USTA Missouri Valley Sweet 16 Crowns New Champions

KANSAS CITY, MO.  – 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 13-18 at the Plaza Tennis Center in Kansas City, Mo. 

Stiff competition in each of the age brackets 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. All the finalists in the 18s divisions are defending high school state champions, highlighting that high school tennis can contribute to the development of high performance tennis players. 

Click here to view a photo gallery from the event

The results of the singles championships are as follows:

Boys 18s: Mason Meier (Elkhorn, Neb.)  d. Carson Haskins (Ballwin, Mo.) 6-3, 6-2

Girls 18s: Samantha Mannix (Elkhorn, Neb.)  d. Caroline Pozo (Ballwin, Mo.)  6-2, 4-6, 6-1

Boys 16s: Nam Pham (Lenexa, Kan.)  d. Graydon Lair (Tulsa, Okla.) 6-1, 6-2

Girls 16s: Ellie Kuckelman (Overland Park, Kan.)  d. Kelsey Mize (Tulsa, Okla.)  6-3, 6-3

Boys 14s: Alex Han (Tulsa, Okla.) d. Cameron Luhring (Parkersburg, Iowa) 6-4, 6-2

Girls 14s: Ellee Dryer (Olathe, Kan.)  d. Gracie Epps (Tulsa, Okla.) 6-4, 6-3

Boys 12s: Humza Noor (Olathe, Kan.) d. Brett Keeling (Tulsa, Okla.) 6-3, 4-6, 7-5

Girls 12s: Brooklyn Olson (Kansas City, Mo.)  d. Ariel Madatali (St. Louis, Mo.)  6-1, 6-1

Doubles Champions:

Boys 18s: Bradley Frye/Carson Haskins

Girls 18s: Anna Alons/Caroline Pozo

Boys 16s: Bruno Serra/Rafael Serra

Girls 16s: Ellie Kuckelman/Chloe Kuckelman

Boys 14s: Cameron Luhring/Grant Weideman

Girls 14s: Elizabeth Choate/Gracie Epps

Boys 12s: Brett Keeling/Jesper Ohlson

Girls 12s: Ariel Madatali/Brooklyn Olson

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: Ethan Henry

Girls 18s: Lily Feldman

Boys 16s: Jake Fraunfelder

Girls 16s: Bianca Rademacher

Boys 14s: Luke Bracks

Girls 14s: Arunadee Fernando

Boys 12s: Caleb Bartels

Girls 12s: Abby Gaines