While this year’s Hub City Open Tennis Tournament features many familiar names, it also includes the first ever appearance for a family from North Dakota.
The Jestice family has three players competing in the event and many more family members watching.
Benjamin Jestice of Balfour is competing in singles, and mixed doubles, his sister, Elisabet Weber of Minot is competing in singles and women’s doubles, and their mother, Janice Jestice is in women’s doubles and mixed doubles.
The family’s roots are in Arkansas, where they learned to play the game. It was Benjamin’s idea to come to Aberdeen to play in the tourney.
“There’s not much tennis anywhere in North Dakota,” he said, “so I travel anywhere I can for it.”
Jestice hasn’t played for about 17 years, but decided to get back into it.
“My wife said I was too stressed out at work, so I needed to do something for recreation,” Jestice said.
He then talked his sister into coming down to compete in the tournament.
“My brother wanted to get back into it,” Weber said, “so he called and asked if I wanted to play in a tournament in Bismarck.”
That tourney is coming up, so they decided to play in the Hub City Open to prep for that.
Weber, who owns her own construction business, hasn’t played in nearly a decade and is trying to round her game back into form.
“It will take some time to come back,” she said. “I’m rusty. I used to play 5.0, so I’m not up to my game right now.”
Weber wore a long skirt while playing and also does so while working construction. It’s a lifestyle choice for the family members.
“I’m a Christian and I think that it’s modest for women to wear dresses, and that’s what I think is right,” she said, “so that’s what I do.”
Then there is Janice, who will soon be turning 75, and remains active in the construction industry.
“I still work construction,” she said. “I lay cement blocks, I do a lot of painting and I help frame and stuff. I’m on the job.”
Janice, who had 12 children, also hasn’t played in nearly 10 years, but still managed to hit back-to-back service return winners with her backhand during a doubles match.
“That’s my favorite shot. I love my backhand,” she said. “My forehand does well when I’m watching the ball, but there was too much rust on it today, but nine years is a long time.”
Benjamin and his wife have nine children (eight boys and one girl) aged 13 and under who were in attendance watching the action.
“We can fill up a couple draws at a tennis tournament,” he said with a smile.
Add it all together with her other children’s family members and Janice has a plethora of grandchildren.
“Over 50,” she said. “I lose count.”
VOGEL HAS MANY ROLES AT TOURNEY
Few people are busier than John Vogel during the Hub City Open.
The Aberdeen Central girls’ tennis coach, not only helps to organize the tourney, he plays in three divisions, singles, doubles and mixed doubles, as well as keeping an eye on family members and his current players.
“I didn’t know which one not to do. Mixed, actually both daughters are telling me I’m not a very good mixed partner, because I’m always so nice to the other girl,” Vogel said, “but I love playing with my daughters and my wife, so I’m like, oh my gosh, I’ll always play mixed.”
Vogel then teamed with Mason Ligon to compete in men’s doubles.
“I actually asked Mason to play,” Vogel said. “He’s my son’s best friend and I thought he’d be really fun to play tennis with, and guess what, he is. That match was super fun.”
Vogel also won his singles match, but had a hard time concentrating in most of his events, because he wanted to watch his daughters play and also his players are they were preparing for the upcoming season.
“It’s really fun and it’s nice when you have interest in every court on,” Vogel said. “It makes it for a quick day.”
The tournament concludes today.
MEN’S DIVISION
Open Singles
Brock Anderson def. Mason More, 6-2, 6-1; John Vogel def. Anderson, 7-5, 6-2; Aric Tennant def. Mika Dannen, 6-1, 6-4.
4.0 Singles
Riley Tople def. Dave Vilhauer, 4-6, 6-1, (10-4); Benjamin Jestice def. Gavin Johnston, 6-1, 6-3.
Open Doubles
John Vogel-Mason Ligon def. Cason Hellwig-Landon Zikmund, 5-7, 6-1, (11-9).
WOMEN’S DIVISION
Open Singles
Estelle Riggs def. Penelope Vogel, 6-3, 6-2; Sarah Knie def. Elisabet Weber, 6-2, 6-1; Riggs def. Mady Holman, 6-4, 6-3.
Open Doubles
Penelope Vogel-Jovee Waldo def. Weber-Janice Jestice, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, (10-2); Julia Knie-Sarah Knie def. Vogel-Waldo, 6-0, 6-0; Estelle Riggs-Avery Tennant def. Alice Vogel-Mirra Frohling, 6-3, 6-1.
MIXED
Open Doubles
Aric Tennant-Avery Tennant def. John Vogel-Penelope Vogel, 6-2, 6-1.
4.0 Doubles
Gavin Johnston-Sarah Knie def. Adam Buckhouse-Halle Buckhouse 6-2, 6-3.
