NATCHEZ — Playing in the relaxed environment of the 33rd annual Natchez Community Cancer Tennis Tournament was a sharp contrast to the intensity of competing for a state title in singles tennis.

But recent Cathedral High School graduate Madeline Beard said it was nice to be laid back about tennis for a change.

Beard won the mixed 9.0 doubles division at the tournament along with her partner, Joel Lessley. Winning was nice, she said, but it wasn’t the main reason Beard competed.

“It’s fun to come do this. It’s nice to win, but I’m only out here to have fun,” Beard said.

Duncan Park hosted the tournament Friday through Sunday to help raise money to send cancer-stricken children to Camp Sunshine, Tournament Co-chairman Noreen Pyron said. The money has also helped with upgrades to the Duncan Park tennis complex over the years.

“The city is always strapped for money, and it’s good for us to help fund the programs (Duncan Park Tennis Director) Henry Harris and others want,” Pyron said.

The tournament featured approximately 85 participants this year, down from last year’s 120. Most of the players were from Natchez, though there were a few from out of town.

“People tell me they love to come to Natchez,” Pyron said.

One of those people is Baton Rouge resident Jim Meyer, who’s been participating in the tournament since 1996. Though he used to compete in two to three tournaments a year, he said the Natchez Community Cancer Tennis Tournament is the only one he goes to nowadays.

“I just like the people, the atmosphere and being able to get out of town,” Meyer said. “The people here are nice, the hospitality is great, and it’s fun competing against new people from different areas.”

Meyer said he plays tennis several times a week at the YMCA in Baton Rouge, but the courts in Natchez are a bit different.

“The YMCA has soft courts, and the ones here are hard courts,” Meyer said. “The ball bounces off the court much faster.”

For Beard, it was her first chance to actually play in the annual round robin matches. In order to participate in the tournament, you have to be turning 18 this year, Beard said.

“I would watch my momma and my daddy play when I was younger,” Beard said. “My daddy only played a few years ago. He gets impatient.”

Madeline’s mother, Marla, said that sounds exactly like her husband, Bret.

“He doesn’t do tennis. He needs something more high impact,” Marla joked.

Marla finished second in the women’s 3.5 division, and she said watching her youngest daughter play in the tournament after all these years of playing in it herself was a joy. It also helps that Madeline was able to square off against her older sister, Davis, who was competing in the tournament for the second time.

“It was nice for us all to get out here,” Marla said. “It gave them a chance to have fun and not be so competitive — except when they were playing each other (in mixed doubles).”

Madeline and Lessley got the upper hand against Davis and her partner, Kevin Flowers, in that match-up. Marla insisted that she wasn’t rooting for one daughter over the other.

“You just want to see them both play well and compete. They handled it well,” Marla said.

Harris, who competed in mixed 9.0 doubles, said he’s enjoyed watching the tournament grow over the years.

“When it first started, we wondered if we’d ever make it,” Harris said. “After the 10th year, we got (participation) up in the hundreds. By the 15th year, we had 200-something. It’s kind of scattered ever since then.”

Harris also said it’s nice to have a tournament to help fund some of the Duncan Park tennis activities.

“When you need some little odds and ends, you have a group you can all to get tables, chairs, a van and other things,” Harris said.

The team of Gigi Conner and Susan Kettering defeated Marla Beard and Louise Mallory for the title in women’s 3.5 doubles.

Thomas Fiske and Meyer defeated Joe Garrity and Chris Labure to win the men’s 3.5 doubles consolation game.

Lessley and Madeline Beard finish first in mixed combined 9.0 doubles.

Stan Hazlip and Leslie Ricalde defeated Tom Graning and Amy James in the mixed combined 7.0 doubles consolation match.