The Lee County Girls High School Invitational set several records on February 28 and March 1, 2026, when 61 girls from 13 Lee County schools played tennis on The Landings courts. The 5th annual event has grown substantially from its inaugural event in 2022 when fewer than 30 girls from just three schools participated.
This year, the 13 schools, both private and public, took part in the event. Students from Ida Baker, Bishop Verot, Cape Coral, Dunbar, Estero, Evangelical Christian, Fort Myers, Gateway, Island Coast, Mariner, North Fort Myers, Oasis, and Riverdale High Schools were represented.
The event opened with a “flash mob” of seniors – by age, not grade –dancing to ABBA, led by dance instructor Velma Parmenter and directed by Paul Vella. Soon the stadium court was flooded with girls ready to dance off any jitters to prepare for the competition.
Director of Racquet Sports Bella Graf accommodated the entrants by creating two singles flights and one large doubles draw. The event had never faced the challenge of so many registrants in one year. The sole worry was rain, but it held off throughout the competition, thankfully!
The winners of the Doubles draw were Emily Feichthaler and Suzanne Greco from Oasis High School in Cape Coral. Sisters Gianella and Angelina Salas from Estero High School were runners-up.
Suzanne Greco, Emily Feichthaler and Nicolette Haun.
The B flight singles winners was Daniela Salgado from North Fort Myers High with Britney Banega from Island Coast High in Cape Coral finishing second. Zuri MacKellar from Evangelical Christian was first in the A flight, followed by Gianella Salas, who earned a runner-up trophy in singles and doubles.
Two special awards were given. The Sportsmanship award was earned by Nicolette Haun of Island Coast. All of the names of the winners were put into a hat with one drawn out to receive a special prize. Bella donated a new Head racquet to the lucky winner, Emily Feichthaler.
In addition to the competition, other special activities took place. The Racquets Porch by Saturday morning at 7 a.m. soon resembled a hive of volunteers, organized by Karen Gibbons. Registration and information tables, refreshment stations for the girls, a grand silent auction display that would raise needed funds for DELTA grants, raffle opportunities gathered by Noel Stazko, sound equipment supplied by Pegasus Entertainment, business sponsor banners, and patron tables were put in place. Each day the girls were fed a healthy lunch provided by The Landings food and beverage team. A total of $4,275 was raised from the silent auction items. The Share the Love Boutique inside the Helm Club was organized into sizes and equipment tables that proved irresistible to the girls. On the first day, 75 pairs of shoes and over 55 racquets in good playing condition were given to the girls. At one point, Trish Thomas, Barb June, and Janet Courtney were forced to close the boutique to stop the shopping so that the draw could move forward at a good pace! Bags of collected tennis outfits, free to the girls, held new gear!
While Bella and the Racquets Pro staff held operational control of the tournament, the capable Linda Vella kept the schedule of activities moving forward in an organized fashion, which was quite a feat. Thanks were extended to Cathy Webb and Vickie Resor for the photography, and to Betty Lasky for the brand that captures the essence and the energy of this event!
Photos by Cathy Webb and Vickie Resor
A record 61 students from 13 Lee County public and private schools participated in the 5th Annual High School Tennis Invitational.
