Sports Awards: Boys and girls tennis finalists announced

The top high school tennis players delivered aces during the season and 12 of them - six boys and six girls - have been named finalists for the players of the year at the inaugural News Sentinel Sports Awards presented by Farm Bureau Health Plans.

The finalists for the boys player of the year are Gray DeBord of West, Ethan Fussell of Christian Academy of Knoxville, Thomas Loaiza of Hardin Valley, Jacobi Lorino of Catholic, Ohm Sharma of Webb School of Knoxville, and Harrison Williams of Webb.

The finalists for the girls player of the year are Julia Adams of Bearden, Erin Allen of Catholic, Carina Dagotto of Webb, Allison Ivy of CAK, Hannah Price of Farragut, and Lauren Yoon of Webb. 

The athletes were chosen primarily on performance at the high school level by a three-person panel that included high school sports editor Troy Provost-Heron and two area coaches, who will remain anonymous.

Each finalist, along with a guest, will be invited to the event on June 7 at the Tennessee Theatre, when the best athletes in the Knoxville area are brought together for a red carpet celebration starting at 7 p.m. Players of the year and other special awards will be announced at the event, of which former Tennessee All-American safety and current Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro defensive back Eric Berry is the speaker.

Tickets for the News Sentinel Sports Awards presented by Farm Bureau Health Plans are on sale and can be purchased online at sportsawards.knoxnews.com.