19-05-2025
True North's Chow and Usina and Palmetto's Gibson are the Dade Tennis Coaches of the Year
Miami Palmetto has long been one of the premier programs in the state for tennis.
Longtime coach Kelly Gibson saw their girls add to that rich history this season when they won the Class 4A state team championship.
Meanwhile at True North, it was a milestone season for both tennis programs.
The Titans girls, coached by Andre Chow, have become a powerhouse with some of the top players in the state. They added to their trophy case by winning another Class 1A team championship.
But this season, there was more for True North as its boys, under the tutelage of Wilson Usina, secured their first team championship.
As such, Gibson, Chow and Usina are this year's Miami Herald Tennis Coaches of the Year for Miami-Dade County.
Gibson and Chow share honors for Girls' Coach of the Year after each led their teams to state titles.
Gibson watched her girls dominate in Class 4A as they rolled their way to their eighth state championship and second in the past three seasons. Palmetto's girls are now tied for the fourth-most state titles in Miami-Dade County history with Ransom Everglades and behind Miami Beach (13), Miami Sunset (10) and Miami Gulliver Prep (10).
Led by No. 1 singles player Catherine Cardona, the Panthers topped Coral Gables, Doral and Cypress Bay to advance to state and then took down Wellington and a tough Orlando Lake Nona squad, 4-3 in a tough overall match.
Cardona and Camille Chellas also ended up winning the team brackets to qualify for the overall finals.
In Class 1A, True North's girls were their usual dominant selves. It was the Titans' third consecutive state title on that side.
True North did not drop an individual match in team play at state, sweeping Maclay and Boca Raton Grandview Prep. The Titans were led in both singles and doubles by the powerful duo of Daniela Chica and Alba Martinez.
Chica has signed with Rice University, and Martinez is going to the Air Force.
Usina, the Boys' Coach of the Year, guided the True North boys to their first state title after beating perennial powerhouse Boca Raton's St. Andrew's and ending the Scots' impressive streak of five straight state titles.
Miami Herald Player of the Year Gabriel Valdes and Caleb Chow, who is Andre Chow's nephew, led the Titans.
