RANCHO MIRAGE, CA-- Everyone know the name Lawrence Formentera now. The 15-year-old from Colton, CAlif., went from unheralded local Southern California kid to one of Seena Hamilton's favorites, as Formentera pulled off another upset win on the final day of the Easter Bowl, USTA Spring National Championships.
the unseeded Formentera's incredible run in the boy's 16-and-under division came to a victorious conclusion Sunday at the Rancho Las Palmas Resort.. Formentera beat No. 1 seed James "Bo" Seal of Chattanooga, Tenn., 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, in the most riveting match of the tournament.
Formentera's self-described style is to 'go for it (Fernando" Gonzalez style' and rip winners from the baseline. He and Seal did just that all day, trading points from the baseline, with Formentera having just a little bit more in the tank when all was said and done.
Formentera Upsets No. 1 Seal for Boy's 16s Easter Bowl Title
Formentera completes unlikely run to Easter Bowl title
Unseeded 15 year-old from Colton defeats top-seeded Seal, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (4), to win boys' 16-and-under title at prestigious tournament in Rancho Mirage.
Lawrence Formentera made a storybook run through the 40th U.S. Tennis Assn. Easter Bowl Spring National Championships.
On Sunday, he wrote just the right ending for it.
Formentera, an unheralded and unseeded 15-year-old from Colton, won the last five points in a third-set tiebreaker to upset top-seeded James "Bo" Seal of Chattanooga, Tenn., 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (4), in the boys' 16-and-under division championship match of the prestigious tournament at Rancho Las Palmas Resort in Rancho Mirage.
"I came in feeling pretty confident," Formentera said. "it was really close, it could've gone either way. He grinds a little, but I was just more aggressive than he was and got the better of him today."
Congratulations to Katherine Cecil. She will be playing for Tulane University for 2011 season on a tennis scholarship. At the age of fifteen she will be graduating high school this June and she will play college tennis from this coming fall. At such young age not only she is very good tennis player but also she is great academic student with GPA of 4.8 and 2330 SAT score. In addition, she is very determined about her future goal which is becoming a doctor one day. “It is amazing how she manage her time so well, so she could play tennis, and also do so well in her academics as well” (Brian Park).
This was first time Edward reached Semi Finals in the 16’s national tournament. Edward beat the 3rd seeded player in the second round match and he had very tough third round match where he managed to win 10:0 in the third set super tie breaker. But he felt little short in the semi final match against second seeded Nicholas Mahlangu.
Mellissa Padriezaite wins her first 16’s satellite tournament at the Fullerton Tennis Center Jr Satellite Tournament.
It was Formentera's first appearance in "The Show". As he pointed out, last year "I was nobody." After playing Los Caballeros, he began training with Brian Park, "And I'm the player I am now."