Alumni and Parents Turn Out for 1888 Paddle Tennis Events

January turned into “Paddle Tennis Month” for Westminster 1888 events, as alumni generously hosted gatherings in four cities around the country.

1888: Hartford put the ball in play at the Hartford Golf Club on Jan. 15. Twenty alumni and parents took to the courts for an evening of competitive play, helpful instruction and enjoyment at one of the nicest paddle pavilions on the East Coast. Hartford Golf Club’s paddle tennis pro also was on site to give beginners some instruction and allow rusty players to find their strokes.
1888: Chicago took place at the Indian Hill Club in Winnetka, Ill., where John Mangel ’86 and his wife, Kathryn, hosted hearty alumni and parents to an evening of good paddle, warm food and conversation. With temperatures in the single digits, many chose to enjoy the warm fire and chat with one another. Throughout the evening, parents of current students had a chance to ask the younger alumni about their experiences while at Westminster, and in turn, all alumni got to hear from current parents about Westminster today.

1888: Fairfield County, the third stop on the paddle tour, took place on Jan. 29 in Greenwich, Conn., at the Round Hill Club. This was the second year in a row hosts Curt Brockelman '86 and Liz Van Duyne '83 brought alumni together for this annual event. Despite what started as a damp and rainy evening, the skies cleared and some very competitive and social paddle ensued. At one point, all four courts were occupied with matches, resulting in some players waiting for a court to open!

1888: Boston also moved to the suburbs of Brookline, Mass., where second-year hosts Charles Santry ’80 and Bob Knowles ’81 opened The Country Club to the Westminster faithful on Jan. 31. As the final stop on the 2008 paddle tour, it was appropriate that this event lasted the longest. Some alumni in attendance couldn’t pull themselves off the court until 10:30 p.m. — four hours after the event began!

“Paddle tennis is a wonderful game that can be played at all levels, and also enables people to be outside during the winter months,” said David Werner ’80, director of Alumni and Parent Programs. “We hope to expand both our attendance and the number of stops on the tour next year. Should these events take place in your area next year, we hope that you’ll come out for an evening that offers exercise and camaraderie!”

For additional information about future alumni and parent events, or if you have an idea for an 1888 event, please contact David Werner at dwerner@westminster-school.org or (860) 408-6501.