Miami Palmetto boys and girls sweep GMAC tennis championships
Miami Palmetto is hoping to get back to the mountaintop where it’s been so many times in the past in boys and girls’ tennis.
Dominance locally is the first step.
And the Panthers did that on Tuesday by sweeping the GMAC championships at Crandon Park in Key Biscayne.
Palmetto cruised to a pair of 5-0 victories over MAST Academy in the finals of both the boys’ and girls’ divisions.
The Panthers’ girls secured what’s believed to be their seventh consecutive GMAC title while the boys won it after coming up short last season.
Palmetto’s boys also beat Mourning 5-0 in the semifinal round while the Panthers’ girls beat Krop in their semifinal. MAST took down Mourning in the semifinals on the girls’ side while their boys edged Columbus in the most competitive match of the day, 4-2.
Michael Larionov led Palmetto’s boys with a 6-4, 6-0 victory over MAST’s Ricardo Watson at No. 1 singles. The Panthers’ girls were led at the top by senior Catherin Cardona-Carballosa, who won her No. 1 singles match 6-2, 6-0.
Palmetto’s girls and boys each remained unbeaten with the boys improving to 11-0 while the girls are 8-0.
Palmetto’s boys and girls are both chasing their eighth state titles respectively and second in the past three seasons.
RESULTS
Boys’ final - Palmetto 5, MAST 0 - No. 1 singles: Michael Larionov (Pal) d. Ricardo Watson (M) 6-4, 6-0; No. 2: Beau Gibson (Pal) d. Pedro Ribas (M) 6-0, 6-2; No. 3: Austin Siddens (Pal) d. Nicola Ibrichimov (M) 6-0, 6-0; No. 4: Ben Montana (Pal) d. Byrne Corbin (M) 6-0, 6-0; No. 5: Darren Wotcott (Pal) d. Diego Huidobro (M).
Boys’ semifinals - Palmetto 5, Mourning 0 - No. 1 singles: Larionov (Pal) d. Valentino (ATM) 8-3; No. 2: Gibson (Pal) d. Nikita (ATM) 8-2; No. 3: Siddens (Pal) d. Platon (ATM) 8-0; No. 4: Montana (Pal) d. Ayat (ATM) 8-0; No. 5: Danny M. (Pal) d. Martin (ATM) 8-2; MAST 4, Columbus 2 - No. 1: Santiago S. (Col) d. Watson (M) 8-3; No. 2: Rodrigo A. (Col) d. Ribas (M) 8-7 (7-2); No. 3: Sergio B. (M) d. Jacob A. (Col) 8-5; No. 4: Ibrichimov (M) d. Lucas G. (Col) 8-4; No. 5: Corbin (M) d. Ignacio C. (Col) 8-2; No. 1 doubles: Watson/Ribas (M) won 8-3.
Girls’ final - Palmetto 5, MAST 0 - No. 1 singles: Catherine Cardona-Carballosa (Pal) d. Valentina P. (M) 6-2, 6-0; No. 2: Camille Chelas (Pal) d. Beatriz C. (M) 6-0, 6-0; No. 3: Madeleine Chelas (Pal) d. Jaclyn G. (M) 6-0, 6-4; No. 4: Lucia Siddens (Pal) d. Nila N. (M) 6-0, 6-3; No. 5: Sophia Jarauta (Pal) d. Annika R. (M) 6-1, 6-0.
Girls’ semifinal - MAST 5, Mourning 0 - No. 1 singles: Valentina P. (M) d. Manuela G. (ATM) 8-5; No. 2: Beatriz C. (M) d. Victoria S. (ATM) 8-1; No. 3: Jaclyn G. (M) d. Valentina D. (ATM) 8-1; No. 4: Nila N. (M) d. Mayanne F. (ATM) 8-0; No. 5: Annika R. (M) d. Eva G. (ATM) 8-0.
