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Articles by Sonny

About Sonny Dearth

Sonny Dearth is a writer and copy editor, primarily for the sports section, at the Daily Press newspaper and dailypress.com Web site in Newport News, Va.

Dearth has more than 40 years of experience in tennis. He is a former state high school champion who has served as a volunteer assistant coach in Virginia, where he started for four years at James Madison University in the late 1980s. He has competed in a few USTA national junior and adult events.

 

14-Aug-2024
Kockinis Beats the Heat, Opponents for Girls 14s Gold
Armira Kockinis nearly bowed out in the quarterfinals when she was overcome by the heat. But the California native hung tough and won every match to capture the singles gold ball at the USTA Girls 14s Natiional Championships in Rome, Georgia

14-Aug-2024
Berezin Triumphs Over Adversity to Capture Gold
Daniil Berezin overcame adversity to claim a major title. The Florida native captured the gold ball at the USTA Boys 14s National Championship in Alabama, defeating Tabb Tuck in straight sets in the final.

19-Jul-2024
Long Goes the Distance for Gold Ball at Boys 18 Clays
Dylan Long's first national ball was the gold variety after he captured the singles title with a three-set victory at the USTA Boys 18 Clay Court Nationals in Florida. Max Pettingell and Jack Satterfield won the doubles title.

18-Jul-2024
Traynor Wins First Ball, Captures Gold at USTA Girls 16 Clays
Olivia Traynor overcame the steamy conditions in Huntsville, Alabama, to win the USTA National Girls 16 Clay Court singles title without losing a set. Reagan Levine and Addy Rogin won the doubles title.

10-Jan-2024
Spurling, Payne Capture 16s Singles Titles
Nischal Spurling and Bella Payne emerged as 16-and-under singles champions as some of the nation's best young players rang in the New Year at the USTA Winter National Championships on the USTA National Campus in Orlando.

16-Aug-2023
Middleton Sweeps Girls 14s Hardcourt Titles
Lyla Middleton started slow but gained momentum as the tournament progressed to capture the singles title at the USTA Girls 14 National Championships in Rome, Georgia. Middleton teamed with Welles Newman to also win the doubles title.

16-Aug-2023
Konduri Sweeps 14 Hard Court Titles After Sweeping Clays
After sweeping the titles at Clay Courts last month, Tanishk Konduri did the same at the USTA Boys 14 National Hard Court Championships in Alabama. He won the gold ball in singles without dropping a set and teamed with Colin McPeek to capture the doubles crown.

21-Jul-2023
McNeil Outlasts the Field to Capture Girls 18s Clay Title
Christasha McNeil endured a handful of long matches in mostly steamy conditions in South Carolina to capture the singles title at the USTA Girls 18 National Clay Court Championship at LTP-Mount Pleasant. Piper Charney and Jessica Bernales won the doubles title.

20-Jul-2023
Satterfield Triumphs in Boys 16 Clays Without Dropping a Set
Seventh-seeded Jack Satterfield, who grew up in California's Bay Area before relocating to Florida, captured the USTA Boys 16 National Clay Court Championships at the Delray Beach Tennis Center without dropping a set. Nicholas Patrick and Oliver Narbut won the doubles title.

6-Jan-2023
Friedman, Dussault Are Good Sports, Winter National Champs
Leena Friedman and Maximus Dussault not only won the 16s singles titles at the USTA Winter National Championships, they earned the sportsmanship awards for their exemplary behavior at the USTA National Campus in Orlando.

17-Aug-2022
Payne Caps Dominant Run with Girls 14s Gold Ball
Bella Payne completed a dominant surge to the USTA Girls' 14 National Championship singles title at Rome Tennis Center in Georgia by winning all 14 sets she played. No. 17 Payne defeated No. 5 Maria Aytoyan 6-3, 6-3 in the final.

