Krop’s Shpagonov, Coral Park’s Soto are Dade Badminton Players of the Year
Coral Park’s Aaliyah Soto broke a long championship drought for her school.
And Krop’s Klim Shpagonov might just be at the start of a sustained run of dominance.
Both players succeeded in winning their first singles championships at this year’s Greater Miami Athletic Conference tournament.
As such, Soto and Shpagonov are the Miami Herald’s Boys’ and Girls’ Badminton Players of the Year.
After four consecutive seasons where Miami Palmetto’s Katarina Slazas had won the girls’ singles title, it was time for a new champion.
Soto, a junior, stepped up into the spotlight after rallying from a first set loss to beat Varela’s Valentina Carruitero in the final. Soto became the first Coral Park player to win the girls singles title since Janice Morales in 2013.
Soto lost in the Youth Fair final and came back to win the rematch.
“I just practiced since Youth Fair and tried to play smarter,” Soto said.
Shpagonov, a freshman, began playing the sport in his native Russia before moving to the U.S. four years ago where he continued to hone his skills and improve. Shpagonov said his father played table tennis in Russia and, as a child, he wanted to play a fast and active sport, which eventually led him to playing badminton.
Shpagnov was confident he could put together such a season after strong results at the Youth Fair championship and in the divisional rounds of the GMAC tournament. Shpaganov won the boys’ singles title with a 21-9, 21-9 win in the final over Coral Gables’ Aidan Remedios.
“We were playing (divisionals) and Youth Fair, and I won both, so I was expecting good results,” Shpagonov said. “I’m happy I won. I grew up learning this sport in Russia and have come to love it even more playing it here in America.”
COACH OF THE YEAR
In a season in which they had to overcome some growing pains, Palmetto’s David Zarco helped the Panthers win their fifth consecutive GMAC championship and 11th overall.
Led by its boys’ and girls’ doubles champions, the Panthers finished five points ahead of runner-up Varela to retain their dominance in the county.
Zarco is once again the Miami Herald’s Miami-Dade Badminton Coach of the Year.
With some of its top players returning, Palmetto will look to extend its title streak next season.
