Heights High takes golden racquet in win over Beaumont

UH Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan presents the golden racquet to the winning Heights High team.

Each year, the Beaumont School and Cleveland Heights High School varsity girls’ tennis teams face off to bring home the “golden racquet.”

This year’s matchup took place at Purvis Park, on Sept. 27, with the Heights High Tigers beating the Beaumont Blue Streaks, 3-2.

The trophy, a tennis racquet painted gold, went home with the Tigers and will stay with them until the teams meet again next year.

Beaumont’s head coach Mike Pellechia was feeling pretty confident when his team took an early two-court advantage, with Maggie Brady taking second singles, and the second doubles team of Sarah Wolf and Brooklyn Roulette winning in straight sets.

Heights High senior Xoe Bly came from behind and won first singles, after three sets, and third singles player Libby Warren won a tight match in straight sets.

The team victory came down to the first doubles match that, after two solid hours of play, had entered its third set. With darkness becoming a factor, the Heights High team of Josie Naypanner and Leslie Villeda pulled out a thrilling third-set victory (7-5), giving Heights High the win for only the third time in the 10-year existence of the golden racquet.

University Heights Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan was in attendance, and awarded the golden racquet to the Tigers and the team’s head coach, John Laskarides.

“Having the mayor here made the golden racquet match extra special,” said Pellechia. “The Blue Streaks will be back and ready to bring back the golden racquet next year.”

Nicole Levine

Nicole Levine is Mike Pellechia's daughter, and an avid tennis lover. She earned a bachelor's degree from Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, and currently resides in Columbus.

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Volume 14, Issue 11, Posted 10:19 AM, 10.29.2021