17-Aug-2022
Bielen Finishes Strong To Capture Boys 14 Gold Ball
Sebastian Bielen won three straight games to secure the Boys 14s singles title at the USTA National Championship. Bielen defeated Andre Alcantara 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 to complete a memorable week on hard courts in muggy Alabama.

22-Jul-2022
Stammel Nets First Singles Gold Ball with Girls 18s Clay Title
Bridget Stammel added to the sports legacy of Highland Park High by capturing the USTA Girls 18 National Clay Court Championships. It was the first singles gold ball for the Vanderbilt-bound Stammel after winning a gold ball in doubles in 2019.

21-Jul-2022
Brockett Conditioned To Win Boys 16s Clay Title
Stiles Brockett used his strong conditioning to go 7-0 and capture the USTA Boys 16 National Clay Court Championships singles crown. He surged past fellow five-star prospect Mikel Anderson of Hillsboro Beach, Florida 6-1, 6-3 in the final to capture his first singles gold ball.

22-Jul-2021
Pinzon Prevails to Claim Boys 16s Title
Felipe Pinzon won four three-set matches on his way to capturing the USTA Boys 16 Clay Court National Championships singles title in Delray Beach, Florida. Caden Hasler and Dylan Tsoi won the doubles crown in their first tournament playing together.

20-Jul-2021
Harding Ends Grueling Run with Girls 12s Title
Ciara Harding was so exhausted after her singles title run at the USTA Girls 12s National Clay Court Championships that she had to see a doctor. She was fine, and the grind earned Harding a gold ball. Bela Martinez o Anita Tu won the doubles title.

7-Jan-2020
Warming Trend: Kong Breaks Through to Win Boys 14s Title
Daniel Kong captured his first gold ball by winning the Boys 14s singles title at the USTA Winter National Championships. The New York native beat Humza Noor in three sets in the final. Carson Baker and Lucas Coriaty were the doubles champions.

7-Jan-2020
Maltby Captures Two Gold Balls at Girls 14s Winter Nationals
Susanna Maltby captured the singles and doubles titles at the USTA Girls 14s Winter Nationals in Arizona. The blue chip from Illinois, seeded third, defeated No. 10 Ava Bruno in the singles final and teamed with Sage Loudon to capture the doubles crown.

25-Jul-2019
Nisbet Makes 'Totally Unexpected' Golden Run in Girls 16s
Playing "up" a division proved beneficial for Aubrey Nisbet. The 14-year-old captured her first singles gold ball at the USTA Girls 16 National Clay Court Championships at the Athletic Club Alabama. Sonia Maheshwari and Lina Mohamed won the doubles title.

27-Jul-2018
Rajesh Showcases His Very Best In Boys 18s Title Run
Neel Rajesh, a four-star rising senior, earned his first USTA gold ball in scintillating fashion. Seeded in the group from 33rd to 64th, he won all eight of his singles matches in Delray Beach, Florida, capped by a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 upset of defending champion Axel Nefve in the championship match of the USTA Boys 18 National Clay Court Championships.

12-Apr-2018
James Madison Reels In Karpinski For Signing Class
Maryland native William Karpinski is signing to play for James Madison University. Outside of playing tennis, the three-star recruit enjoys deep-sea fishing and caught a barracuda several years ago on a family trip.

10-Nov-2017
Fall Signing Week 2017: Thorough Search Leads to UVA
Ryan Goetz didn't want to leave any stone unturned during his recruiting process. The blue chip senior from New York visited numerous schools and researched each program intensely. Goetz realized the University of Virginia was the best fit for him.

11-Oct-2017
Countdown: Rock Chalk for California's Deming
Having grown up in California, Julia Deming planned to stay home and attend college in the state. But once she made a visit to Kansas, Deming changed her mind. The five-star from Fallbrook has committed to Kansas.

27-Jul-2017
Crawley Shows Fight in Title Run
Fiona Crawley dug deep to win her first gold ball by rallying in several three sets matches to win the USTA National Girls 16 Clay Court Championships in Virginia Beach, Va. The top seed defeated No. 2 Ruth Marsh 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 in the final.

