Lifestyle

Island Champs

Key Biscayners Tomás Gherardi (15), Santiago Hernández (15) and Olivia Gherardi (13) were selected to represent the USA at the Pan-American Junior Padel Championship held in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Words by — Kaya Baez | November 25, 2024 | Lifestyle

Competing in the U16 and U14 categories for both male and female teams, the players proudly represented the island. Lorena Rouillon and Jaume Rouillon, former coaches at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, played a pivotal role in the U.S. Junior Padel team’s success. As the selectors for the U.S. team under the United States Padel Association (USPA), they coached both the male and female teams throughout the tournament. The male team, featuring Key Biscayne players Tomás Gherardi and Santiago Hernández, achieved a historic 5th Place finish, marking the highest placement in the team’s history. The exceptional leadership of the coaches continues to elevate the sport of padel in the U.S. as they turn their focus to preparing for the 2025 Padel World Championship.