WKCTA exceeds goals in nonstop tennis event
By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer
Rally for Life marked a proud moment for Bob Ferruzzi, courtesy of energetic youths who put the third annual Western Kenosha County Tennis Association event over the top last weekend at Westosha Central High School.
Entering the WKCTA Rally for Life, which consists of 24 consecutive hours of tennis, the board targeted $2,500 in proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society and school supplies for the Sharing Center of Trevor.
But, the young participants went above and beyond, helping raise $3,000 for cancer research.
“This is the first year where we exceeded our projected goal and we are very proud of that,” said Ferruzzi, noting the children enrolled in the organization’s summer camps played a pivotal role.
Before Rally for Life started, WKCTA approached all participants 14 and under in the middle of the year, and told them of the event’s mission.
The participants brought in a shade above 33 percent of the total contribution to the American Cancer Society, he said.
“All of our kids 14 and under, we gave them a Rally sheet in the middle of the year and we instructed them on what we are trying to do leading up to this event,” he said. “They are the ones that brought in probably over $1,100 of that money.”
While younger children bolstered the organization’s effort, several current and former Westosha Central High School tennis players brought the energy, playing nonstop on the courts of the school for nearly 24 hours. They might have taken prior tennis lessons to be able to attain this. One needs to be trained hard, especially when it involves a moral cause.
Recent graduate Zach Wermeling, who exceeded 24 hours, helped WKCTA board members set up the tennis courts and tables of food items before the event.
“I never went to sleep, I always wanted to get back up and play again in the Rally,” Wermeling stated. “I know we took breaks because of the fatigue eventually, but (I was) never out of it for more than 30 minutes.”
Rally for Life serves as a reminder to Wermeling of his two grandmothers that succumbed to cancer.
“Both of my grandmothers died – of breast cancer and leukemia – so it always was something that I love doing to help,” Wermeling said.
For incoming senior Gage Reynolds, Rally for Life is part of a larger mission for him.
Reynolds, whose 20-year-old sister, Maddy, survived cancer as an infant, said it is another way to boost research efforts.
“That is why I got involved with American Cancer Society, like I was a committee chair for the Wilmot/Central Relay for Life,” Reynolds said. “And I am volunteering for the Relay for Life Kenosha this August.”
Fortunately, Maddy has been cancer free for about 18 years, he stated.
Both Falcons’ tennis players participated in the event at its peak Friday night, when about 60 players went back and forth, according to Ferruzzi, president of the WKCTA.
Ferruzzi added that while 60 was the peak, “We had well over 200 people of all ages. We had our young tournament this afternoon and then yesterday we had our high school tournament. We ran the gamut of all people.”
Ferruzzi, whose board debated shortening the event, said the youth had other ideas.
“I don’t know how they can do it, we talked about shortening the Rally for Life from 24 hours to 12 hours,” he said. “But every year, they say they want to continue with the 24 hours.”
Meanwhile, the Sharing Center expects to see back-to-school items at its doorstep later this week, helping with the nonprofit organization’s mission to help underserved youth prepare for school in the fall.
Ferruzzi reported they collected about five boxes of school supplies, including several backpacks.
“We got about four or five boxes coming to them this week,” he stated. “We got about 30 backpacks and a bunch of paper and school supplies.”