Tennis Briefs(3): Florida H.S. State Results; UF at TOC Nationals; More

UF 3rd at 2016 USTA ‘Tennis on Campus’ National Championships

Members of the University of Florida squad at the Tennis on Campus National Championships

The University of Florida finished in third place at the 2016 USTA ‘Tennis On Campus’ National Championships, defeating Cornell University 22-18 in the 3rd/4th place playoff match. The TOC National Championships were held at Cary Tennis Park in Cary, N.C., on April 14-16.

Florida lost out on a shot at the title in the Gold Bracket semifinals when they were edged 25-23 by eventual title runner-up University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

“Every single club member was important to this third-place finish, and a special shout-out to our traveling nationals team of Natalie, Anna, Isabella, Aslesha, Taylor, Kalika, Paul, Max, Clay, Shiv, Luca, and Paulo,” said UF Tennis Club President Joey Rudy.

In the final the University of Auburn came back to win its first-ever national title in a super tiebreaker, 23-22, over UNC-Chapel Hill. Down 15-18 heading into the final mixed doubles competition, Auburn won in overtime play in the World TeamTennis format.

“This was absolutely the most exciting and dynamic final we’ve ever had,” said USTA Director of Tennis On Campus Glenn Arrington. “The crowd was pumped, and no one left. Just the atmosphere and the electricity here tonight. It was a great night for tennis, and for Tennis On Campus.”

Past USTA ‘Tennis on Campus’ National Champions:

2016 — Auburn University
2015 — University of California-Berkeley
2014 — University of California-Berkeley
2013 — University of Georgia
2012 — University of California-Berkeley
2011 — University of California-Los Angeles
2010 — University of California-Berkeley
2009 — Duke University
2008 — University of Texas
2007 — Texas A&M University
2006 — Texas A&M University
2005 — Texas A&M University
2004 — Texas A&M University
2003 — University of Florida
2002 — Texas A&M University
2001 — University of North Carolina
2000 — University of North Carolina

Developed by the USTA in partnership with NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation, and World TeamTennis, the Tennis On Campus program gives college students the opportunity to build leadership skills, network in a coed sports environment and compete on a college team without the rigors of playing in a varsity program.  With year-round match play, and regional and national championship competition, students maintain active and healthy lifestyles through their college years.

Visit the Tennis On Campus website at www.TennisOnCampus.com for complete results, stories and photos.

Miami, Coral Gables Schools Sweep Boys and Girls Titles at Florida H.S. State Tennis Championships

Port Orange Atlantic High School’s Kristina Ziegler

Team and individual champions were crowned last week during the 2016 Florida High School Tennis State Championships, held April 11-15 at Sanlando Park, Red Bug Lake Park and Sylvan Lake Park in the Greater Orlando area.

Gulliver Prep (Miami) swept both the boy’s and girl’s titles in Class 2A play. Cypress Bay (Coral Gables) swept both in Class 4A competition, without either the boys or girls losing a match in the final.

There were two singles and doubles sweeps in individual play as Kristina Zieglar of Atlantic High School (Port Orange), with sister Lindsey Zieglar in doubles, and Alexandra Belaya of Viera High School, with doubles partner Isabella Diaz, won both the individual singles and doubles titles in Class 2A and Class 3A respectively.

Sagemont won its third Class 1A title in the past four years. Gulliver Prep won its fourth state title in five years in Class 2A. Cypress Bay’s boys team won its second consecutive state title and the fourth in five years.

