2024 Junior Sectionals Champions Crowned

AMHERST, MA – A brother/sister champion combo, two repeat winners and four new faces headlined this year’s Junior Sectionals. For a second straight year, New England’s premier event for tournament players was held in Western Massachusetts at Amherst, Smith and Hampshire Colleges. While rain forced play indoors in the early rounds, the quarterfinals, semis and finals were played exclusively outdoors at Amherst College.

Thirty-two boys and girls each in the 18s, 16s, 14s and 12s divisions competed for the top spot in New England with high stakes on the line. Both 18s champions earn an automatic bid to their respective National Championships, while the 16s winners qualify for the New England Battle of the Sections team. The 14s and 12s winners automatically receive a spot on the Northeast Team Cup.  

This year’s 18s champions were the brother and sister duo from Kennebunk, ME, George and Olivia Cutone. George, the defending three-time Maine state high school singles champion, defeated Derek Hafiz in the semifinals and Joseph Oyebog in the championship. Olivia finished second and third overall respectively in her past two Junior Sectionals, but this year was able to break through thanks to an impressive 7-5 7-6 (7-5) semifinal win over 2023 finalist, Isabella Camacho, and a dominant win in the final over Athena Li, whom she also beat last year in the third-place match.  

Both Elana Zaretsky (Braintree, MA) and Olivia Lin (Lexington, MA) captured their second straight Sectionals title. Zaretsky defeated Rachel White in the Girls’ 16s championship match, 6-1, 6-0, a rematch of last year’s Girls’ 14s final. Meanwhile, in the Girls’ 14s, top-seeded Olivia Lin outlasted No. 5 seeded Karina Moe, No. 6 Zinnia DeAngelis and No. 4 Kiera Delima in her final three rounds. Lin won the Girls’ 12s title last year.

Four first-time champions were also crowned this year.

Dante Chabot (Newburyport, MA), who fell last year in the first round to eventual champion, Lucas Bikkesbakker, had to battle for his victory this year. The No. 7 seeded Chabot knocked off No. 2 Kaden Chen in three sets in the quarters, No. 3 Thomas Sirichantho in the semis and top-seeded Michael Lorenzetti in the Boys’ 16s final.

Preet Dave took home the Boys’ 12s division championship, the same title his brother, Prem, won in 2016. The unseeded Dave defeated No. 2 Preston Leon, No. Ayan Ghael before beating No. 7 Jasper Arment in the final.

Michael Li played his way to victory in the Boys’ 14s by taking down top-seeded Joshua Chen in the finals. Li reached the finals in the Boys’ 12s division in 2022.

Heidi Wang captured the Girls’ 12s title. The No. 1 seed needed three sets to get past No. 4 Charlotte Boyce in the semis and then defeated No. 3 Charlotte Tai, 7-5, 6-4 in the final.

Tony Xu (Boys’ 14s) and Karina Moe (Girls’ 14s) earned this year’s Good Sport award voted on by tournament staff. Both players reached the quarterfinals in their respective divisions.

For more tournament coverage, results, photos and videos, click below:

Photos

Day 1 Photos (12s & 14s)

Day 2 Photos (16s & 18s)

Day 3 Photos (all ages)

Day 4 Photos (all ages)

Tournament Coverage

Live tournament coverage (pt. 1)

Live tournament coverage (pt. 2)

Videos

Blind Ranking Game with Omar Rhazali

Blind Ranking Game with Zinnia DeAngelis

Blind Ranking Game with Morgan Rich

Laury Hammel Celebrates 52 Years at Jr. Sectionals

Rain Delay Clean Up

Tennis Warm Up Game

Coach/Player Handshake

Bear Spotted at Sectionals

Player Autograph Session

Officials Spotlight – Adrian Salgado

Officials Spotlight – Alexis & Alana Snelson

Officials Slow Motion Video

Full tournament results can be found here.