PENN TWP — Like mother, like sons.
Annie Succop is a former Butler Country Club junior tennis assistant coach, helping out during her college career as a lacrosse player at Lehigh University. She was also a junior tennis player in the BCC program from age 8 to 18 under the club’s junior tennis director, Whitney Snyder.
“Whit has always been big on manners, sportsmanship, getting players to introduce themselves to each other,” Succop said. “He helped show me how to be respectful to others and I’ve always appreciated that.”
Eli Tigano of the Butler Country Club junior tennis team tries returning a shot during the 28th annual West Penn Inter-Club Mixed Doubles JR Team Championship at the Butler Country Club on Thursday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (6/27/2024)
Succop played in a couple of West Penn Inter-Club Mixed Doubles Junior Team Championships — an event hosted annually by BCC. Her sons, Eli (10) and Leo (8) are now in their third and second year, respectively, in Snyder’s youth tennis program.
Eli played in the 28th annual West Penn Inter-Club Mixed Doubles tourney on Thursday at the BCC courts. He joined Sophia Brussalis in comprising the club’s junior varsity tandem in the event.
Eli received the male Extra Effort award for the event, which also included junior varsity and varsity doubles teams from the Butler Junior Tennis Association, Peters Township and Wildwood Golf Club.
Isabella Marcotuillo of the JV Butler Junior Tennis Association team returns a serve during the 28th annual West Penn Inter-Club Mixed Doubles JR Team Championship at the Butler Country Club on Thursday. Her brother and doubles partner, Samuel, is in the background. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (6/27/2024)
“Those three organizations have always been very supportive of this event and Butler Country Club has allowed us to host this for 28 years,” Snyder said. “I’m very thankful for that.”
Succop said she appreciates the positive effect BCC junior tennis has had on Eli.
“He’s a quiet kid, but people come up to me and compliment me on how polite and respectful he is,” Succop said. “Events like this have a lot to do with that.”
Eli competes in numerous other sports, including baseball, hockey and soccer.
“They’re all fun, but I can see parts of the other sports in tennis,” Eli said. “How I grip a bat in baseball compare to a backhand shot, making a return of a ball near the ground reminds me of hockey, running and moving on the court is like soccer.
“I enjoy doubles in tennis because I’m always always playing with the same partner (Sophia). We know each other’s moves, which shots we can get to. That helps us on the court.”
He added that his favorite part of Thursday’s event is: “having fun and making new friends. That’s always nice.”
Peters Township won the overall team event. Varsity players Brandon Frameli-Metz and Karlee Webber won the varsity title, Webber the female Extra Effort award. Anthony Pavolizk and Alexis Ward were PT’s junior varsity players.
A brother and sister act — Samuel and Isabella Marcotuillo of Butler Junior Tennis — were the junior varsity champions. Isabella received the female Sportsmanship award. Michael Albaugh and Ana Pintell were varsity players for BJTA.
Tre Kinmonth, a junior varsity player for Wildwood, won the male Sportsmanship award.
Snyder saw the bigger picture.
“Youth sports today has kids playing the same sport 12 months a year, just to keep up,” Snyder said. “It’s all about winning and being the best. Out here today, kids are enjoying each other, forming friendships, they’re relaxed and having fun.
“This is what youth sports are supposed to be like.”
