University of Minnesota Athletics
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/ Men's Tennis
Photo by: Craig Lassig
Current and Former Gophers Participate in Charity Tennis Tournament
8/4/2019 7:39:00 PM | Men's Tennis
WHITE BEAR LAKE, Minn. - Over the weekend, over thirteen current or former Gophers Men's and Women's tennis players took part in the annual Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic mixed-doubles tournament, held in White Bear Lake. This marks the 34th year of the tournament, which helps raise money to support cancer research areas where there is little to no national attention. Since the tournament's founding, the PTATC has helped raise over $5.5 million dollars to go towards cancer research.
The tournament, which is divided into three separate brackets (Open, Masters, and Grand Masters divisions), came to its conclusion on Sunday. Despite fielding over 100 former or current collegiate and professional tennis players, all three division winners featured at least one former Gopher taking home a championship. In the Open Division, former Gophers Men's Tennis player Julian Dehn came away victorious alongside his partner Tooli Wilkins. Former Gopher Kevin Werwie found himself victorious in the tournament's Masters Division, as he and his partner Meghan Kimber won 6-3, 7-5. And finally in the Grand Masters Division, Gophers Women's Tennis alum Kathy Bjornson was able to take home the title.
Alongside the many recognizable faces playing in this weekend's Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic, was current Gopher Men's Tennis sophomore Sebastian Vile. Playing alongside Gopher Women's Tennis sophomore Bella Lambert, Vile put together an impressive performance over the course of the weekend, winning a pair of matches before eventually falling in the Open Division quarterfinals to the division's eventual champions, Julian Dehn and Tooli Wilkins.
Despite the loss, Vile looks at the entire event as a positive experience to be a part of. "The PTATC tournament is an incredible event and one that I was fortunate enough to participate in," Vile said. "It's a great feeling when you're playing the sport you love and playing for something that is much bigger than yourself in order to make a difference."
The tournament, which is divided into three separate brackets (Open, Masters, and Grand Masters divisions), came to its conclusion on Sunday. Despite fielding over 100 former or current collegiate and professional tennis players, all three division winners featured at least one former Gopher taking home a championship. In the Open Division, former Gophers Men's Tennis player Julian Dehn came away victorious alongside his partner Tooli Wilkins. Former Gopher Kevin Werwie found himself victorious in the tournament's Masters Division, as he and his partner Meghan Kimber won 6-3, 7-5. And finally in the Grand Masters Division, Gophers Women's Tennis alum Kathy Bjornson was able to take home the title.
Alongside the many recognizable faces playing in this weekend's Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic, was current Gopher Men's Tennis sophomore Sebastian Vile. Playing alongside Gopher Women's Tennis sophomore Bella Lambert, Vile put together an impressive performance over the course of the weekend, winning a pair of matches before eventually falling in the Open Division quarterfinals to the division's eventual champions, Julian Dehn and Tooli Wilkins.
Despite the loss, Vile looks at the entire event as a positive experience to be a part of. "The PTATC tournament is an incredible event and one that I was fortunate enough to participate in," Vile said. "It's a great feeling when you're playing the sport you love and playing for something that is much bigger than yourself in order to make a difference."
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