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Vegas Juniors Dominate at 2008 Summer Sectionals in Denver

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By Alyse Lysgaard, Junior Reporter

Summer sectionals cannot be categorized as a "normal" tennis tournament, because so much more is on the line for the players. The Intermountain Sectional Championships are open to all junior players who meet age and residency requirements. Summer sectionals offer players an opportunity to participate in one of the most competitive levels of tournament play in the section. It also offers players the opportunity to gain a high level of points that count toward their Intermountain and National Ranking.

This year's Summer Sectional was held in Denver, Colorado on June 15-19, 2008. Denver is definitely a tennis player’s dream city. The weather, the number and quality of public and private tennis facilities are amazing! Nearly sixty junior players from Las Vegas converged on the city with the single-minded goal of emerging victorious as the Sectional Champion.

Players participating in the Boys 12’s were Rama Trump, Ozzie Tavares, and Zach Garner. Tavares was a finalist in the consolation finals after losing in the quarterfinals of the main draw.

The Boys 14’s Southern Nevada participants included, Brendan Aguilar, Brian Foley, Yannick Mahlangu, Mitchell Smith, Evan Roth, Nicholas Mahlangu, Angel Aguilar, Matthew Dees and Keenan Gladd-Brown. The Las Vegas boys proved their strength as they progressed through the tournament brackets with Brendan Aguilar, Nicholas Mahlangu, and Brian Foley along with Matt Oddenetto from Idaho in the semi-finals of the main draw. Las Vegas prevailed in the finals with Brendan Aguilar defeating Brian Foley 6-2, 6-4, and Nicholas Mahlangu defeating Oddenetto for third place with an identical score of 6-2, 6-4. Not to be outdone by his brother, Yannick Mahlangu won the back draw finals 7-5, 6-0 over Colorado’s Hayden Sabatka. The Mahlangu brothers of Yannick and Nicholas teamed in the doubles to win in the finals over Keenan Gladd-Brown and Matt Oddenetto, 6-1, 6-1. Other Las Vegas teams were Brendan Aguilar and Brian Foley, and Matthew Dees and Mitchell Smith.

Las Vegas truly showed its strength in numbers in the Boys 16’s division with competitors of Evan Song, Jeff Vongman, J.C, Pauli, Hadrien Saperstein, Zach Bellon, Andrew Raphaelson, Willie Sublette, Fernando Sunago, and Patrick Kawka. The Vegas boys battled courageously. Hometown friendships and loyalties had to be placed on hold as was proved by Willie Sublette as he had to battle through Las Vegas powerhouses of Fernando Sunago (in the first round), Andrew Raphaelson (round of 32), and Patrick Kawka (round of 16) before being defeated in the quarterfinals by yet another Las Vegas player, Evan Song. Song posted a strong showing, eventually losing 6-4, 6-3 to Colorado’s Casey MacMaster in the finals. MacMaster also took out Jeff Vongman in the quarterfinals on his quest for his championship; Patrick Kawka overcame his main draw defeat to advance to the back draw semi-finals before losing to Matt Cowley from Utah (who won the back draw). Jeff Vongman and Patrick Kawka were unsuccessful in their quest for the doubles title with a loss in the finals (6-2, 6-2) to Devin Lane/ Casey MacMaster.

Ed Ureta, Laurent Gontier, Devon Morrissey, Dillon McNamara, Colton Pate, Ashton Kalhorn, Stan Breland, Aashish Daulat, Dillon Berkabile, Josh Levinson, Tommy Lettero, and Brandon Parker all entered the Boys 18’s with high hopes of a Summer Sectional Championship. Parker posted the best result for Las Vegas with a second place finish to Utah’s Spencer Smith with a score of 6-2, 7-5. Ashton Kalhorn lost in the main draw round of 16, but played strong in the back draw before losing in the back draw finals to the big serve of Jordan Bridge from Grand Junction, Colorado. Brandon Parker teamed with Stan Breland to avenge his singles finals loss to Spencer Smith, by defeating Smith and Jordan Bridge 6-2, 6-2

A strong Las Vegas field of Jordan Minnick, Josie Legarza, Racquel Lopez, Samantha Smith, Chelsea Crovetti, Nevada Apollo, and Nikki Newel all entered the Girls 12’s. Lopez’s "Rituals" assisted her to a win in the back draw over Idaho’s Madison Maloney. Minnick and Newell also posted strong showings progressing to the semi-finals of the back draw.

Las Vegas powerhouse, Gabrielle Smith prevailed over a strong Girls 14’s field that included Michaele Sullivan, Ashley Newell, Amanda and Taler Brazell, Christian Earl, and Victoire Saperstein. Smith won the championship over the #1 seed, Erin Gebes of Colorado by a score of 7-6, 2-6, 7-5. Victoire (proved her name is true) by overcoming her quarterfinal loss to Smith by winning the back draw over Jennifer Weissmann of Colorado by a score of 6-1, 6-2. Victoire Saperstein and Gabrielle Smith proved their dominance over the field by sweeping on to a win when they teamed for doubles.

The Girls 16’s gathered 14 competitors from Las Vegas including Madison Mathis, Maia Bernick, Danica Ingwaldson, Danae Ingwaldson, Sarah Lucas, Lauren Lightfoot, Alyse Lysgaard, Maja Banas, Chrissy Uriarte, Natasha James, Austin McMillan, Anita Lee, Sarah Toti, and Tiffany Tavares. A shocker occurred for the #1 seed, Mary Ann MacFarlane when Tavares defeated her 6-4, 6-3 in the round of 16. Tiffany continued her winning ways defeating the #5 seed Caroline Schnell of Colorado and #3 seed Sarah Toti of Las Vegas before obtaining the goal of Champion after receiving an emergency walk-over from Utah’s Callie Craig in the finals. Tiffany proved her winning abilities again this year, as she did in 2007 when she took the Girls 14's Singles and Doubles Championship titles. Sarah Toti defeated Anita Lee 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 to place 3rd. Chrissy Uriarte and Sarah Toti proudly represented Las Vegas in the doubles finals against Mary Ann MacFarlane and Caroline Schnell but were unable to take home the prize, losing 6-4, 6-0 in the finals.

Julia Baltas was the lone Las Vegas competitor in the Girls 18’s. She was victorious over Utah’s Alana McMahon by a score of 7-5, 6-1 to win the back draw after suffering a defeat by Paige Miles (from Utah) in the round of 16.

With these outstanding results, the Vegas player gathered their hardware and returned home to the heat and to train for the next event. In the end, it was a successful tournament for all Intermountain Competitors and especially for Southern Nevada. Special thanks must go out to all the parents, coaches, tournament directors and officials that make events like this possible for the players.

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