PENN TWP — A place of contentment and enjoyment while building relationships and learning sportsmanship.

Most people would search far and wide for such a venue.

For the Swift family, it’s right down the street.

“We live three minutes away,” Christine Swift said of her family home in relation to the Butler Country Club tennis courts. “Our kids can walk here and often do.”

Lizzie Swift, 16, and younger sister Allie, 13, were varsity and junior varsity members, respectively, of the Butler Country Club foursome that competed in the 26th annual West Penn Inter-Club Mixed Doubles Junior Team Championship Thursday on the BCC Courts. Their younger brother, Mark Jr., 10, participated in the event last year.

Lizzie has been in the BCC youth tennis program for seven years. Allie’s been part of the program for six.

“Our team practices three days a week, but we’re here five or six days a week,” Lizzie said. “I love it. Tennis is a sport my family can play together. And this event ... it’s about sportsmanship and meeting new people more than about winning.”

Whitney Snyder, BCC’s longtime youth tennis director, pulled in eight teams for Thursday’s event, the most it’s had in 15 years. Each program — Allegheny, Butler Country Club, Butler Junior Tennis Association, Edgeworth, Mount Lebanon, Sewickley Area, Treesdale and Wildwood — had a varsity and junior varsity mixed doubles team playing in a round-robin format.

The total wins tallied between each program’s varsity and JV team figure into a point total to determine the overall winner. Mount Lebanon won the event with 16 points, finishing first in both varsity and JV.

Not that it particularly mattered.

“I love the feel that’s here,” Snyder said of the event. “Sportsmanship is emphasized. Making new friends is represented. At the end of the day, no one remembers who won. Youth sports needs more days like this ... it’s a blessing.”

Lizzie agreed that the West Penn Inter-Club event is more about sportsmanship than winning.

“It’s about meeting and playing against different people, too,” she said. “I know a lot of the players on the other teams from previous tennis events.”

Sportsmanship awards went to Jack Gillespie of Treesdale and Kirsten Karlovits of Wildwood. Extra effort awards went to Grant Webb of Edgeworth and Victoria Kronk of Allegheny.

“Sportsmanship is big here,” Allie Swift said of the BCC youth tennis program. “Two years ago, I won our sportsmanship award. That meant a lot to me. Snyde is a hopeful and caring person. He teaches us to play fairly and nicely. He’s not hard on us. He just wants us to hit the ball correctly.”

Snyder said the Swift family “embodies what our tennis program is all about. They are committed, team-oriented, unselfish, enthusiastic and always willing to help.”

Both of the Swift girls are hopeful of playing tennis in college. They attend Aquinas Academy, which did not have a girls tennis team.

Until now — courtesy of Lizzie.

“I talked to the athletic director about what it would take to form a team,” she said. “I was able to coach our middle school club team, so I got to coach my sister. That was fun.

“We generated interest and we have 30 girls playing now — and we have a team.”

“I loved being coached by Lizzie,” Allie said. “We play a lot of tennis together and I’ve learned a lot from her. I’ve been playing since I was 5.

“I’m happy that Lizzie will get the chance to play for the high school team while she’s there.”

Like her children, Christine Swift continues to be active in the BCC tennis program. She is on the board of directors and and plays in a league at the country club once a week.

She described a recent tennis social that “had 30 people here. It was a family event. Tennis is a family sport here.

“Whitney is about the kids having fun playing the game, teaching them sportsmanship, socialization, relationship-building. It’s not about winning the game, it’s about forming the friendships.”

WEST PENN INTER-CLUB

MIXED DOUBLES JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

Standings

1-Mount Lebanon (16 points): Varsity, Henry Ellwein and Jackie Tan; JV, Leo Joseph and Carly Weber

2-Allegheny (13 points): Varsity, Grayson Beatty and Alex Merkel; JV, Mac Meagher and Victoria Kronk

3-tie, Butler Country Club (9 points): Varsity, Evan Palmiero and Lizzie Swift; JV, Tripp Santora and Allie Swift

3-tie , Wildwood (9 points): Varsity, Alexandra and Victoria Taylor; JV, Nico Mangieri and Kirsten Karlovits

5-Treesdale (8 points): Varsity, Jack Gillespie, Sienna Derenzo, Evan Kaufman and Gabrielle Matzus; JV, Chase Vargo, Clare Elliott, Kate Gillepsie and Levi Mande;

6-Butler Junior Tennis Association (7 points): Varsity, Andrew Bocci and Ali Smith; JV, Kam Warheit and Lani Spohn

7-Edgeworth (6 points): Varsity, Grant Webb and Mary Grace Stampfel; JV, Vito Pogue and Elizabeth York

8-Sewickley Area (4 points): Varsity, Matt Henry and Kaitlyn Zeman; JV, Carter Hawes and Cate Henry