“We have a lot of junk in the trunk,” Mike says into his cell as we cross the Susquehanna. He listens for awhile before turning to me, “Hold on one sec – can you check and see where J is? I’m going like 95 and I think I lost him.”
It’s Friday afternoon, sunny and warm and perfect for a little tennis – and a little cruising down the highway. We’re zooming down Route 30 towards Hardkohr Sports & Fitness in York to set up for the Max Power Challenge II.
Recently renovated, Hardkohr is a great spot for tennis. And apparently some sort of cardio kickboxing class, whose members work up a sweat while we hang banners and set up trophies and sponsor tables. Soon, players start arriving, some fresh from the office, still in suits and heels. Muscles are stretched, tennis ball cans are cracked open, and the Max Power Challenge II (”the Sequel”) officially gets underway.
Our work done, we sit back and watch players warm up. Points are intense, often with little bantering among players between games and sets. It’s difficult to guess who will win – some players take a few games, or a set even, to warm up while others quickly lose their nerve. Effortless groundstrokes in a warmup might turn to unforced errors during actual play. Each match is a soap opera of ups and downs, disappearing acts and comebacks, and possibly a long-lost evil twin or two.
It’s almost impossible to say who will end up victorious at the end of the weekend – all we know is that a Challenge has been issued, and for one glorious sunny weekend in March, it has been accepted by these hard-hitting few.
Max Power Challenge II Winners
Men’s 4.0 Doubles
Champion: Mark Lewis / Martin Newswanger
Finalist: Patrick T. Moran / Nicholas A. Veronis
Mixed 9.0 Doubles
Champion: James D. Kohr / Jayne Snyder
Finalist: Mikesh J. Desai / Amelia Capuano
Mixed 8.0 Doubles
Champion: Nicole Nikolaus / Ben Oostdam
Finalist: Sharon F. Davis / Jeff Graby
Mixed 7.0 Doubles
Champion: Christine M. Klions / John A. Thomas
Finalist: Lori R. Rudy / Joel Snyder
Women’s 4.0 Singles
Champion: Bernadette M. Gardner
Finalist: Beth Rickard
Women’s 3.0 Singles
Champion: Christine M. Klions
Finalist: Kathleen M. Schlager
Men’s 4.0 Singles
Champion: John A. Thomas
Finalist: Matthew Ludwig
Men’s 3.5 Singles
Champion: Greg Hammond
Finalist: David E. Schrum
Men’s 3.0 Singles
Champion: Gary R. Spangler
Finalist: Iwan Santoso
