Sport
14 March, 2026
Youthful transformers take on Country Week veterans
Grand final today in Loddon Valley tennis
PERENNIAL rivals Calivil North and Mincha West will play off for the Loddon Valley Tennis Association premiership on Saturday in a battle of youth versus experience.
Calivil North go into the grand final at Serpentine with a majority of its team made up of teenagers.
Mincha West has a more seasoned squad, with most having played recently at Country Week in Shepparton.
Captain Jeannie Wagner said, “You come off Country Week seeing the ball better and hitting better”.
The two clubs contested last season’s grand final as well, with Calivil North triumphing, but captain Michelle Balic said it would be tougher this weekend, given the team’s youthful transformation.
“Most of our team this year has been young kids, and we’re giving them all a go in the granny,” she said.
Mincha West has two teenagers in its team – Jeannie Wagner’s sons Riley and Brodie – as well as her 21-year-old daughter Trista. On court will be five Wagners, four Stewarts and three Manns, a testament to the family nature of tennis in country Victoria.
Calivil North finished the season on top of the ladder, 13 points ahead of Mincha West, and will be looking for a remarkable 29th trophy in just 38 seasons.
Mincha West 13-110 d Serpentine 5-72
MEN: David Mann & Tim Wagner lost to Sam Howard & Jayden Gladman 1-7, David Mann & Colin Mann lost to Sam Howard & Cade Tuohey 4-7, Tim Wagner & Colin Mann lost to Jayden Gladman & Cade Tuohey 5-7, Donald Stewart & Riley Wagner lost to Simon Tuohey & Neville Cockerell 6-7, Donald Stewart & Peter Gargan d Simon Tuohey & Tania Twigg 7-4, Riley Wagner & Peter Gargan d Neville Cockerell & Tania Twigg 7-5.
LADIES: Emily Prout & Jeannie Wagner d Penny Cockerell & Karen Dinsmore 7-4, Emily Prout & Teagan Stewart d Penny Cockerell & Josie Carlin 7-0, Jeannie Wagner & Teagan Stewart lost to Karen Dinsmore & Josie Carlin 3-7, Nicole Stewart & Claire Pickles d Natalie Rose & Jade Cockerell 7-2, Nicole Stewart & Christine Mann d Natalie Rose & Keira Tuohey 7-1, Claire Pickles & Christine Mann d Jade Cockerell & Keira Tuohey 7-2.
MIXED: David Mann & Emily Prout d Sam Howard & Josie Carlin 7-1, Tim Wagner & Jeannie Wagner d Jayden Gladman & Penny Cockerell 7-3, Colin Mann & Teagan Stewart d Cade Tuohey & Karen Dinsmore 7-3, Donald Stewart & Nicole Stewart d Simon Tuohey & Jade Cockerell 7-6, Peter Gargan & Claire Pickles d Neville Cockerell & Natalie Rose 7-2, Riley Wagner & Christine Mann d Tania Twigg & Keira Tuohey 7-4.
Calivil North 11-100 d Raywood 7-83
MEN: Lloyd Maxted & Oscar Balic lost to Matthew Collins & Riley Senior 6-7, Lloyd Maxted & Jarad Smith lost to Matthew Collins & Aaron Demeo 6-7, Oscar Balic & Jarad Smith d Riley Senior & Aaron Demeo 7-5, Jake Smith & Kyen Maxted lost to Steven Osborne & Ryder Demeo 4-7, Jake Smith & Alex Lister d Steven Osborne & Nick Marlow 7-4, Kyen Maxted & Alex Lister d Ryder Demeo & Nick Marlow 7-2.
LADIES: Michelle Balic & Gemma Maxted d Max Haw & Chelsea Haw 7-0, Michelle Balic & Hollee Vinnicombe d Max Haw & Hayley Waterson 7-2, Gemma Maxted & Hollee Vinnicombe lost to Chelsea Haw & Hayley Waterson 3-7, Penny Balic & Ava Maxted d Melissa Ludeman & Rebecca Adams 7-1, Penny Balic & Paige Smith d Melissa Ludeman & Charlize Sinclair 7-3, Ava Maxted & Paige Smith d Rebecca Adams & Charlize Sinclair 7-5.
MIXED: Oscar Balic & Michelle Balic d Matthew Collins & Max Haw 7-4, Jarad Smith & Gemma Maxted lost to Riley Senior & Chelsea Haw 0-7, Leon Strachan & Penny Balic lost to Aaron Demeo & Hayley Waterson 1-7, Jake Smith & Hollee Vinnicombe lost to Steven Osborne & Melissa Ludeman 3-7, Kyen Maxted & Ava Maxted d Ryder Demeo & Rebecca Adams 7-6, Alex Lister & Paige Smith d Nick Marlow & Charlize Sinclair 7-2.