the effects of diabetes can be.
“We want to involve the community in creating awareness of the damaging effects of diabetes,” Laliberte said. “Tennis brings people together in such positive ways. We are looking forward to making the Snowflake Open an annual event to support a different local charity each year.”
For more details about the Snowflake Open, please see the Friday, Feb. 19, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.
