Ferguson rewards coach with long-awaited first title
Ferguson badminton coach Richard Lopez wasn’t able to attend his team’s GMAC divisional matches a week ago.
Lopez, who started the Falcons’ program 16 years ago, was forced to stay home in quarantine due to COVID-19 protocols.
But on Tuesday afternoon at Braddock High, Lopez was grateful he could witness the moment of celebration for his team in person as Ferguson won its first GMAC championship.
“It was disappointing at first, but to be here, I’m extraordinarily proud to see them accomplish something they’ve dedicated themselves to so much,” Lopez said. “It’s outstanding for the kids and the program overall. We overcame a lot of obstacles just to be able to have a season. The kids put their hearts into it.”
With the tournament having been canceled along with every other spring sport at the onset of the pandemic last year, there were firsttime winners in every bracket.
The Falcons totaled 11 points overall to finish ahead of Hialeah Gardens and Palmetto, which tied for the runner-up spot with eight points each.
Ferguson’s girls led the effort with victories in the singles and doubles brackets.
Senior Febe Dominguez, who is also a guard on the Falcons’ basketball team, secured her first GMAC individual title with a 2119, 5-21, 21-13 victory over her teammate Annmarie Munecas.
Two more first-time county champions, Andrea Acevedo and Gabriella Lopez, teamed up to win the girls’ doubles title for Ferguson with a 21-14, 21-14 win over the team of Adriana Haber and Melissa Solis from Hialeah Gardens.
“We’re very happy we’ve come this far especially during COVID,” Acevedo said. “Just getting to play is nice.”
Lopez added: “We stuck together and we made it.”
The boys’ singles match turned out to be one of the most competitive with Hialeah Gardens senior Oliver Peralta rallying from an early loss through the consolation bracket and winning two matches over Southridge’s Arman Kashem to win the championship.
“I almost let it slip away,” Peralta said.
Siblings Jeremy and Jonathan Nichols also had to win twice against Goleman’s Sebastian Jovine and Ricky Ricardo to win the boys’ doubles title in their first year playing the sport. The Nichols brothers also were a part of a boys’ soccer GMAC championship victory for the Lightning earlier this season.
Palmetto teams finished in first and second places in the mixed doubles division with senior Ella Sleeman and junior Aiden Kong winning 21-13, 21-13 over teammates Ryan Jagers and Ashley Skinner.
RESULTS
Team standings: 1. Ferguson 11; 2. Hialeah Gardens and Palmetto 8; 4. Varela and Goleman 5; 6. Coral Park and Krop 4; 8. Southridge 3; 9. Braddock 2.
Individuals – Boys’ singles: Oliver Peralta (HG) d. Arman Kashem (SR) 17-21, 21-15, 21-7;
Girls’ singles: Febe Dominguez (Fer) d.
Annmarie Munecas (Fer) 21-19, 5-21, 21-13;
Boys’ doubles: Jeremy Nichols/Jonathan Nichols (KR) d. Sebastian Jovine/Ricky Ricardo (Gol) 19-21, 21-17, 21-7;
Girls’ doubles: Andrea Acevedo/Gabriella Lopez (Fer) d. Adriana Haber/Melissa Solis (HG) 21-14, 21-14; Mixed doubles: Aiden Kong/Ella Sleeman (Pal) d. Ryan Jagers/Ashley Skinner (Pal), 21-13, 21-13.