USTA Missouri Valley Sweet 16 Crowns New Champions

Eight junior tennis players from around the United States Tennis Association Missouri Valley five state area captured singles championships at the USTA Missouri Valley Sweet 16 Championship, which draws the top 16 boys and girls players in each age division throughout the USTA Missouri Valley. The tournament was held June 19-24 at the Plaza Tennis Center in Kansas City, Mo. 

Stiff competition in each of the age brackets made for an exciting week of tennis. The singles champions in each age division earn a spot into the USTA National Hard Court Championships in August. 

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The results of the singles championships are as follows:

Boys 18s: Nam Pham d. Mason Meier 7-6, 6-3

Girls 18s: Kelsey Mize d. Gracie Epps 6-2, 5-7, 6-3

Boys 16s: Alex Han d. Eli Brewer 7-5, 6-3

Girls 16s: Zoe Hammond d. Callie Flanagan 3-6, 6-3, 6-1

Boys 14s: Brett Keeling d. Daniel Lu 4-6, 6-4, 6-2

Girls 14s: Kate Kim d. Adella Castaner 7-5, 7-5

Boys 12s: Cooper Woestendick d. Declan Galligan 3-6, 6-1, 6-3

Girls 12s: Amber Yin d. Zoie Epps 1-6, 6-3, 7-5

Doubles Champions:

Boys 18s: Bruno Serra/Rafael Serra

Girls 18s: Gracie Epps/Kelsey Mize

Boys 16s: Eli Brewer/Alex Han

Girls 16s: Zoe Hammond/Amber Hochstatter

Boys 14s: Nicholas Fischer/Brian Kim

Girls 14s: Ariel Madatali/Kate Kim

Boys 12s: Declan Galligan/Cooper Woestendick

Girls 12s: Elena Daskalova/Kinley Vanpelt

The players who competed in the tournament represented the top-level junior tennis players in the USTA Missouri Valley. Each year, there are more than 6,000 players that compete in USTA Missouri Valley Junior Tournaments. Players compete in levels of competition through earned advancement in the 12s, 14s, 16s, and 18s age divisions. 

USTA Junior Tournaments help kids take their game as far as they want — high school, college or pros — or just to have fun competing, all while advancing as players. 

The tournament also awarded sportsmanship awards to the following players:

Boys 18s: Alex Richards

Girls 18s: Emily Johnston

Boys 16s: Joe Harris

Girls 16s: Anatta Charoenkul

Boys 14s: Brian Kim

Girls 14s: Abby Gaines

Boys 12s: Joshua Kim

Girls 12s: Avery Jennings