DARREN ON THE FIELD, THE COURT AND THE SLOPE

FIRST REAL TOURNAMENT AT 11

Darren's high school tennis coach "Mort" awards a Darren Grant Most Inspirational Trophy each year. His fraternity, Lambda Chi, changed the name of the college-wide tennis tournament Darren helped create to The Darren Grant Memorial Tournament. I was sent T-shirts from two of the years. I gave one to Darren's high school doubles partner, Kevin and his dad has the other. I have my U of A Mother/Son Tourney shirt.

Darren played all sports until he was in high school. He played pitcher and catcher in Little League. And he also sold more candy bars than anyone, ever in the history of his league. He won a new bike each year. Little League season was such a great time of year.

He played forward in soccer and we suffered through all the muddy fields and loved every minute of it.

He started skiing at seven and won his first race at nine. He continued skiing for fun the rest of his years.

He was great at basketball and played all through grade school. At 10 he won the regional free throw tournament.

But tennis was his game, and to devote more time to tennis, he gave up the other competive sports when he started high school. We loved to watch him play and traveled all over the Northwest to do it. His grandfather had a hard time learning the scoring but he loved to be there.

All the way HOME