FireStars Youth Tennis Team Takes Another Championship Title

Local Lake Nona tennis team FireStars recently took home another championship title to add to their collection, this one being the 12U Greenball Championship. Last fall, the FireStars team was featured here in Nonahood News after their win of a 10U championship, and after a new season that included the loss of one of their players, a rough loss midseason, and a tough match against the undefeated Hunters Creek team, the FireStars came out victorious once again.

The team, comprised of Flavio Martinez, Jorge Cely, twin sisters Jordyn and Jaedyn Gomez, Joshua Gilbert, Aaron Hernandez, and Johnny Velasquez, took home the impressive win even as some of the youngest competitors in their age group. Members of the FireStars team range from that of 9- and 10-year-olds, while they competed and came out victorious against a division made up mostly of 11- and 12-year-olds.

“Before the season started, we prepped our parents on the expectations for the season,” said FireStars team captain Jeff Gomez. “Playing against 11- and 12-year-olds would be a lot different than playing against 9- and 10-year-olds. Many of the kids we played against were in the 7th grade vs. our 4th and 5th graders. Our expectations were not high, we just wanted to keep the matches close. Older kids are bigger, stronger, mature, and can process information on the court quicker than younger players. We knew that playing in an older division was going to be tough. I wanted to challenge our players.”

The FireStars team is part of the “Estrada Tennis Academy” located in VillageWalk in Lake Nona. The team practices together on a daily basis, which Gomez credits as one of the biggest sources of their confidence and coherence as a team.

“This win gave the kids confidence in playing tennis. It helped them believe in their skills, believe in each other, their team, their growth, and their training,” said Gomez.

Now that the season has ended, the FireStars team is focused on their own individual endeavors while they prepare for upcoming tournaments and the next season. FireStars team members Josh Gilbert and Jorge Cely both recently competed in the “Bobby Curtis” State Championships.

Twins Jordyn and Jaedyn Gomez played in the prestigious “Little Mo” Junior Tennis International Tournament. At nine years old, both girls have also competed in girls 12-year-old USTA tournaments. Jordyn and Jaedyn are both official USTA “Netgeneration” Tennis Ambassadors. This is an initiative founded by the USTA in its second year that is geared to make tennis accessible to youth players.

Flavio Martinez has served as an official ball boy at USTA pro matches. He’s been developing his game and gearing up for springtime.

Johnny Velasquez and Aaron Hernandez have been training diligently, prepping for their next tournament.

Gomez and the rest of the Lake Nona community will be watching as these kids continue to follow their tennis dreams and bring home more championships.

“It’s awesome to watch these kids grow in their sport … very interested in seeing their growth and where this game will take them. The FireStars may make another run at another championship. Stay tuned.”