The 23rd annual King of the Hill Tournament, a six-week round-robin professional doubles competition at the Moorings Yacht and Country Club, served up a golden set last Tuesday evening in support of the Youth Guidance Mentoring & Activities Program at its exciting closing match.

Even a sudden rainstorm didn’t clear the crowd of fans who filled the stands as they waited to see which local tennis professional would walk away with the “King of the Hill” title in the three-division tournament: Open, 40-and-over, and 50-and-over.

In the end, it was Mike Alford of Quail Valley River Club who was crowned the 2018 “King.” Alford and runner-up Robert Kowalczyk have been awarded a main draw doubles wild card into the 2018 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships, a U.S. Tennis Association (USTA), Pro Circuit Futures tournament, to be held April 20-29 at the Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club. Alford and Kowalczyk are scheduled to play on April 24.

Founded by Gigi Casapu, the King of the Hill Tournament honors the memory of his brother, Johnny Casapu, a world-class tennis player who was passionate about tennis and helping children, but who tragically died 23 years ago in a car accident while in Romania.

“We’re really excited that we’ve been able to partner for the last two years with Gigi and King of the Hill,” shared Randy Walker, co-director of the MFCF Tennis Championships. “Vero Beach is the best, per capita, tennis town in the country. It’s really fantastic that you all are supporting tennis but most importantly that you all are supporting youth in the community.”

Other tournament standouts were 50s division winner Joe Biedenharn of John’s Island Club and 40s division winner Marco Osorio of Grand Harbor and the LOTA Tennis Academy.

And while Alford may have walked away with the King of the Hill title, it was game-set-match for local children, who are the real winners. Proceeds from the tournament help fund the Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy, which provides group and one-to-one mentoring programs for 300 children each year from low-income, single-parent homes.

“We’ve been providing mentoring services for youngsters in Indian River County for the past 45 years,” shared Felix Cruz, Youth Guidance executive director. “As we come to the close of a very competitive and very productive tournament I want you all to witness the product of what goes on here.”

Cruz presented the 2018 Gigi Casapu Scholarship to Brittany Rhoden, a Vero Beach High School student and long-time Youth Guidance mentee. Rhoden plans to use the $1,000 award toward earning her associate degree in hospitality management at Indian River State College before transferring to Florida International University to earn her bachelor’s degree.

“I got a lot of help from Youth Guidance,” explained Rhoden. “Without Youth Guidance I would not have gained the confidence I have today. My goal is to make enough money to put food on the table and take care of my family.”

For more information visit YouthGuidanceProgram.org.

Photos by: Denise Ritchie
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: Lauren Pfeiffer and Gigi Casapu

: Scholarship recipient Brittany Rhoden with her brother, Cornelius, and father, Shamus Rhoden

: Adam Leftkandinos and Michael Alford

: Gregory Levy

: Rob Kowalczyk and Bill Troxell

: Art and Gail Shinners

: Allan Schwartz and Larry Taylor with Yvonne and Dan Bono

: Jan Truebner and Marianne Reifenheiser

: Front: Carolyn Nielsen, Gregory Levy, and Jan Berkenpas. Back: Joe Watts, Lauren Kushner and Kevin DiMaggio, Suzie Sunkel, and Mary-Lou Campbell