Doerr Trophy

At the Welland Tennis Club, tennis director Dave Boland has an important decision to make at the end of each season of the club’s junior program : which boy and girl will be awarded the Jimmy Doerr Memorial trophy. The prize has been given since 1987, when it was presented by the Tennis Club to honour the memory of Jimmy Doerr, who died tragically in 1986 at the age of 29. Jimmy had grown up at the club and became an accomplished player and coach, developed by his father – the club’s tennis director, Dutchy Doerr.

Dave describes the criteria for the award as being in four categories :

1. Sportsmanship

2. Achievement

3. Potential

4. Commitment

For 2024, two very deserving young players received this honour : 9-year-old Henry Momot, and 13-year-old Molly Mencfeld.

Henry and his family are from England, but happened to be in Niagara for the summer. An avid tennis player at home, Henry was delighted to find a vibrant junior program at the Welland TC. Molly had been in the program for the preceding two summers, so was happy to show Henry the ropes and they soon became regular training partners. Together they won the club’s under-16 championship. Molly was asked about her young friend :

“When I first saw Henry, I felt he would be shy and to himself like any other 9 year old. But when I talked to him, I could tell he had a great bubbly personality on the court and off. Henry has been such a delight to have at the Welland Tennis Club and has represented leadership, friendship, positivity and dedication to the club and on the court. Henry participated in the Grimsby interclub and was the most amazing mixed doubles partner I have had! He has become a very good friend to me and I will never forget that. Henry, thank you for becoming an important part of the WTC. There will always be a place for you here. We will miss you.”

Dave Boland has seen plenty of talent on his courts, and doesn’t hesitate to say he’s impressed. Drew Kernaghan is the club’s Youth Facilitator : “I had never thought it was possible for a nine-year-old to be that good. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

While Henry is no doubt making waves in under-10 competition in Middlesex County, Molly made a splash in September by winning a spot in the 2024-25 OFSAA championships, a rare achievement for a grade 9 student. She also began her leadership training by volunteering in the junior program at the Fort Erie TC during the summer.