Boca Ciega’s Dan Stefan left no doubt that he is the best Class 2A singles player in Florida this season.
Stefan had to stick around Casselberry for another day, but the wait was worth it after defeating Chase Perez-Blanco of Miami Gulliver Prep 6-2, 6-2 Wednesday for the overall singles title. It is the second straight state championship for Stefan, a junior.
“The last two times I played him in USTA tournaments I lost to him,” Stefan said. “The last time was about five months ago. I think it shows that I’m getting better.’’
Stefan said despite the score, it was not an easy match.
“He’s the toughest player I’ve faced in a high school match,” Stefan said. “The score doesn’t indicate how tough it was. I had to work hard for every point.”
Stefan and Nikita Goldenberg then teamed up to win the individual state doubles championship 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) over Albert Go and Noah Ranis of Merritt Island. In the overall final, Stefan and Goldenberg lost 6-1, 6-0 to Baker Newman and Perez-Blanco of Gulliver Prep.
Class 4A girls: East Lake’s Angel Deng and Kim Herrock played Dana Gandelman and Naiya Oden of Miami Dr. Krop for the individual state doubles championship. Deng and Herrock won 6-1, 6-2 in a match postponed until Wednesday morning due to rain.
In the overall doubles final, Deng and Herrock lost to Plant’s Erica Oosterhout and Gabrielle Rodriguez 6-1, 6-4.
Class 3A girls: Largo sophomore Alexis Franco will play for the individual state championship this morning against Nikki Kallenberg of Naples. Franco won two singles matches in straight sets to get to the final.
Class A boys: Canterbury’s Evan Holvoet started his day by defeating Andrew Blair of John Carroll 6-2, 6-1. He followed that with a second win, over area rival Parker Hayslett of Clearwater Central Catholic, 6-4, 6-3. Holvoet faces Richard Torres of Miami MAST Academy in the semifinals at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs.