Sunday, June 9, marked the grand finale of our 36th annual Mayor Dinkins Cup at the Cary Leeds Center, showcasing the talents of over 550 young athletes from public, private, and parochial schools across all five boroughs. Named in honor of NYC’s first Black mayor and our dedicated board member, David N. Dinkins, the event stands as the largest free junior interscholastic tennis competition in the nation.
The week-long tournament culminated in an awards ceremony where 13 scholarships totaling $140,000 were awarded, affirming our commitment to supporting exceptional student-athletes in their educational and athletic pursuits.
Udai Tambar, NYJTL President and CEO, shared, “This year’s Mayor Dinkins Cup was a resounding success, and we were so proud to be able to kick off the summer in this way. The Mayor Dinkins Cup gives hundreds of kids the opportunity to partake in a week of friendly competition with their peers, all while earning prizes, spending time with family, and strengthening their tennis skills. And this year, we were able to award $140,000 in scholarships to youth who have demonstrated what it means to be a scholar and an athlete on the court and away from it. Thanks to all who make this work possible.”
Scholarship Winners and Tournament Highlights:
- Louis Marx Jr. Educational Scholarship: Alex Chan, Onyx Fletcher, Daniel Rodriguez, Chantajah Mills, Autumn Clarke, James Walsh, Christian Torres-Juarez
- Victor Kiam “Going For It” Scholarship: Olivia Lopez
- Gavrin Family Foundation Inc. Scholarship: Adrian Neequaye, Jeremy Victoria, Austin Huang, Juliana Londono, Henry Cuamani Moyotl
Notable Tournament Winners:
- Boys Varsity Team: Bronx Science High School (Winner), Townsend Harris High School (Finalist)
- Boys Varsity Singles: Jeremy Victoria (Winner), Aaron Tokarz (Finalist)
- Girls Varsity Singles: Debra Gil (Winner), Jade Saintard (Finalist)
- Additional winners and finalists spanned categories from middle school to elementary levels, showcasing a broad range of young talent.
The event also featured family-friendly activities and giveaways, making it a memorable day for everyone involved. For more details on the tournament and to view photos, click here.
Congratulations to all our athletes for their remarkable performances and sportsmanship during this year’s Mayor Dinkins Cup!
- Read about the Queens teens who were awarded scholarships in the QNS article.
- Discover how PS 100X students brought home the Mayor Dinkins Cup in the News 12 the Bronx article.
- Learn about the Brooklyn students who earned scholarships at the event in the Brooklyn Eagle article.