Being a stay-at-home parent has many perks. One of them is that
you get to participate in the 23rd annual Gilroy Garlic Tennis
Tournament. Another would be winning it. Liz Pinson and Barb Triolo
are stay-at-home moms who did just that.
Being a stay-at-home parent has many perks. One of them is that you get to participate in the 23rd annual Gilroy Garlic Tennis Tournament. Another would be winning it. Liz Pinson and Barb Triolo are stay-at-home moms who did just that.
Pinson and Triolo took first place for the women’s doubles in the tournament, which was held July 12 and 13. This was the pairs second time winning the title since becoming teaming up two years ago.
“We defended our title,” Pinson said with a big smile across her face. “We have that bragging right.”
This year’s tournament had a turn out of 145 competitors who competed in 210 events. This month’s competition was for players who are between the skill level 3.0 and 4.5, where 3.0 is a medium skill level and 4.5 is advanced.
The first and second place winners were awarded with portable folding chairs of assorted colors. First place received the chairs with a footrest, and second received ones without foot rests.
In addition to players from Gilroy and Morgan Hill, many players came from San Jose as well to compete.
Some participated for the competition, while others come for the fun of it like mixed doubles partners Patrick and Sandy Eggers.
The Eggers are members of the Gilroy Tennis Club and have competed in this tournament for the past 12 years.
They have yet to win the garlic tournament together. They came in second in their mixed doubles match up, but were content with the chairs that they won.
“It’s for fun,” Sandy stated. “Competing is fun.”
The Gilroy Garlic Tennis Tournament is hosted by the Gilroy Tennis Club, which is a non-profit organization. The tournament is run solely by volunteers, who are also members of the club.
Along with volunteering, many of the members partake in the competition. Each year, the club sponsors two tournaments – one in June and one in July in order to raise money for the city of Gilroy.
The money raised goes to improving the tennis courts in Gilroy. This year the tournament brought in $3,900, according to tournament directors.
