Page 200 - YB1899
P. 200
a persistence and perseverance that seemed worthy of a better cause. But we still hope that time and use will put the courts into first-class condition. So much for the foundation of my article on tennis-·the ground fioor, so to speak, the courts. Now for the players. For the past two years tournaments been held at the College, in which always great interest has been taken, and these contests have unquestionably greatly aided the development of the game in our midst. This year the interest was still further increased by the fact that the Inter- collegiate Athletic Association of Maryland and the District of Columbia had decided to hold a tournament open to the six colleges included in its membership, and this tournament was to be held on our grounds. So the tennis players got up early and stayed out late practicing the points of the game. The week before the State tournament was to take place, a local tournament was held to select our rep- resentative. In this tournament, Sartorius, 1900, defeated Cobey, 1901; Holt 1901, defeated W. H. Thomas, '99; Turpin, 1900, defeated Stowe, 1900. Holt defeated Turpin and then Sartori us, and thus won for himself the right to enter the State tournament as Western Maryland's representative. Only three other colleges entered: St. John's entered Lyons; Maryland Agricultural, Mangum, and Gallaudet, Heurtson. In the preliminary round Holt defeated Mangum, 6-1, 6-1, and Lyons defeated Heurtson, 6-1, 6-2. This brought Holt and Lyons together in the finals, and Western Maryland rooters came out in force to see what the end would be. The result was not long in doubt. Holt outclassed his man at almost every point, being especially successful in lobbing, and won easily, 6-0, 6-4, 6- 1. Holt displayed in his game throughout both in the local and the State tournament the most consistent exhibition of tennis that has been seen here for some time. He plays the game all the time; fights for every point; keeps a cool head, and uses his judgment in placing and lobbing. He doesn't play any fancy strokes, but keeps returning the ball until finally his opponent knocks it out or nets it. He seemed to handle with especial success the lobbing game and by send- ing the balls over his opponent's head and well into the back of the court rarely gives him an opportunity to smash at close ra·nge. Holt is from Wa hington, D. C. His full name is Felix Renouf Holt, and he is now the first holder of the title "tennis champion of the Tntercollegiate Athletic Association of Maryland and the District of Columbia." And we hope that many another State champion may be furnished by the Tennis Association of Western Maryland College. HlO