Olympia's Beltrame shines at state

Completing an undefeated season, Olympia’s Arianna Beltrame (13-0) became the Class 4A Line Two Singles Champion at the FHSAA Tennis Finals April 16 in Altamonte.

Beltrame defeated Cypress Bay’s Sibel Can in the final (6-4, 6-2), a highlight at the state tournament for the Titans — whose boys and girls programs both competed as teams in the championships. 

“Both of us are good players, and we definitely earned our spot in the finals,” Beltrame said. “It was a good match. We’re both solid players.”

Afterward, head coach Carol Haderer praised Beltrame’s mental approach throughout the tournament and especially in the championship match.

“She kept her composure — she was focused and she didn’t want to get behind and have to come from behind,” Haderer said. “She wanted to stay on top, and that’s exactly what she did.”

As a first-year coach for Olympia, Haderer expressed pride in both teams; the boys team finished tied for fifth in the state and the girls team placed fourth. Stepping in to fill the role after her brother retired, she has seen both teams excel and play further into the season than last year.

Along with partner Shanna A. Dos Santos, Beltrame also won a doubles match before falling in the semifinals. 

Other highlights for Olympia include Girls Line Two Doubles partners Valeria Bianchi and Kennedy Palata reaching the semifinals; Spencer Cutts advancing to the semifinals at Boys Line Four Singles; and Kaden Funk, who had previously not lost a varsity match, advancing to the semifinals at Boys Line One Singles before falling to Winter Park’s Ninan Kumar (4-6, 6-4, 10-7).

Although West Orange did not advance as a team, the Warriors had Luiza Simoes make the girls individual state tournament, where she fell in the Round of 16; and boys doubles team Artem Gorelov and Oscar Toro, which advanced to the semifinals.

West Orange coach John Pouzzner was complimentary of his players who made it to state, especially the doubles team, which won two matches.

“The season went very well,” he said. “The kids played up to their potential at this point. Obviously they’re not finished products; they will continue to improve. But I thought they did a great job. Getting to the semifinals in the state tournament is nothing to be ashamed of.”

In Class 1A, Windermere Prep’s girls program competed as a team and Rafael Campos competed as an individual in the boys tournament. 

Campos advanced to the quarterfinals, while the Lakers girls team tied for fourth in the state in Class 1A. Highlights for Windermere Prep’s girls include Hannah Rosenfield reaching the semifinals in Line One; Hannah McGee reaching the semifinals at Line Two; and the two girls — who are also doubles partners — reaching the semifinals at Line One Doubles.