29 Teams Compete at USTA Florida Junior Team Tennis Challenge at Swim and Racquet Center in Boca Raton

The first USTA Florida Junior Team Tennis Challenge of 2017 took place at the Boca Swim and Racquet Club this past weekend in Boca Raton, where more than 150 kids ages 6-18 gathered with their friends to compete in the challenge featuring 10U Orange ball, 12U Intermediate, 14U Intermediate and 18U Intermediate divisions. The scoring format was 6-game sets with a tiebreak to 7 points at 5-5 and no ad scoring.

The 29 teams consisted of boys and girls of similar levels from all around the state including players from the Jacksonville, Orlando and Daytona areas, Boca Raton, Miami and the Florida Keys. The players not only spent time on the tennis courts with their teammates and families, but also met new friends from other parts of the state.

“It was a weekend full of tennis, fun and friendship,” said USTA Florida Junior Team Tennis Coordinator Liz Coates. “It was great to have teams from all over the state compete in this challenge and we are looking forward to the Junior Team Tennis Sectional event in July , which will also qualify teams to the JTT National Championship.”

Besides the tennis competition,  three kids received sportsmanship pins for their remarkable behavior on and off the court. Participants also submitted essays about tennis and two winners (Mario and Linkai) received Youth Tennis Foundation Scholarships of $250 each to help support their participation in the sport.

Division results:

10U Orange Ball Flight I
Winner Team : Coral Reef Warriors
Team Roster: Captain Lee Pettis, Benjamin Alonso, Colby Benjamin, Eli Herman, Juan Torres, Tamara Herman, Zidane Habib-Mitchell
Finalist Team: Blazing Baseliners

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10U Orange Ball Flight II
Winner Team: The Moors
Team Roster: Captain Tiana Gonzalez, Annabella DeGoti, Isabella Veloza, Jairo Duran, Kiara Leyva, Michael Miller
Finalist: Orange Machine

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12U Green Ball
Winner Team: The Moors
Team Roster: Captain Tiana Gonzalez, David Vargas, Jenifer Allende, Juanita Villamarin, Kelly Gonzalez, Salome Maya
Finalist: Boca Grassroots Grizzlies

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14U Intermediate
Winner Team: The Moors
Team Roster: Captain Tania Gonzalez, Alejandro Cordovilla, Gabriella Martinez, Jaime Duran Perez, Reubin Williams, Sofia Palomino
Finalist: Ocean Club

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18U Intermediate
Winner Team: Coral Reef Spurs
Team Roster: Captain Kara Borromeo, Franz Bagayas, Jaelen Reid, Sara Hartzell, Zihan Zhao
Finalist Team: Coral Reef Celtics

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For more information about Junior Team Tennis local leagues and upcoming events, including the Section Championship in July visit: www.USTAFlorida.com/JTT or contact Liz Coates at Coates@ustaflorida.com.