Naperville Junior Coach Ashwin Ramesh rallied, together with fellow Buddies Arjun Ramesh and Abi Molhotra, to hold the “Serving 4 Buddy Up Tennis” tennis tournament benefiting Buddy Up Tennis Naperville.
The event began with our Naperville Athletes pairing up with the tournament players in sharing our favorite fitness stations and some friendly tennis competition! Ashwin had a vision: He wanted his friends to experience firsthand the Buddy Up Tennis magic. Athletes and players bonded for an hour throughout the on-court fitness and tennis activities, posted selfies on social media, and made new friendships.
Ashwin, Arjun, and Abi introduced 45 of their classmates from Oswego East High School to Buddy Up Tennis, to raise awareness that they feel will lead to weekly volunteer participation at the Naperville clinics. The team raised over $1,700 for Buddy Up Tennis Naperville through the tournament, and was able to share their Buddy Up Tennis journey as Buddies with friends and family. With the funds raised, Buddy Up Tennis Naperville hopes to bring Buddy Up Fitness to the location and hold another Buddy Up Summer Camp for their Athletes.
Ashwin hopes that the tournament will become an annual event that unites his school and the Buddy Up Tennis Naperville Athletes. The Buddy Up Tennis environment was a new one for many of Ashwin’s friends who participated in the tournament, and he saw them thrive. “I never get to see my friends working with our Athletes, and I am thankful for the opportunity to bring the two groups together,” Ashwin said.
At the end of the Buddy Up Tennis hour, everybody dropped their racquets and came together to dance the Macarena and a “1-2-3 BUDDY UP TENNIS” Cheer. ”Serving 4 Buddy Up Tennis” tennis tournament proved to be a great way to unite the community, create awareness, raise funds for Buddy Up Tennis Naperville, and have an absolute ball of fun!