Sarah Dvorak been named the Big Island Athlete of the Month for July.
Sarah Dvorak been named the Big Island Athlete of the Month for July.
Dvorak, who will play for Texas Tech in the fall, won the USTA National Collegiate Clay Court Championships West Penn Amateur last month in Pittsburgh.
Dvorak won four matches in the tournament, which is the nation’s oldest amateur event, and beat Hailey Barrett, West Virginia University’s No. 1 player, 6-2, 6-4 in the final. Dvorak and Barrett could meet again during the Big 12 tennis season.
Dvorak, a Waiakea High School graduate, also had an impressive doubles run in Pittsburgh, partnering with Sara Tsukamoto, who will be a freshman at Kealakehe this year, to reach the final. The 18-year-old Dvorak and the 14-year-old Tsukamoto lost 8-6 to Audrey Ann Blakely and Callie Frey.
Dvorak is coached by Evan Schermer of Royal Kona Tennis Club.
The Big Island athlete of the month program is sponsored by Don’s Grill, under owner Don Hoota. The athlete of the month as well as athlete and sportsperson of the year programs were founded by the late Jack Matsui.
Members of the selection committee are Hugh Clark, Ramon Goya, Stan Costales and chairman Bill O’Rear.
Nominations for the August athlete of the month may be sent to Don’s Grill, 485 Hinano St., Hilo, HI 96720, or to Bill O’Rear, Tribune-Herald Sports, P.O. Box 767, Hilo, HI 96721; or e-mail borear@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
The deadline to submit nominations is Sept. 1.
2014 winners
• January: Punt, Pass & Kick national champion Jason Alani.
• February: Honokaa’s Chancis Fernandez (basketball) and Hawaii Prep’s Gabbie Ewing (soccer) and David Ovbagbedia (basketball).
• March: UHH softball player Rebecca Lee.
• April: Evan Enriques, Kamehameha-Hawaii volleyball player.
• May: Kodi Medeiros, Waiakea baseball player; Emma Taylor, HPA track standout.
• June: Daylan Toribio and Kalani Gonsalves, won medals in the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games.
• July: Sarah Dvorak, Hilo tennis player, won national clay court tournament title.
Mana 10s run
in Waimea
The Big Island Road Runners’ Mana 10s run will be held Saturday at Mana road in Waimea.
Registration is at 6:30 a.m., and the race will start at 7:30 a.m.
The race is an out-and-back on mostly dirt road with rolling hills and aid stations every 2 miles.
Cost is $5 for BIRR members and $10 for non-members.
Prizes for winners along with snacks postrace.
For more information, email rno0926@yahoo.com.
Aikane Tennis
serves Tuesday
Aikane Tennis will be held from 7-10 p.m. Tuesday at Edith Kanaka’ole Multipurpose Stadium.
Members are $2 and non-members are $5.
For information, contact Dean at dsharp79@gmail.com.
Youth volleyball
clinics on tap
The Department of Parks and Recreation will be offering an instructional volleyball season for boys and girls ages 5-8 years old.
The instructional season will include drills for beginners and also modified volleyball games.
For more information, call Darrell Yamamoto at 938-2012.
The program runs 4:30-6 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays between Aug. 18 and Sept. 17.
For more information, visit Kawananakoa Gym and fill out the waiver/registration form.