By: Matt Rothman
It was one of the most memorable seasons in Marjory Stoneman Douglas girls’ tennis history after a pair of players competed individually in States and as a team.
The doubles team of Amanda Aponte and Cadence Brace made it all the way to the finals winning their doubles match. For Brace, after making it to the finals, she became a State Champion in singles. Between the two players, they won a combined 13 matches over the past three days.
“It was the icing on the cake for Cadence to win both singles and doubles, and Amanda, who is a senior, to play the best tennis of her life,” Head Coach Amy Pena said. “It was absolutely thrilling to be able to witness.”
The Eagles won their first match in the State Quarterfinal before they eventually fell in a tight match against Miami Palmetto Senior High School.
They sent Toby Bower and Carlos Arvelo to States but lost in the opening round on the boy’s tennis team.
Pena, who has gone to State every year she has coached at MSD, had the chance to lead her team with her husband, Orlando Pena, who suffered two life-threatening injuries in the past 13 months.
“It meant so much to be able to able to coach with him as the girls were just amazing to him,” said Pena.
Coach Pena also wanted to say a special thank you to the city of Parkland for stepping up when they lost their tennis courts at the beginning of the season.
Amanda Aponte, Coach Pena, and Cadence Brace of Marjory Stoneman Douglas Girls Tennis. {MSD Athletics}
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Author Profile
- Matt Rothman is a 2018 graduate from Florida Gulf Coast University receiving his bachelor’s degree in journalism and then graduated from the University of Florida as a graduate student. He also works for the Mohave Valley Daily News in Bullhead City, Arizona covering high school sports.
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