Otley Memorial set for Saturday

Fri, Jul 18, 2008

The Otley Memorial Tennis Tournament has reached its 10th season featuring the top prep tennis players from Spring Lake and Grand Haven.

The tournament, hosted by the Highland Park Tennis Association, features singles and mixed doubles competition between the Lakers and Buccaneers. The action gets underway at 10 a.m. at the Highland Park Courts.

Even the traditional Blueberries and Cream available for players remains a constant at the annual tournament, which is a play off the Wimbledon tradition of Strawberries and Cream. Reenders Blueberry Farms will provide the fruit for the tournament.

Many familiar faces will be representing Grand Haven and Spring Lake, with the Lakers' David Cook being the only newcomer. He replaces Will Eagan, who was 4-0 in singles play at the tournament. Cook played No. 1 singles for Spring Lake last fall as a sophomore, helping lead the Lakers to a state finals berth. Cook began playing at Norton Pines when he was six-year-old. He has also been playing USTA Junior tennis for the past three years.

Cook's Lakers counterpart will be Georgeanne Larsen. Larsen played No. 1 singles for Spring Lake the past two seasons after moving up from No. 1 doubles her freshman and sophomore years. Larsen takes lessons and competes in the winter at Norton Pines. Her grandfather, George DeVries, was the tennis coach for current Spring Lake coach Charlie Bassett.

For the Bucs, Jackie Kukulski returns to the tournament, after turning in a stellar senior season. She helped lead the Bucs to a regional championship while playing at No. 3 singles. She is a PTR certified instructor and teaches in the Community Education Program.

Nick Wronski has been Grand Haven's No. 1 singles player for the past two season, after playing No. 1 doubles as a freshman and sophomore. He is a 3-time all-conference performer for the Bucs.