Lawmakers pick up their racquets for charity

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, professional athletes and journalists hit the tennis courts Wednesday for the Washington Kastles Charity Classic at the Charles E. Smith Center in Foggy Bottom.

Spectators poured into the stadium to watch the team tennis contest, featuring duels between lawmakers and media celebrities, including from Fox and ABC, with Team Stars holding on for the win over Team Stripes.

“Refuse to lose,” read the Kastles’ motto on banners around the stadium. The Stripes, led by Kastles’ head coach Murphy Jensen and reigning MVP Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.), embodied that credo by crawling back from a hefty deficit in the last few sets.

{mosads}“My advice to our team before the game was just to kick their asses,” said tournament veteran Dent.

Unfortunately for Dent and the Stripes, the Stars clung to their early lead and won the match by two points in a final set that showcased the Kastles’ star players battling it out.

Despite the loss, the Stripes left the court in good spirits.

“We almost came back and it was for charity so everyone’s a winner,” said Rep. Bobby Scott, who had a vocal cheering section of friends and family in the court line seats.

“My team came in as runner-up,” the Virginia Democrat boasted, as he proudly lifted up his second place trophy. “The other team came in next to last.”

Scott wasn’t the only lawmaker with an exuberant cheering section. Fans of Stripes’ player Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.) donned matching blue tees with “YO Knows” and playfully booed whenever the congressman was substituted.

“The Stars team motto was to be ready for anything,” said Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), before adding, “except some of those really fast, 900 mile-per-hour serves.”

Some of those speedy serves came from Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), a former volleyball player, who recorded the first ace of the match.

Proceeds from the heated showdown were shared between the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), DC Public Education Fund and Food & Friends.  

The Hill was a media sponsor for the event.