Old, new leaders in jr. tennis rankings

 There is a mixed of old and new leaders in the CNMI junior tennis rankings after two competitions for the 2011-2012 season were completed.

In the boys U18 division, 2010-2011 No. 1 player Rafael Jones, still holds the top spot after earning 1,750 ranking points. Jones gained 1,000 from the 2011 DFS Micronesian Tennis Championships in May after ruling the U18 singles. He added 750 more ranking points, following a runner-up finish in the 3rd Annual Tan Holdings Tennis Classic last month.

Jones failed to notch back-to-back U18 singles crown after bowing to Thea Minor, who also participated in the boys draw in the DFS tournament and finished third for 500 ranking points. Minor now has 1,500 to place second behind Jones.

Others who are on the ranking list are former U15 players who moved up to the highest age group in the CNMI junior tennis division. Daniel Park is currently ranked third with 1,050 points, followed by Amami Sakano (900), Christian Miller (600), Angelo Jones (600), Jake Lee (500), Primo Po (500), and Clay McCullough-Stearns (250).

In the girls U18, Theecel dislodged her sister Thea in the top spot with the former earning 750 points (runner-up in DFS tournament) and 1,000 (Tan Holdings Classic). Thea, who got 1,000 from the DFS event, is in second as she opted not to join the girls U18 singles draw in the Tan Holdings competition.

Completing the ranking list are Alina Ishikawa (750), Melody Johnson (600), Yumi Ito (600), Jodel Fernandez (500), Amy Arenovski (400), and Yuri Song (300).

The boys U15 has new leaders in Christopher Cajigan and Moris Villanueva after last season’s pacesetters climbed up to the U18 division, Cajigan and Villanueva each gained 1,500 points to lead Carl Dela Cruz (1,350), Seiya Eda (900), Chris Park (750), Dylan Ackerman (600), Daniel Lim (500), Colin Ramsey (400), Aaron Lee (400), Tommy Choi (300), Bob Kim (220), Quintin Ramsey (150), Po (125), Chris Cepeda (90), and Kennedy Izuka (80). Most of the ranked players in the U15 division played in the U12 age group last season.

Mikayla Lopez is steady at the No. 1 spot in the girls U15 division, leading former U12 players. She collected 2,000 points from two first place finishes this year, 650 points ahead of second-running Negahr Rastguiy (1,350). Emily Jones is ranked third with her 900 points, followed by Adele Hudkins (800), Johnson (750), Tammy Ackerman (750), Jazmin Rayphand (300), and Ishikawa (200).

Rankings in the two other age groups (U12 and U10) will be published in Saipan Tribune’s Friday edition.