BCC's true family affair
PENN TWP — Butler Country Club tennis is all about family.
That was never more evident than in BCC's contingent of players participating in the 25th annual West Penn Junior Inter-Club Mixed Doubles Championships Thursday on the club's courts.
The event featured five teams — BCC, Mt. Lebanon, Sewickley Area, Treesdale and Wildwood — competing in 18-under and 12-under mixed doubles divisions.
Butler Country Club's 12-under team was a brother-sister act: Mark Jr. and Allie Swift of Penn Township. BCC's 18-under team consisted of Elizabeth Swift, 15, and Tripp Santora, 10.
Tripp was the fourth Santora sibling to play in the event through the years. BCC's youth tennis team has 30 players this year.
“Our team needed someone to play in the 18-under, so I volunteered to do it,” Tripp said. “It's a little different because everyone's bigger than me.
“I'm used to that, though, from playing (tennis) with my family.”
BCC youth tennis director Whitney Snyder pointed out that Tripp was the first player to arrive at the facility Thursday.
“He showed up here an hour before the event began, just to work on his serve,” Snyder said. “I was impressed by that.
“Tripp is a fairly accomplished player, well ahead of his years. He can hold his own in that (18-under) division. He easily could have played 12-under, but he wanted to help the team. He saw a need and he filled it.”
Tripp also enjoys playing basketball, lacrosse, golf and pickleball.
“He is a trip,” his mother, Laura Santora said, laughing. “He is aptly named.
“Elizabeth has been very patient, kind and sweet in playing with him. They've been getting along great out there.”
The Swift family lives only a mile or so from the country club. They have been BCC members since 2016.Mark Swift is on the BCC membership board, his wife, Christine, on the BCC tennis committee.“Our kids all love the game and they love coming here to play,” Mrs. Swift said. “Snyde is great about emphasizing sportsmanship and socializing.“We are blessed as a family in that our children all love the same sport. the same activity, and love doing it here. They can ride their bikes or even walk here from where we live.”Elizabeth will be a sophomore at North Catholic this fall. She played No. 1 doubles on the Trojanette girls tennis team last fall and hopes to start at singles this year.“It's been different, playing with a 10-year-old,” she said of the West Penn mixed doubles event. “But it's been so much fun. Tripp knows where to be on the court and he handles his shots well.“The older division isn't too big for him at all.”Elizabeth added that the BCC youth program helps get her ready for the high school season.“I love the program here,” she said. “It's always a great atmosphere. I can work on my game wile competing and prepare for high school tennis.”
Mark Jr., 9, and Allie, 12, have teamed up for doubles before. They do so on family day each Friday at BCC.“We have great coaches,” Allie said. “I like playing tennis with my brother.”Mark Jr. said he likes tennis “because my whole family plays.”Both BCC tandems finished 1-3. Allie summed up those records best.“We played well ... but everybody's been playing well today,” she said.Mt. Lebanon won the event with a combined 7-1 record. Sewickley Area was second, Treesdale third. Treesdale's 18-under team was a brother-sister act as well — Evan and Mia Kaufman.Mia Kaifman and Tripp Santora received the extra effort awards for the tournament. Sportsmanship awards went to Arianna Barbera of Wildwood and Michael Snyder of Sewickley Area.“I'm thankful to Butler Country Club for giving us the opportunity to have this event for 25 years,” Snyder said. “I'm seeing a lot of sportsmanship, happy kids in a relaxed atmosphere.“Bringing kids together from all over Pittsburgh to enjoy the game and play mixed doubles — which kids rarely get a chance to do — is what this event is all about.”