28-Mar-2017
Countdown: Anchors Aweigh for Andrew Ton
The United States military improved Andrew Ton's life a generation before he was born. So it's small wonder that Ton, a 5-Star left-hander from Milpitas, Calif., has committed to attend the U.S. Naval Academy and play tennis for the Midshipmen.

9-Nov-2016
Fall Signing Week '16: Tsygura Commits to the Cavaliers
The Scott Brown connection again is reaping recruiting rewards for men's college tennis' best team of the decade. With Brown, a former Virginia assistant coach, as the matchmaker, Blue Chip 17-year-old Kyrylo Tsygura of North Potomac, Md., has committed to play for the Cavaliers.

1-Nov-2016
Countdown: Norman Chooses the Dukes
As she shoots for the stars, Elizabeth Norman will take aim from Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. Norman, a well-traveled 5-Star recruit who lives in Marietta, Georgia, committed in July to play for James Madison University in Harrisonburg.

28-Jul-2016
Noel Wins Second Straight Clay Court Title
Overcoming a significant deficit when the heat index is in triple digits is never part of the game plan. But scrappy, feisty 13-year-old Alexa Noel did so anyway to capture the singles title at the USTA Girls 16 National Clay Court Championships. In a clash of two players who now call New Jersey home, Noel outlasted Amber O'Dell in 2 hours and 20 minutes by a score of 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.

13-Apr-2016
Spring Signing Week '16: Alhogbani Chooses the Cavaliers
If Five-star senior Ammar Alhogbani has his way, soccer won't dominate sports conversation in his homeland of Saudi Arabia. People will be talking about tennis - and his role in it. Alhogbani and his family live in Alexandria, Va., just more than a two-hour drive from the reigning NCAA champions at the University of Virginia. Alhogbani is excited to announce his commitment to the Cavaliers, who are seeking their third team crown in four years.

3-Nov-2015
Countdown: Zoë Spence Joins the Irish
From the tournament she helped originate in West Africa, to numerous countries she has visited to play on the International Tennis Federation circuit, Zoë Spence is well-traveled even by junior tennis standards. When next summer arrives, though, she'll settle at a place she and her family know extremely well: Notre Dame.

22-Jul-2015
Martinelli Takes 16s Title in Virginia Beach
Samantha Martinelli usually enjoys clay-court tennis about as much as swimmers and surfers enjoy seeing a shark's fin in the coastal Virginia water. But with smart preparation, the Denver Blue Chip recruit navigated her way through a draw of 192 to capture the title at the USTA Girls' 16 National Clay Court Championships.

8-Apr-2015
Countdown: Jacqueline Carr Commits to the Herd
Much of America learned about Huntington, W.Va., and its most prominent university via the movie "We Are Marshall." Jacqueline "Jackie" Carr has decided to experience it fully. Carr, a Five-Star recruit from Rogers, Ark., committed to the Thundering Herd last fall.

10-Feb-2015
Tar Heels Win Second ITA Indoor Title in Three Years
As the University of North Carolina mourns the death of iconic basketball coach Dean Smith, the UNC women's tennis team gave Tar Heel fans something to savor. UNC won the ITA National Team Indoor Championships' trophy for the second time in three years, defeating Georgia 4-1 Monday, Feb. 9, in a contest of fluctuating momentum at Boar's Head Sports Club.

12-Nov-2014
Fall Signing Week '14: Lampl Heads West to Stanford
When you think of happy landings, think of Caroline Lampl. Lampl, a Blue Chip recruit in the Class of 2015, flew across the country in late September to visit her possible college destination. While she was there, she decided she wanted to attend Stanford, a university with a renowned academic reputation and unmatched women's tennis tradition. But there was just one problem: She wasn't sure she would get in.

