Pikeville, Ky. — The beat goes on for Chase Kendrick, a soon to be freshman at Lawrence Co., after he won the 16U and 14U championships in the 50th Annual Kenny Huffman Tennis classic at Bob Amos Park.
Kendrick beat Adam Gunnel from West Liberty 6-0 and 6-1 for the 14U singles championship .
In the 16U championship game he took down Carter Heist from Somerset 6-1 and 6-1.
Kendrick and LC Senior to be Kennedy Gauze participated in the Mixed A doubles tournament falling to Emily Conn and John Hereford in the finals.
Gauze also finished runner-up in the 18U singles falling to Lakin Deerfield in a very close match up.
Tournament Director Victor Allara
“… The 50th Annual Kenny Huffman Tennis Classic was held at Bob Amos Park Tennis Courts in Pikeville this past weekend. The event started with an Opening Ceremony honoring the 50th anniversary of the tournament before play began on Friday, July 28. The tournament had 87 players from as far away as Alabama and Georgia, including several from Louisa and Crum WV, these players include Chase Kendrick, Kennedy Gauze, and Elizabeth Davis.”
“… The tournament namesake, Kenny Huffman, was born and raised in Pikeville, he attended Pikeville High School where he was a successful tennis player, Kenny went on to Pikeville College where he played tennis also. Kenny was a husband, a father, a Christian and he loved the game of tennis so much he wanted to share it with anyone and everyone. He would teach and work with kids to get them to play the game he loved, and this tournament is here 50 years later to continue to honor and support his Legacy. On August 21, 1973, Kenny lost his final match against cancer at the age of 28 and the tournament was started a month later by his wife Sue Huffman Stanley in memory of her late husband and has been held every year since, except in 1977 when the courts were unplayable due to the flooding that spring.”
“… Proceeds from the tournament provide funding for the Kenny Huffman Memorial Tennis Foundation which is a non-profit, 501 c 3 organization. The Foundation provides an annual scholarship to very deserving and talented junior tennis players which are high school Seniors from the 14th, 15th, or 16th region in Eastern Kentucky.”
