Two area tennis players win USTA junior section titles
Two local tennis players won tournament titles, while playing up in divisions, during the USTA Florida “Bobby Curtis” 16s/18s Junior Section Championships June 19-23 at the USTA National Campus in Orlando.
In boys’ 18s, top seedJonathan Irwanto of Miami Shores played up to win the division. A 16-year-old, he beat No. 2 Kian Vakili of Longwood 7-6, 6-4 for the championship.
Irwanto plays for Dr. Krop High School in Miami and trains at Extreme Tennis Academy in Aventura under the direction of Freddy Azuzey and Carlos Maehama. They also coach the Krop team that won the FHSAA Class 4A state title.
“That [USTA Florida Bobby Curtis Championship] was an outstanding achievement,” Maehama said. “Jonathan is 16 years old, but he played up in the 18s. It was a surprise he was the top seed, because last year’s winner was playing in the tournament. If everything goes as planned this year, he will rank in the top 200 in the world in the 18s.”
In an interesting semifinal, Irwanto beat his Krop teammate No. 10 seed Sebastian Rondon 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. This is the third time they’ve competed against each other in tournament play with Irwanto winning all three in three close matches.
Rondon also trains at Extreme Tennis Academy. What does Maehama do when they play each other?
“I run away,” he said. “I really don’t like that, but that’s part of the sport. I wasn’t there for the semifinal this time. I won’t coach either of them [at an event] when they play each other.”
Irwanto beat the No. 11, No. 7 and No. 10 seeds to reach the final. Vakili defeated the No. 13 and No. 15 seeds in the early rounds and No. 3 seed Luca Hotze of Miami Shores in the semifinals.
Irwanto and Rondon not only helped Krop win the team state title, but theyteamed to win the FHSAA Class 4A overall No.1 doubles state title.
According to TennisRecruiting.net’s recruiting rankings, Irwanto is ranked No. 6 in Florida, No. 10 in the Southeast and No. 31 nationally.
Top seed Roy Horovitz of Key Biscayne also played up and won. He beat the No. 12, No. 5 and No. 3 seeds en route to the boys’ 16s finals.
The 14-year-old then defeated No. 2 seed Tanner Povey of Indian Rocks Beach 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 for the championship.
Horovitz trains at Tennis
Pro Tour Academy in Davie.
Jean-Luc Fontanot, who is the director of Tennis
Pro Tour Academy, said: “To be the top seed at this age is difficult, but Roy is a hard worker and humble. It was really good competition, but we expected him to do well, because he is playing really well right now, and we’re very proud of him.”
A home-schooled student-athlete, he is ranked No. 3 nationally and No. 2 in Florida and the Southeast on TennisRecruiting.net’s recruiting rankings.
STATE TRACK HONORS
Finalists for the Florida Diary Farmers overall Track & Field Athlete of the Year and Coach of the Year.
BOYS
Athlete of the Year nominees include: Javier Vento, Senior, Belen Jesuit, Class 3A Track Athlete of the Year. He swept the 1,600-meter (4:14.58) and 3,200-meter (9:02.61) titles while posting the secondfastest time in the nation this year in the mile (4:09.26) and third fastest time in the 3,200 meters (9:02.61). He has signed with the University of Florida.
Coach of the Year nominees include: Davidson Gill, Dillard, Class 3A Coach of the Year. He ended Northwestern’s string of three straight titles and guided the school’s first state championship with 80 points, winning three relays and one individual title.
GIRLS
Athlete of the Year nominees include:
Eddiyah Frye, Senior, St. Thomas Aquinas, Class 4A Track Athlete of the Year. She won the 100-meter hurdles (13.53) and long jump (19 3-3/4) state titles, ran the anchor leg on her team’s 400-meter relay victory and finished fourth in the 300-meter hurdles. Earlier in the season she ran the nation’s fastest 55-meter hurdles time (7.84). She has signed with the University of North Carolina.
Alyssa Jones, Junior, Southridge, Class 3A Track Athlete of the Year. The 2019 state high jump champion won the title again this season and added victories in the 100meters and long jump. Jones had the nation’s top marks in the high jump
(6-0 3/4 and long jump (20-9 1/4 in 2020 before the Covid-19 pandemic forced cancellation of the season.
Coach of the Year nominees include Alex Armenteros, St. Thomas Aquinas, Class 4A Coach of the Year. He led his squad to its third straight state title with a tight victory over runner-up Niceville (98-95).
Carmen Jackson, Miami Northwestern, Class 3A Coach of the Year. Jackson led her team to its 12th consecutive state title and 17th title overall with a hard-fought win over runner-up Southridge (78-72). The championship extended the state record for most consecutive titles.
The Florida Dairy Farmers
High School Sports Awards program exemplifies Florida Dairy Farmers’ commitment to the state’s youth.
This is the 29th year of these unique awards as we honor the state’s top athletes and coaches in all 30 FHSAA sanctioned and recognized sports.
The program also emphasizes to young people the importance of keeping dairy products a primary part of their diet in their overall nutrition plan.
SUBMIT SUMMER SPORTS RESULTS
For summer sports with high school athletes in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, if you have results and stats for this column, email hssports@miami herald.com.
For club teams and individuals, include the high school(s) of the student-athlete(s).
This is open to participants in summer sports leagues, events and tournaments who are current high school athletes, those who graduated in 2021 and those who will be freshmen in the fall.
Email hssports@miamiherald.com.