2011 ADDIE CUP held
May 19 & 20 in Wilmington, Delaware
by Judy Smith
For the 5th year in a row, Molly Hahn assembled, coached and
inspired another winning New England Addie Cup team. After an 11-7 win over Mid-Atlantic the team played Middle States
in a tense, nail-biting final, winning 10-9.
Indoors,
in rain-soaked Delaware, our injured and resourceful team competed valiantly
treating the rapt audience to 3 final match tie-breakers all played at the same
time and determining the outcome. Molly Hahn and Lee Delfausse, Allyson Bolduc
and Mary Mayotte, and Nancy Grimes with Sue Benoit were our competitors
extraordinaire - netting the required 2 out of 3 wins – sending the Addie Cup
back to New England again.
This event
will long be remembered for the spirit, cohesiveness, camaraderie and
sportsmanship of each team member not only to their age group team but to the
team as a whole. Our 40s team welcomed
new comers Nancy Grimes, Sue Benoit and Christine Chiminello. Their combined energy and engagement with
the team were infectious. They were
joined by veterans Michelle Wright and Aileen Eleey. Aileen even played with stitches in her right hand finger which
ultimately became infected.
The 50s
team also welcomed new comer Johanna Bickford who had a decisive singles win
even though she turned her ankle and was
hardly able to walk the last few games.
And after an easy first day doubles match Ann Knoblock had to retire with
a pulled calf muscle while leading in her second day’s singles match. Likewise
Tiina Bougas-Smith who joined the team after many years, was forced to retire
from her match with a very swollen knee.
This was a true blow to the team since the original 50s roster was
undeniably the strongest of any team and rarely gives up a single match. It is safe to say that Molly was now
worried. However, Jeanne Hulsen posted
her second singles win and we al were ecstatic when Jean Osachuk added a gutsy singles
win, despite a sore knee, to even the score 6-6 following the singles
matches. Jeanne and Jean teamed
together to uphold New England’s dominance at first doubles.
The 60s
were Queens of the Tie-Breakers!
Allyson Bolduc played 5 tie-breakers in 3 winning matches, Mary Mayotte
played 4 tie-breakers in 2 winning matches and in both cases there were Match
tie-breakers. With noses glued to the
window we watched the final match on the court, Molly Hahn and Lee Delfausse
fight their way to a final Match tie-breaker win that put New England over the
top.
In the 70s
Heidi Attlfellner and Sheila Weinstock won all their singles matches and Sheila
and Judy Smith won both their doubles matches.
These were all won in 2 sets.
In
addition to our seriously injured players the rest of us were ably attended to
by our favorite travelling friend and physical therapist, Bernadette Lehnmann,
who massaged our aches and pains and carefully wrapped us with kinesio tape.
In Molly’s
words: “This New England win is a
tribute to the depth, strength, determination and tremendous support of the
entire team.”
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2011 NEW ENGLAND ADDIE CUP TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP PICTURE
Front
row L to R: Middle States referee Melissa Jackson presenting the Addie
Cup to Molly Hahn, the New England captain, accompanied by congratulations
from organizer and captain of the finalist Middle States team, Pat
Keleman.
Middle
row L to R: Sheila Weinstock, Christine Chiminello, Nancy Grimes, Jean
Osachuk, Judy Smith, Allyson Bolduc, Bernadette Lehman (NE trainer)
Back row
L to R: Ann Knoblock, Tina Smith, Sue Benoit, Michelle Wright, Aileen
Eleey, Heidi Attlfellner, Johanna Bickford, Mary Mayotte, Lee Delfausse,
Jeanne Hulsen
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