8-Sep-2014
Sophie Chang Commits to the Wahoos
When Sophie Chang was still in elementary school, she didn't know much about college tennis, but she had an idea that she wanted to head south to Virginia. Surely enough, that is what will happen. Chang, a homeschooled Blue Chip rising senior from Havre de Grace, Md., has committed to play for the Virginia Cavaliers, who have become one of the nation's top programs in the past few seasons under Mark Guilbeau's coaching.

24-Jul-2014
Liu Leads California Contingent in Girls' 16
A few miles from the ocean, Southern Californians dominated the USTA Girls 16 National Clay Court Championships, taking the top three places in singles and the runner-up honors in doubles. The ATLANTIC Ocean, that is. Not the Pacific. During the tournament week, dozens of spectators gathered at Virginia Beach Tennis and Country Club to see which Californian would earn the gold ball in singles - and the answer was Claire Liu.

17-Apr-2014
Spring Signing Week '14: Amanda Atanasson Tigers Up
After taking her fourth official visit, Amanda Atanasson knew where she wanted to go to college. Or, she might say, "geaux." Atanasson, a 5-Star player from the Mid-Atlantic Section, committed to Louisiana State. She selected the Tigers over a host of universities from various areas - none too close to her home in Owings Mills, Md.

18-Mar-2014
Countdown: Lamar Remy Commits to Wisconsin
For Lamar Remy, it's time for a cool change. After spending about five years training and occasionally basking in the warmth of Bradenton, Fla., the 3-Star prospect has elected to play tennis for the University of Wisconsin.

6-Nov-2013
Countdown: Rodriguez Excited to Head to Louisville
The allure of Louisville and the ACC was strong enough that Ariana Rodriguez didn't even need an official visit to decide her college destination. Rodriguez, a homeschooling 5-Star recruit from the Bronx, N.Y., committed this fall to the Cardinals after one unofficial trip to Bluegrass country.

25-Jul-2013
CiCi Bellis Wins Title at Girls 16s Clays
CiCi Bellis seemed so fresh in the second set, one of her post-match comments seemed incredible. "I've never done any off-court conditioning," the wispy Northern Californian said after wearing down Katerina Stewart of Miami 7-5, 6-1 to win the USTA Girls 16 Clay Court Championships' singles crown at Virginia Beach Tennis and Country Club. "That's because my on-court drilling is so taxing and intense."

20-Apr-2013
Spring Signing Week '13: Connor Kudrick to Wingate
Connor Kudrick will attend college halfway across the country in large part because it reminds him of what he loves about home. Kudrick, a 3-Star recruit from the Houston suburb of Spring, Texas, has signed with Wingate University in North Carolina, a rising NCAA Division II program.

17-Apr-2013
Spring Signing Week '13: Hudson Commits to Arkansas
Shannon Hudson of Virginia Beach is shorter than almost all of her opponents, but she was tall enough to see a red flag on the horizon. Figuratively speaking, that flag waved prominently enough to prompt Hudson to change her Southeastern Conference destination. Hudson, a Blue Chip recruit at just 5 feet tall, first committed to Tennessee. But she changed her mind and cast her lot with the Arkansas Razorbacks.

15-Nov-2012
Fall Signing Week '12: Luca Corinteli Chooses Wahoos
The University of Virginia men's tennis team's recruiting is coming up big - literally as well as figuratively. 6'4" Luca Corinteli recently became the latest Blue Chip prospect to commit to Coach Brian Boland's Cavaliers. Tennisrecruiting.net ranks him 17th in the nation and first in the Mid-Atlantic Section among the senior Class of 2013.

5-Nov-2012
Countdown: Kwiatkowski Decides
The question wasn't so much where Thai-Son Kwiatkowski would go to college, but whether he would go. The Blue Chip recruit from Charlotte, N.C., said he has played tennis as long as he can remember and wants to reach its highest level - the ATP Tour. But that path will now include some time in the college ranks, as the highly-coveted announces his decision.

