Vitale benefit tourney draws 22 major college teams to Lakewood Ranch

Dick Vitale, an iconic television personality in the world of college basketball, will have his sights set on a different kind of court this weekend near his Lakewood Ranch home.

His annual Dick Vitale Intercollegiate Tennis Classic, a benefit for the V Foundation for Cancer Research to help support pediatric cancer research, begins at 9 a.m. Friday at the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club's tennis center and runs through Sunday.

"This is an amazing event for people who love competition and appreciate tennis, as they get the opportunity to see youngsters perform," Vitale said Thursday. "Most of all, I am excited that we will raise

dollars in helping kids battle cancer."

The tournament will showcase men's and women's major college tennis from schools such as Florida, South Florida, Florida Gulf Coast, Miami, Michigan, Tennessee, Arizona, Princeton, Oklahoma State, Navy, Furman, College of Charleston, Texas Christian, Minnesota, Memphis and Louisville.

It will also serve as a homecoming of sorts for one Tennessee athlete, Ashley Bongart. The Volunteers' freshman was a three-year team captain at Lakewood Ranch High who went undefeated and won the state title as a senior while also leading the Mustangs to a team state championship.

As part of the festivities, the Vitale family is also putting on a gala for the teams Saturday night, during which Dick Vitale and legendary Bradenton-based tennis coach Nick Bollettieri will deliver a presentation to the athletes titled about "the game of life."

Vitale lauded the efforts of Lakewood Ranch resident Larry Wade in leading the event's fundraising drive. Wade, Vitale said, spearheaded more than $80,000 in sponsorship sales for the benefit.

The tournament is open to the public and admission is free.

This story was originally published November 12, 2015 at 11:44 PM with the headline "Vitale benefit tourney draws 22 major college teams to Lakewood Ranch ."