Hilo’s Soares named to USTA Jr. leadership team
The U.S. Tennis Association announced Friday that Emily Soares was named to the first-ever USTA Junior Leadership Team, which recognizes America’s finest junior tennis players who exhibit leadership, sportsmanship and character on and off the court.
Soares is among nearly 30 players nationwide named to the USTA Junior Leadership Team. Each player was nominated by his or her USTA Section for their excellence in tennis and in the community.
“These are players whose achievements speak volumes about their character, both as tennis players and as members of the community,” said Bill Mountford, the USTA’s Director of Junior Tournaments. “With the USTA Leadership Team, we’re glad to have a way to recognize the tremendous examples they’ve set on and off the court.”
Soares, a senior at Hilo High, was the BIIF singles champion in 2015, finishing third in the HHSAA state singles championship. She was also named Hilo High School’s most inspirational athlete for girls tennis that year and won the USTA’s Jim Howe Sportsmanship Award in 2014. She’s been ranked No. 2 in the USTA’s Hawaii-Pacific Girls’ 18s rankings and No. 51 nationally in that same category.
To read her comments visit: https://www.usta.com/Youth-Tennis/2016_usta_junior_leadership_team_hawaii_pacific_emily_soares/
Each year, more than 120,000 players compete in USTA junior tournaments. Players compete in levels of competition through earned advancement in the 10s, 12s, 14s, 16s and 18s age divisions. USTA junior tournaments help kids take their game as far as they want—high school, college or pros—or just have fun competing.
Bodybuilding contest today at Sangha Hall
Gerald Saragosa struggles to recall the last time a bodybuilding competition was held in Hilo.
“Oh, it’s been years,” he said.
That drought ends Saturday thanks to the third installment of Saragosa’s High Intensity competition. The doors at Sangha Hall open at 4:30 p.m., and the show starts at 5:30 p.m.
Saragosa, an International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness pro from Hilo, anticipates that 40 participants, men and women, will compete among four divisions: bodybuilding, physique, figure and bikini.
“The hype last year was that the show was sanctioned, which helps winners get to the next level,” Saragosa said. “This year, the hype is that we’ll have bodybuilding for the first time.”
Ultimately, Saragosa hopes the hype spreads to the audience and acts as a motivating factor.
“This is fitness at its finest,” he said.
Saragosa isn’t just trying to put on a show, he’s trying to promote an attitude of health and fitness. It’s a lifestyle he adopted in 2012, helping him transform from chunky to chiseled.
His message: it’s never too late to start.
“Just look at some of our competitors,” he said.
“This show is to inspire people to look at their health and get in shape,” he said. “You go to the show and it makes you want to work out.”
