May 2010...

The 2nd Annual Larry Caton Memorial Tennis Tournament held April 24, 2010 at Roger Scott Tennis Center in Pensacola raised between $3000 and $3500 for the "Tennis 4 Everyone" organization.

Fifty women and 24 men participated in the day long doubles event with all teams getting at least four nine game No-Ad matches. Bonefish Grill provided lunch and a host sponsors provided water, soft drinks and snacks as well.

An exhibition mixed doubles set provided entertainment during lunch. "Tennis-4-Everyone" founder and director Rita Dotson played with Pensacourt head pro Linsley McMillion against Roger Scott Tennis Director Bruce Caton and local junior Lucy Taylor.

The winners were:

• Ladies 1: Susan Nitterauer/Tara Dominguez and Jennie Barrow
• Ladies 2: Allison Randol/Linda Tibbitts
• Ladies 3:Debbie Cupp/Tami Manning
• Ladies 4: Eddie Brodie/Brenda Harris
• Ladies 5: Teresa Enders/Kim Moak
   
• Men 1: Mike Smith/Paul Pacheco
• Men 2: Gordon Paulus/Bobby Greenberg

You can view photos of some of the action in the
2010 Larry Caton Photo Album.
"Tennis-4-Everyone, Serving Success" is a nonprofit organization founded by Rita Dotson that has been operating for 10 years providing free tennis instruction to local youth attending summer camps at Bayview (YMCA), Cobb Center, Salvation Army, Fricker Center and Gull Point community center in the Pensacola area.

The USTA's Quickstart format has been implemented with terrific success. The new, lighter rackets, foam and pressure-less balls and shortened court size have allowed many more children to be "on the court" playing and having actual rallies. Additionally, these programs are conducted indoors in the gyms at the centers taking the extreme heat out of the teaching equation. The children are more attentive and focused on learning and enjoying the game. Participants also have an opportunity to enter the Arthur Ashe Essay/Art Contest and a chance to win a trip to the US Open.

At the end of the summer, a selected few players are chosen to receive "scholarships" in the form of free tennis lessons on Saturdays throughout the school year. In addition throughout the school year, Fricker Center after school program participants receive tennis instruction once a week.

This wonderful program takes tennis to the players where they live rather than forcing them to come to tennis centers. Director and instructor Rita Dotson and her assistant instructor Michael Smith are doing a wonderful job with this program and the Larry Caton Memorial Tournament has been a terrific source of funds for "Tennis-4-Everyone."