5-Nov-2012
Countdown: Damon Niquet Heads to the Tribe
Three-time Wisconsin state champion Damon Niquet took a couple of visits to Williamsburg, Virginia, and he saw all that he needed to see. Niquet recently made a verbal commitment to head coach Peter Daub and William & Mary to join the Tribe Tennis Team in Fall 2013.

26-Jul-2012
Mia Horvit Wins First Gold Ball in 16s
The compelling matchup of birthday girls featured almost everything except a cake for the winner. No. 10 seed Mia Horvit of Parkland, Fla., earned her first U.S. Tennis Association gold ball, overcoming unseeded Francesca Dilorenzo of New Albany, Ohio, 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 to win the Girls 16 National Clay Court Championships.

11-Apr-2012
Spring Signing Week '12: On the Court with Connor Clements
While other players were developing higher rankings, Connor Clements was developing his tennis skills. While other players were studying in public or private school, Clements was studying online. Years later, the rankings reflect how well the road less traveled seems likely to get Clements to a favorable college destination.

4-Apr-2012
Countdown: Tanenbaum Selects Big Red
As one of the nation's best players, Dena Tanenbaum of Manasquan, N.J., enjoyed plenty of collegiate options. When she went to Ithaca, N.Y., and saw red - Big Red - she was sold. Tanenbaum, a five-star recruit, has committed to play for Cornell University in the prestigious Ivy League.

22-Mar-2012
Countdown: Kitchen Commits to the Terps
Many important people occasionally leave business hotbeds to travel to vacation spots. But with Five-Star recruit Ashley Kitchen, it will be the opposite. Kitchen, who grew up on picturesque Hilton Head Island, has committed to play for the University of Maryland.

1-Nov-2011
Countdown: Blue Chip prospect Vrabel reflects on commitment to Notre Dame
On the rare occasion when she isn't playing tennis or studying, Blue Chip recruit Julie Vrabel enjoys art. Don't be surprised if she draws some four-leaf clovers in the next few years to display her new school spirit. Vrabel has committed to attend Notre Dame in August and play for the defending Big East Conference champion Irish.

26-Jul-2011
Porter earns two titles at 16s Clays
It's hard to tell which was higher at the USTA Girls' 16 National Clay Court Championships: the record-threatening temperatures or Peggy Porter's confidence. Porter, from Dallas and seeded sixth in a field of 192, earned her first USTA gold ball with a breakthrough performance at Virginia Beach Tennis and Country Club.

11-Apr-2011
Spring Signing Week '11: Kandinata Arrives at Richmond
From Indonesia to Florida to North Carolina and soon to the University of Richmond, 16-year-old Melissa Kandinata has acquired a world of perspective amid her tennis travels. Kandinata, a five-star recruit ranked 41st among the senior class by TennisRecruiting.net, has committed to play for the Richmond Spiders in the fall. She's one of the highest-ranked recruits ever for the Spiders, who have won six of the last seven Atlantic 10 Conference championships.

5-Jan-2011
Recent U.Va. signee Mitchell Frank cherishes practice with Federer
Though he has won plenty of significant matches and championships in his budding career, one of Mitchell Frank's best tennis memories is a practice. His practice partner? None other than Roger Federer. Frank, who recently signed to become the University of Virginia's latest blue-chip recruit, got to conduct the workout of a lifetime at last year's U.S. Open.

27-Jul-2010
Wildcard Hayley Carter Wins 16s Clays
Unseeded Hayley Carter, a wildcard who wasn't sure she'd be allowed into the tournament less than a week before it began, emerged with a hard-earned trophy and USTA gold ball in the steamy Girls' 16 National Clay Court Championships. Carter, from Columbia, S.C., overcame third-seeded Jamie Loeb 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 in the championship match this past Sunday.

5-Apr-2010
Countdown: Army Strong on the Courts, Too
In January, the Black Knights of the United States Military Academy were voted one of the Top 10 recruiting classes for the Class of 2010. Army has developed a strong tradition in the Patriot League, winning nine titles and appearing in the conference championship match 15 times in the 16 seasons. Strong recruiting may lead to even loftier goals for the Cadets.

