Paddle Tennis for a Purpose

Students, staff and faculty came together for SLU-Madrid’s first Paddle Tennis Tournament Fundraiser. Organized by director of sports, César Rioja, this semester’s event raised over 200 euros to support Casa Ronald McDonald, a non-governmental organization that assists with the housing needs of families with children who are hospitalized.

The tournament was organized in the pozo style, in which doubles play six games of 20 minutes each. The winning team moves up a court and the losing team moves down a court after each 20-minute segment. All eight courts at "Club de Padel Ocio y Deporte Canal” were continuously occupied. In a fierce final match, students Gonzalo Trillo and Tomas Martínez Bordiú faced staff members Diego Rodríguez-Vila (admissions) and Ángel García (marketing). When Rioja blew the final whistle, Rodríguez-Vila and García were declared victors by one point, the narrowest margin possible.

“Participating in the tournament, alongside colleagues and students proved a fulfilling way to spend a Saturday afternoon,” says García. “We came together as a community, got some exercise and enjoyed some tapas afterwards, all while raising our consciousness of a worthy cause. I'd also like to extend my gratitude to César Rioja for organizing the event.”

García and Rodríguez-Vila were presented with their trophy as all participants and spectators enjoyed some Spanish tapas, including classics such as patatas bravas, calamares and tortilla de patata.

The Paddle Tennis Tournament is one of the many community outreach efforts organized each semester at SLU-Madrid. To find out more about service opportunities for SLU-Madrid students (and faculty and staff), contact campus minister and Student Life program assistant Paloma Gómez de Salazar at paloma.gomezdesalazar@slu.edu.