Kwon, Wessel top boys divisions

Top seeds David Kwon and Nason Wessel proved their mettle by topping the boys 18 and boys 16 championship of the 12th TanHoldings Tennis Classic over the weekend at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan and American Memorial Park tennis courts.

Kwon swept all three of his matches in round-robin play to win his division.

The 16-year-old Mt. Carmel School student first defeated second seed and CNMI National Tennis Team member to the Pacific Games, June Yu, in three tough sets, 6-4, 4-6, 10-8.

He followed that up with an even harder come-from-behind 1-6, 6-4, 10-2 against Si Woo Lee. Kwon then clinched the boys 18 championship with a relatively easy 6-1, 6-2 victory over Simon Tang, who is an alternate to the team bound for Honiara, Solomon Islands.

“I didn’t really practice tennis, but the players were actually good, so I was scared in the game, but I tried my best to win,” said Kwon when asked about his performance in the tournament.

He then thanked his family that always supports his tennis hobby.

Wessel, meanwhile, beat his Pacific Games teammate Yu for the championship of the boys 16.

The 6’2” Kagman High School student overcame Yu in the finals, 6-1, 6-4.

Wessel advanced to the finals with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Siwoo Lee, while second seed Yu triumphed over Seungwoo “Henry” Choi, 6-3, 6-1, to get the second finals berth.

“I’ve always known that my physicality was stronger than a lot of tennis players my age and I used that to my advantage to control my opponent by serves and volleys,” said Wessel, who tips the scales at 165 lbs.

Wessel then dedicated his age group title to “my dad and mom for providing me with opportunities.”

In the boys 14, Ryan Jeongwoo Choi got the better of Ian Chae in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, to take home the championship.

Choi, the No. 1 seed, made quick work of Jihun Park, 6-0, 6-1, in the semis, while Chae finished off Matthew Hwang in the bottom half of the ladder to advance to the finals.

Second seed Minjoon “Michael” Jeon, meanwhile, upset top seed Jinho Park, 6-3, 6-3, to rule the boys 12.

Jeon beat Matt Zhu, 6-1, 6-0, to advance to the finals, while Park rallied to beat Daniel Kang, 3-6, 6-2, 10-5, to reach the championship round.

In the boys 10, Seungmin Jang went 2-0 in round-robin play to win the age group. He beat Jae Hun Jason Choi, 6-4, and Dongmin Jang, 6-2.

In the boys 18 doubles, Kwon and Yu swept the three-team division. They beat Seungwoo “Henry” Choi and Wessel, 7-5. 6-3, and Siwoo Lee and Tang, 6-2, 6-4.

Minjoon “Michael” Jeon and Jinho Park topped the boys 12 doubles by going 3-0 in round-robin play.

They beat Cooper and Jackson Koning-Fong, 6-3, 6-0; Daniel Kang and Matt Zhu, 6-0, 7-6(3), and Seungwoo Lee and Kijoon Park, 6-4, 6-3.

The 12th TanHoldings Classic would like to thank the following sponsors of the tournament: Grand Slam Sponsors Quality Distributor of Guam, Mobil Oil Marianas, ASC Trust, and TSL Foundation; Match Point Sponsors IT&E, D&Q, and Shirley’s Guam, Ace Sponsors Alliance Metal Specialties and IShop; Advantage Sponsors Take Care and Tsang Brothers, and in-kind sponsors McDonalds Saipan and Guam, All-Star dba Boarderline Athlete’s Foot, and Marpac.