Boys Tennis Raises Funds

Weston Tennis Team Played “for the babies”

The Weston High School Boys Varsity Tennis Team was the 2012 MIAA North Section Division 3 Champion for the third consecutive year.  This year, however, winning this title was not its only accomplishment.  With pledges ranging from $0.10-$2.00 per game won, the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams raised $3,538.90 for the March of Dimes with games won during their regular 2012 season. Senior Trevor Sands won the most number of games, while Junior Benjamin Spector raised the most dollars in pledges. 

The March of Dimes was founded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to combat polio. Having essentially eradicated the disease, the organization turned to the mission of improving the health of babies by seeking to prevent birth defects, prematurity and infant mortality.

Since pledges were based on games won by individual players, rather than matches or team wins, every player who solicited pledges was able to contribute to the drive regardless of their overall match record.  Freshman first singles Ethan Chen was one who was never discouraged by split sets.  When having to go for a third set, he would often be heard proclaiming that he was just “winning more games for the babies.”

Members of the team were able to visit the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital’s Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) on Wednesday, June 20, 2012, where Neonatologist-in-Chief Dr. DeWayne Pursley gave them a tour of the facilities.  NICUs were first established by the March of Dimes and many of the procedures were developed through research funded by the March of Dimes.  The team members presented their gift to March of Dimes Massachusetts State Director Ed Doherty.

The boys expect to repeat their efforts in 2013, hoping to raise at least as much in the second year. The Boys’ Tennis Team is one of several Weston High School teams that have raised funds for charitable causes. Other teams include the Boys’ Lacrosse Team, which has supported Autism Speaks; and the Boys’ Baseball Team, which raised almost $1,000 in its game against Wayland on May 14, 2012, for the American Cancer Society.

Visit Spring Sports