SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Competitors in last weekend’s Jubilee Blast—a tennis tournament at Spirit Park that raised money for the Faulkner State Community College and Spanish Fort High School tennis teams—had more than just each other to battle.

Sheets of rain fell Saturday, delaying the tournament’s start by several hours; the sun was shining Sunday, though temperatures hovered in the mid- to high-40s.

But that didn’t keep teams from competing and family members and friends from braving the elements to show their support.

“The weather was a threat but players were committed to playing,” tennis coach Sonya Rogers said.

The event raised around $1,000 per team but not all checks have been deposited, so the tally is not final, organizers said.

Almost 100 athletes competed in the tourney’s debut at Spirit Park.

Funds raised from the event will help pay for the teams’ travel and equipment expenses, Rogers said.

“We will be traveling to ‘away’ games,” she said.  “Especially to play teams like Foley and Gulf Shores who traveled to Spirit Park last year.”

The team also plans to purchase a hitting wall to be used for practicing serves, volleys and spacing.

“The girls’ and boys’ tennis teams are proud to have a nice place to practice and host other teams for matches,” Rogers said. “Some schools in the county are not this fortunate.”

Jubilee Blast—founded by Rogers—was open to other tennis centers, businesses or friends who play social or league tennis, the coach said. The Spanish Fort tennis team practices on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Spirit Park, as long as a match is not scheduled.

Aside from fundraising, the Jubilee Blast tourney aimed to bring  awareness to the two-year-old Spirit Park.

“This event was scheduled to make more players in the community aware of the new and beautiful park that offers eight courts for tennis and three fields for softball,” Rogers said.

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