Doral, Palmetto, Pine Crest, Heritage, Gulliver lead tennis state title contenders

Since Florida’s boys’ tennis championships expanded to four classes in 1994, South Florida had never earned a clean sweep … until last year.

Dr. Krop won in 4A, Doral took 3A, Fort Lauderdale’s Pine Crest prevailed in 2A, and Boca Raton’s St. Andrew’s was the 1A champion.

Meanwhile, South Florida girls’ tennis teams swept the state championships for the third straight year, including Doral in 3A and Plantation’s American Heritage in 2A. The other two spots went to Boca schools: Spanish River (4A) and St. Andrew’s (1A).

Dade and Broward teams alone have pulled off the feat only once on the girls’ side when Krop, St. Thomas Aquinas, Plantation American Heritage and Ransom Everglades swept the classes in 2008.

This year, Doral has moved up to 4A, which should shake things up in state tennis. Here’s a closer look at top Dade and Broward teams:

CLASS 4A

Doral’s girls are a powerhouse, having won three straight state titles. Doral junior Valeria Ray, who went 14-0 last season, is the reigning Florida Player of the Year in 3A.

Senior Valeria Centeno, freshman Alba Martinez, junior Brenda Yoris and junior Patricia Palencia round out Doral’s top five.

Doral’s boys will try to win its second straight state title. Coach Justin Puppo’s top five players are seniors: Greyson Wlliams, Peyton Williams, Andres Rodriguez, Facundo Olmedo and Isaac Guadagnimo.

Krop’s boys, reigning champs in 4A, should give Doral a fight, led by senior Sebastian Rondon and junior Jonathan Irwanto. Krop’s girls are powered by junior Gabriela Rondon, who is Sebastian’s sister, and senior Ayami Maehama.

Coral Gables will be led on the boys’ side by senior Michael Evelyn and sophomore Henry Stoller while the girls will be led by junior Avery Felix and senior Andreina Gonzalez.

CLASS 3A

Palmetto moved down from 4A to 3A and could come away with a pair of state titles.

The Palmetto boys are led by Sebastian Munoz, a senior who has committed to play Division I tennis for St. Louis University.

Munoz was a freshman alternate on a loaded Palmetto team that won a state title in 2019. Now he’s playing No. 1 singles and will compete in doubles with his brother Alessandro, a junior. Senior Adriano Guarino and sophomores Matteo Sama and Alessio Guarino fill out the lineup.

Palmetto’s girls, who finished second at state last year, are led by senior Jett Coetzee. Freshman Alexa Schull is a major talent. Other top players are sophomores Mia Sorentino, Brooke Reveulta and Nicole Calmet.

CLASS 2A

This may be the most fascinating class to follow because Pine Crest won state in the boys, and American Heritage won state in girls. Gulliver Prep is also a state contender.

In the boys’ competition, Pine Crest returns Kenneth Chan, a four-star recruit who went 11-0 as a freshman last year. Senior Zaid Abuhamada, injured last year, will give Pine Crest coach Corey Marsh another top player.

For the girls, Heritage is loaded with Harvard recruit Natalie Block, a junior, at the top. Senior Katelyn Gramanzini has signed with East Carolina; and junior Grace Odom Montbrun is another top player.

Pine Crest’s girls are led by Michaela Landry, a top-40 recruit in Florida. Freshman Bridget Chalich has claimed the No. 2 spot.

Meanwhile, Gulliver’s top girls are Jayden Jagolinzer, Mia Suarez, Valentina Rossi and Lia Fletcher. Gulliver’s top boys are junior Pierce Garbett and freshman Sasha Colleu.

North Broward Prep has sophomore Jacob Hartman and junior Felipe Ferreira atop its order.

Calvary Christian’s boys are coming off a 9-0 season and will be led by sophomore James Germinal, the individual state runner-up in 2A last year, and junior Chris Bogelin, a runner-up at state in doubles. Calvary’s girls will be led by juniors Kali Cafaro and Bella Forcella.

CLASS 1A

St. Andrew’s is dominant, but there are some strong teams in Dade, too.

Riviera Prep’s girls, led by first-team All-Dade star Sasha Kilgour, finished third at state last year. She’s still just an eighth-grader, and her sister Layla is a seventh-grader playing No. 3 singles. In the middle is junior Milagros Lardiez.

Riviera Prep’s boys’ team features junior Paolo Christie-Schrank, freshman Santiago Lardiez and senior Wayne Rosen.

Ransom Everglades’ boys should get to state led by senior Sam Gelber, a returning first-team All-Dade player who signed with Lafayette; senior David Green, who signed with New York University.

In the girls, Ransom has junior Sofia Miranda and her sister Victoria Miranda, a sophomore.

Nathan Debut – a perfect name for the occasion -- will make his debut as Carrollton’s coach.

Eighth-grader Jazel Mangones is projected as Carrollton’s top player, and she will be followed by juniors Isabella Velarde and Cecilia Swain and freshman Lara Mangones.

This story was originally published January 31, 2022 at 12:51 PM.