Here are the team and individual winners and finalists:

Class 1A

Boys Team: Sagemont (Weston) d. Pensacola Catholic 4-0
Boys Individual Singles: Peter Litsky, Shorecrest Prep d. William Townsend, St. Andrew’s
Boys Individual Doubles: Connor Cedro/Ivan Von Greiff, Berkeley Prep d. Peter Litsky/Luis Sarabia, Shorecrest Prep

Girls Team: St. Andrew’s (Boca Raton) d. Windermere Prep 4-0
Girls Individual Singles: Sara Culbertson, Riviera Prep d. Mbalia Bangoura, Out-of-Door
Girls Individual Doubles: Mbalia Bangoura/Sydney Sforzo, Out-of-Door d. Sara Culbertson/Nicole Katzarkov, Riviera Prep

Class 2A

Boys Team: Gulliver Prep (Miami) d. Montverde 4-3
Boys Individual Singles: Richie Torres, MAST Academy d. Brandon Shanklin, Somerset Academy
Boys Individual Doubles: Zachary Ebenfeld/Jordan Skalet, American Heritage (Plantation) d. Tyler Rios/Cameron Slack, Lincoln Park

Girls Team: Gulliver Prep (Miami) d. Lake Highland Prep (Orlando) 4-0
Girls Individual Singles: Kristina Zieglar, Atlantic (Port Orange) d. Stephanie Taylor, Pine Crest
Girls Individual Doubles: Kristina Zieglar/Lindsey Zieglar, Atlantic (Port Orange) d. Elise Ballantyne/Julia Preuss, Bolles

Class 3A

Boys Team: Jensen Beach d. Leon (Tallahassee) 4-2
Boys Individual Singles: Tom Jaworski, Mourning d. Martin Gutierrez, Bartram Trail
Boys Individual Doubles: John Carlin/Luka Illic, Fort Myers d. Carlos Grande/Daniel Martinez, Belen Jesuit

Girls Team: West Boca Raton d. Creekside (St. Johns) 4-0
Girls Individual Singles: Alexandra Belaya, Viera d. Geetha Velusamy, East Lake
Girls Individual Doubles: Alexandra Belaya/Isabella Diaz, Viera d. Gabriela Castello/Katherine Jakeway, Nease

Class 4A

Boys Team: Cypress Bay (Coral Gables) d. Riverview (Sarasota) 4-0
Boys Individual Singles: Adam Ambrozy, St. Petersburg d. Isaac Nortei, Lakeland
Boys Individual Doubles: Daniel Krulig/Jack Lee, Coral Gables d. Jose Disotuar/Jose Andres Ortega, Ferguson

Girls Team: Cypress Bay (Coral Gables) d. Olympia (Orlando) 4-0
Girls Individual Singles: Alana Wolfberg, Timber Creek d. Rehaana Butt, Countryside
Girls Individual Doubles: Kristina Fernandez/Sofia Quevedo, Coral Gables d. Candace Carmouche/Alana Wolfberg, Timber Creek

For full results go to http://www.fhsaa.org/sports/tennis.

GTC Tennis Teams with Richard ‘Pancho’ Gonzalez Youth Foundation for Multicultural Tennis

Pancho Gonzalez

GTC Tennis Academy in Pembroke Isles, Fla., last week announced an alliance with the Richard “Pancho” Gonzalez Youth Foundation to increase multicultural opportunities for tennis-playing youth in South Florida.

“As a player, I grew up reading about Richard ‘Pancho’ Gonzalez,” said Gustavo Granitto, director of GTC Tennis Academy. “It was certainly very inspiring to me.”

The focus will be the academy’s major program, the GTC 16 & Under Florida Tennis Initiative, a family-oriented program stressing personalized training, physical education, nutrition, parent orientation and competition to “make families more involved in our sport.”

“This is a multicultural program to benefit the healthy growth and development of our youth in Florida, enjoying at the same time the best sport of the world,” said USTA Florida President Nancy Horowitz. “We appreciate also the support of parents and the community of Pembroke Isles for hosting this program at their beautiful facilities.”

Greg Gonzales, vice president of the Richard “Pancho” Gonzalez Youth Foundation, says the partnership will further Hispanic family and youth involvement in tennis.

“We know that Florida has significant Hispanic participation in the sport of tennis, and we want to share with them and others our Foundation’s mission and the legacy of Richard ‘Pancho’ Gonzalez,” Gonzales said.

For more information go to www.facebook.com/PanchoFoundation or www.gtctennisconsultancy.com.