Fiji Times
First for Fiji
Zanzeer Singh
Tuesday, August 06, 2013
NATIONAL tennis rep Daneric Hazelman is set to become one of the youngest junior college head coaches in the United States.
Originally of Lautoka, Hazelman will be returning to the New Mexico Military Institute as the men’s coach after graduating from Carthage College in May.
The former Natabua High School student was an International Tennis Federation regional scholarship holder for many years. He earned a two0-year scholarship with the New Mexico Military Institute after winning the 2007 Pacific Oceania Junior Championship.
As a result of his achievements in tennis and academics, Hazelman then earned an additional National Collegiate Athletic Association scholarship with Carthage College in Wisconsin.
Hazelman, 23, will join his former Pacific Oceania coach Dan O’Connell who is the ladies coach at the New Mexico Military Institute.
Fiji Tennis Association president Richard Breen said they were proud of Hazelman’s achievements.
He said the New Mexico Military Institute and Pacific tennis exchange program was growing stronger.
“Now both the coaching positions there are held by our locals,” Breen said.
“Our former and current coaches like Sanjeev Tikaram, Samson Fong, Naga Reddy and Dan have watched Daneric grow from a seven-year-old beginner to a junior regional champion and then a national representative in the Pacific Games.
“Everyone in Fiji is proud of Daneric. We will look at opportunities for Daneric to return to Fiji on an annual basis to assist our junior development. He will also continue to represent Fiji in national duties.”
The scholarship support for Fiji student athletes to attend New Mexico Military Institute began in 2003. Finau Fa earned the first scholarship. The other tennis players who have also benefited from the scholarship include Valu Fa, Akanesi Fa, William O’Connell, Adalyn Hazelman, Divaskar Reddy, Tony O’Connell and Christopher Hargrove.
Hazelman is a three-time Pacific Oceania Junior Championship winner and was Fiji’s number one ranked junior player at the age of 16.
He represented the nation in the 2007 South Pacific Games in Samoa and the 2011 Pacific Games in New Caledonia.