By Anna Monica – Correspondent

Once again this year, the annual American Heart Association tennis tournament proved most successful. At least thirty-five women competed in the round-robin event.

Taking place on the Belle Terre tennis courts under the direction of tennis professional Leif Olssen, sunny skies contributed to the success of the tournament. Participants included members of Belle Terre, Riverlands, Bissonet, Ormond, among others, who wanted to have a good day of plenty tennis. Most important, though, they knew of the contribution they were making toward the Heart Association. Most of them do it every year.

Natalie Tatje of LaPlace has been the driving force of this tennis activity for years and Natalie Robottom, Janis Ducote, Diane Tatje and Rhonda Rutledge serve on the committee with her. There is always plenty enough work to go around.

Sponsors and friends contributed the door prizes drawn for the participants and their generosity makes the tournament possible each year. Sponsor Mike Williams of State Farm Insurance tended the drink bar again this year. L’Observateur was one of the event’s sponsors and others were River Parishes Hospital, Natalie Tatje Insurance & Financial Products, Reserve Tele-communications, DuPont, Dupont Dow, LaPlace Glass, Curtis Environmental Services, Clerk of Court Eliana DeFrancesch, Rainbow Pediatrics (Drs. DeFrank, Culbertson and Clark), River Parishes Surgical Associates (Drs. McGaff, Jr. and Robert Cummiskey), Cargill, Consolidated Health Plans, Inc., Hibernia National Bank, LaPlace Ford, First National Bank USA, Parish President Nickie Monica, Scioneaux, Inc., Aegis Associates, Cypress Management, Stell Furniture, Entergy, Dr. Stuart Schultz, Robottom Mortuary, Mr. & Mrs. Bill Thompson, Performance Tile & Marble, D&N Contractors, Tri-Parish Trophies, Landcraft Homes, Marathon Ashland, River Parish Advisors Group (Keith Gillies) and Sheriff Wayne Jones.

Shirts given to the players display the same theme as the annual Gala, and this year it was “The Heart of Rock and Roll,” and the design is usually unique, chosen by the committee.

Winners of the tournament with most games won were Karen Accardo, first; Meg Spatz, second; and Diane Tatje, third.