For the week of Aug 28 - Sept 3, 2002

Drew, Scribner capture national tennis title

A beeline at Brookline

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By JODY ZARKOS
Express Staff Writer

They were unseeded and unheralded, but they didn’t go unnoticed when the big tournament was over.

Lauren Drew and Mark Scribner of Hailey won the Father-Daughter division at the National Grass Court Tennis Championships at historic Longwood Cricket Club in Brookline, Mass., Aug. 19-22.

National champions Lauren Drew and Mark Scribner. Courtesy photo

"I was amazed. We wanted to win a match or two," Scribner said about their expectations beforehand.

Drew, 17, a four-time Idaho state champion during her high school career at The Community School, teamed up with her step-father, Scribner, a pro at Warm Springs, and swept through the 32-team draw.

The Idaho gems knocked off pairs from Massachusetts, North Carolina (6th seed), Florida (3rd seed), and California (4th seed) to earn the right to meet second-seeded New Jersey in the championship match.

After a tight first game, which Drew and Scribner won in a tiebreaker 7-6, the New Jersey pair went down 6-1 in the second game—and the Idaho pair celebrated.

"Lauren lobbed the ball over the girl’s head for match point. I couldn’t believe it," Scribner said.

The national champions were interviewed by the esteemed Bud Collins after their victory and received gold tennis ball and silver cups for their sublime effort.

"It’s a pretty big deal," Scribner said. "There is lots of tradition."

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