LONDONDERRY - Those who say love doesn't earn points on the tennis court probably haven't met the group of local teens organizing next week's Best Buddies New Hampshire Tennis Challenge.

The four-day event is aimed at raising funds and awareness for the Best Buddies program, which pairs student volunteers with people living with intellectual disabilities.

Londonderry High School junior Matt McKinney plays on his school's boys' tennis team and grew up attending the popular Dana Ball Love Memorial Tennis Tournament with his family each year. He said he was saddened when he learned the Derry charity event had been retired last summer after 20 years.

“We didn't want to see it end,” his mother, Jane McKinney, chimed in.

Matt McKinney said he was inspired in part by a family he's come to know through tennis. Over the years, he had seen Londonderry resident Suzanne Aguilar at local courts with her family, including daughter Hannah, who has developmental delays.

“Sometimes she'd be sitting on the sidelines,” McKinney said of Hannah.

Now 21, Hannah has since blossomed into a talented tennis player who competes in Special Olympics. She also enjoys spending time with her Best Buddy, a University of New Hampshire student.

“There is such a need to integrate these kids into our society; it's an area where we're often lacking,” Suzanne Aguilar said. “So it's really heartwarming to see when your child isn't isolated anymore, when they're having fun with someone their own age.”

Best Buddies was established by Anthony K. Shriver in 1989. With chapters based at UNH, Dartmouth College and Phillips Exeter Academy, the program currently serves an estimated 153 New Hampshire residents.

Program officials said they need to raise $750,000 over the next three years to establish a state headquarters and expand the program into other communities.

Londonderry High senior Amanda DePasquale, whose 7-year-old brother is on the autism spectrum with Asperger's syndrome, said she knows firsthand the importance of programs such as Best Buddies.

“Our goal is to not only raise money, but also raise awareness,” DePasquale said. “Programs like this could help my brother to make friends ... to have hope for a nice job someday — a good future.”

“Plus, we're trying to teach him how to play tennis,” she added with a grin.

With that in mind, DePasquale and McKinney teamed up to organize Best Buddies NH Tennis Challenge. Five of their classmates — Harrison Max, Tim Court, Mike Paquette, Cassandra Cronin and Cassie Burbine — joined in the efforts, and the group expanded further with the addition of two players from traditional rival Pinkerton Academy of Derry, Casey Gilman and Kealey Cela.

The tournament will be held July 26-29, primarily at Pinkerton Academy, but with several rounds to be played at the Londonderry and Derry recreation courts.

An adaptive tennis clinic for developmentally challenged athletes will be offered on Sunday, July 29, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration forms and additional information are available at www.bestbuddiesnhtennis.com. Registration is open through Tuesday.

- - - - - - - -

April Guilmet may be reached at AGuilmet@newstote.com.