New England

NJTL Students Win Essay Contest

James Maimonis, Manager, Media & Communications | June 09, 2023

WESTBOROUGH, MA – Twelve New England students were recently selected as USTA New England’s 2022 National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) Essay Contest winners. Run annually by the USTA Foundation and presented by Deloitte, this contest is open to NJTL students nationwide, including those part of New England’s 17 local chapters.

 

New England winners were entered into a national submission for a trip to New York City.

 

Students were tasked with sharing their opinion on the sentiment shared by former New York City Mayor, David Dinkins, on whether tennis develops and instills confidence, character, sportsmanship and teamwork. They were then asked what other skills they have gained from tennis, what their dreams were and how tennis could help them achieve those dreams.

 

Eighty-one students entered, with winning essays coming from seven different NJTL chapters, including TeamFAME in Newport, RI and First Serve Bridgeport in Bridgeport, CT, with three champions each.

  • Here is the full list of New England winners broken down by age division:
  • Emily Alfonso Olmos, 17-18 division, Female (First Serve Bridgeport)
  • Daniel Tarazona, 17-18 division, Male (First Serve Bridgeport)
  • Sarah Justo, 15-16 division, Female (Danbury Grassroots Academy)
  • Noah Krantz, 15-16 division, Male (Lee Community Tennis Association)
  • Emily Chiroy, 13-14 division, Female (First Serve Bridgeport)
  • Joseph Renfrow, 13-14 division, Male (TeamFAME)
  • Gabrielle Giles, 11-12 division, Female (New HYTEs)
  • Gianna D’Onofrio, 11-12 division, Female (Bennington ACES)                    
  • Lincoln Gibs, 11-12 division, Male (TeamFAME)
  • Santino Sonny Smith, 11-12 division, Male (TeamFAME)
  • “Unnamed student”, 10 and under division, Female (Sportsmen’s Tennis & Enrichment Center)
  • Jonathan Dragonetti, 10 and under division, Male (Lee Community Tennis Association)

 

The 2023 NJTL Essay Contest is currently open through June 30. Students are asked to write about who has helped and supported their achievements throughout their tennis journey.

 

To learn more about the essay contest, click here.

TOURNAMENTS NEAR YOU

PROGRAMS NEAR YOU

Skip Advertisement

Advertisement

Related Articles

  • Visit the Bronze at Maccabiah Games page
    Bronze at Maccabiah Games
    August 06, 2026
    Trailing by a set and down 1-5 in the second of a brutal, three-and-a-half-hour bronze medal match at July’s Maccabiah Games, Wellesley, MA’s Janet Pearl was just one game away from losing the medal of her dreams. But Pearl was no stranger to uphill battles. Fighting through a painful elbow injury on top of a multi-year recovery from a knee injury, the 61-year-old refused to give up. Relying on the grit honed over years of rehabilitation, she battled back point after point to win the match and secure the bronze for Maccabi USA, a non-profit sponsoring the American delegation at the Games. For Pearl, the bronze was more than a win; it was the ultimate symbol of perseverance and the official end of her journey to recovery. Read More
  • Visit the NH Coach Comes Full Circle page
    NH Coach Comes Full Circle
    August 05, 2026
    Six years ago, Sam Hergenhahn picked up a tennis racquet for the first time as a reluctant beginner in a local Tennis in the Parks session, an introductory program that brings accessible tennis to public courts. This summer, the 18-year-old can be found on those same courts, only this time, he’s the one running the drills. Read More
  • Visit the NE Wins Atlantic Coast Cup page
    NE Wins Atlantic Coast Cup
    August 04, 2026
    The annual Atlantic Coast Cup 65 competition was held July 25–26 at Waynesboro Country Club in Paoli, Pennsylvania. The weather was ideal, with sunny skies, low humidity, and temperatures in the upper 70s to low 80s. Waynesboro provided a beautiful setting for the event, featuring 10 impeccably maintained Har-Tru courts and excellent balcony viewing for spectators. Read More