The Juneau tennis team has captured another Northern Cup.

This year's tournament featured men's singles and doubles and women's doubles, as well as mixed doubles.

The Star dropped by the tennis courts at Mount McIntyre Saturday to check out the action.

In the first mixed doubles matches following a lengthy (one and a half hour) rain delay due to a downpour, Van Pham and Vickie Roche (Whitehorse) played Mimi Madenica and Sean Howard (Juneau).

Meanwhile, Laurie Drummond and Michel Gelinas (Whitehorse) took on Diane Antaya and David Ottoson (Juneau).

The four mixed doubles teams played a round-robin format.

The Star spoke with Antaya and Ottoson after their rain-delayed match and asked them how it was going so far.

"Great. So far, so good," said Antaya. "The delay with the rain added to some jitters but with the sun coming out and the wind drying the courts, it was good to get back to play."

Asked what made them decide to come to Whitehorse, Antaya replied, "Sunshine. A chance to play with new skilled people. It's always delightful to play new people. We all in Juneau seem to know each other's game very well, so it's nice to play the Whitehorse residents."

Ottoson was also playing in men's doubles. Likewise, Antaya was playing in the women's doubles.

"I like to play singles but I was afraid to put myself out for three events. In Juneau, we mostly play doubles because we have a court limitation issue – only two courts," related Antaya.

Ottoson added, "I've been here before and the whole tournament is so well-run and they're very welcoming. It's just a wonderful event, which has made me want to come back, and a lot of people come and play when they can, just because it's a lot of fun."

Antaya added, "This is my first time coming to the event and I'm glad it's opened up again because I have only heard the best things about it, about how it was run, the friendship between the players, and of course the great weather in the Yukon."

"Comparatively great," joked Ottoson.

Michel Gelinas and Laurie Drummond also commented on the match with Antaya and Ottoson.

"It was great competition," said Drummond. "We were close in a lot of games, but they clearly were better overall today. It was great, though."

She said that this was the third category that Gelinas was playing in, including men's doubles and four hours of singles Saturday morning.

"Next time I think I'll register for two categories," related Gelinas.

Drummond added that it's a "fun format. It's 45 minutes and you just add up your games and they'll pick whoever won the most games out of three or four matches. It's great fun."

Sean Howard and Mimi Madenica managed to down Van Pham and Vickie Roche, then took on Antaya and Ottoson in a closely-contested all-Juneau match.

Howard, he of the booming serve, said the match went "good. We're having a blast out here. The sun came back out."

Madenica said, "We only play indoors so this weather is a whole new thing for me."

Howard said the wind is always challenging outside.

"For me, the sunlight and the serve is the most challenging but it's fun to get out and play in the elements."

Madenica said their competition from Juneau was "tough. Very tough. It was good."

Howard said, "It's challenging."

He added, "I think we'll get them next time."

"I think so, too," added Madenica.

They both agreed that, "It was pretty close."

Madenica said, "We love coming here. Great event. Well-organized and really fun."

She was also playing in women's doubles.

Howard was playing the trifecta: Men's singles and doubles as well.

Howard's daughter Tenley, 3, was playing out on the court between matches.

His son, Leighton, 7, was playing in a mini-court in the parking lot.

**The winners of the Northern Cup were as follows: **

• Men's A Singles: Howard (Juneau)

• Men's B Singles: Maxime Lauwens (Whitehorse)

• Men's A Doubles: Ottoson/Abe Lahr (Juneau)

• Men's B Doubles: Ron Crenshaw/Jim Bowman (Juneau)

• Mixed A Doubles: Ottoson/Antaya (Juneau)

• Mixed B Doubles: Abby O'Brien/John Tran (Juneau/Whitehorse), Jodi Arnold/Ron Crenshaw (Juneau)

• Ladies' Doubles: Mona Mametsuka/Jodi Arnold (Juneau)

The cumulative score was Juneau 162, Whitehorse 95.

Whitehorse won the Northern Cup in 2019. There was no tournament in 2020 (COVID), 2021 (COVID), or 2022 (bad ferry schedule).

Since the tournament was re-started in 2008, Juneau has won about two thirds of the time and Whitehorse one third.

Meanwhile, Vickie Roche had high praise for tennis coach Ricardo Rokkit, who came up from Vancouver to help Tennis Yukon for seven weeks this summer.

"He has been an incredible asset to the tennis community."

Roche had even higher praise for Tennis Yukon Secretary Stacy Lewis.

"Tennis Yukon would not exist today without Stacy. Stacy has been involved in every aspect of tennis for 16 years."

According to Roche, Lewis reinvigorated the Northern Cup in 2008. The tournament started 40 years ago.

"We appreciate Stacy’s dedication, leadership and work ethic. Stacy is passionate about tennis and helping others."

Roche said Lewis is "a true advocate for getting the younger generation into tennis."

Lewis has started a tennis programme in local schools and has provided summer tennis camps for youth. She said they reached about 200 students in school programs in May and June.

Roche added, "Stacy is a role model in our club and has sustained achievement through vision, determined application and hard work."