21-Oct-2009
Countdown: Shane chooses Cavaliers
Justin Shane enjoyed seeing a tall, slender young man named Juan Martin del Potro make his big breakthrough at the U.S. Open. Shane, a tall, slender young man from Falls Church, Va., hopes his big breakthrough will come with the University of Virginia Cavaliers.

29-Jul-2009
McPhillips dominates at the Girls 16 Clays
Second-seeded Kyle McPhillips of Willoughby, Ohio won all seven of her matches at the USTA Girls 16 National Clay Court Championships in Virginia Beach in straight sets, capping a week of dominance with a 6-2, 6-2 triumph over No. 3 Ashley Dai of Temple City, Calif. Sonny Dearth, who was on hand to take in the victory, wraps up the final days of the tournament.

19-Mar-2009
Countdown: Collins to the Terps
John Collins, a left-hander from Bowie, Md., is one of three in-state players who are scheduled to arrive at Maryland in the fall. Collins chose Maryland over Atlantic Coast Conference rival North Carolina State and Big Ten member Penn State.

23-Jul-2008
Niu victorious in surprise final at the Girls 16 Clays
Playing a long way from her home in Portland, Ore., ninth-seeded Belinda Niu shocked herself by sliding to seven victories in seven days to gain the crown at steamy Virginia Beach Tennis and Country Club. She capped her stay with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over an even more surprising finalist, co-17th seed Nicole Melichar of Stuart, Fla., in a matchup of 14-year-olds.

2-Apr-2008
Countdown: Pine Brothers Stick Together
Charles Pine could see the logistical nightmares coming. With twin sons who are NCAA Division I-caliber players, he wondered what would happen if they attended different universities. But he won't have to worry about that. Jonathan and Zachary Pine of Vienna, Va. elected to stay in-state and attend Virginia Tech.

23-Jul-2007
Bolender comes back for Girls 16 Clay crown
Brooke Bolender, who grew up in Westlake, Ohio, combined power, savvy and the power of positive thinking to gain what she said she considered her biggest singles title. She gutted out a 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory July 22 over unseeded Sloane Stephens at Virginia Beach Tennis and Country Club.

3-Apr-2007
Hampton Coach Achieves Millenium Milestone
HAMPTON, Va. - One of the courts at Hampton University's Neilson-Screen Tennis Stadium needed a serious cleaning before the afternoon matches on Saturday, March 31. There were dark spots all over the green cement. From rain? Hardly. They were from the champagne that flowed after HU's Robert Screen became the fifth member of college tennis coaching's 1,000-victory club.

9-Feb-2007
Looking Forward: Denis Kudla
The little blond kid wouldn't look out of place in the next "Bad News Bears" movie. Physically, he might remind you of Tanner - not big-serving Roscoe, but the Little Leaguer with the "Chico Bail's Bonds" ad on his jersey. But get him on a tennis court, and you can see the genius and savvy possessed by Denis Kudla of Northern Virginia.


RECENT COMMITMENTS
11/20 Deven Pandey chooses St. Francis (PA)
11/20 Benjamin Van Landingham chooses Rockhurst
11/20 Sophya Devas chooses Purdue
11/20 Michelle Li chooses Columbia
11/20 Ezra Suez chooses Southwestern (TX)
11/20 Kira Farrakhova chooses Seton Hall
11/20 Elizabeth Meiners chooses Wooster
11/20 Ezekiel Bergen chooses Anderson (IN)
11/20 Ella Canaday chooses Piedmont
11/19 Stella Schmitz chooses Rutgers

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Colette Lewis has covered topflight junior events as a freelance journalist for over a decade. Read her weekly column, follow her on Twitter, and and find more of her daily commentary at ZooTennis.
 
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Page updated on Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 1:06:47 AM
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